Almirante Zar Naval Air Base (Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport / Trelew Airport (BAAZ))

Almirante Zar Naval Air Base (BAAZ) is located 7 km north of Trelew in Chubut Province, Argentina. Established on February 9, 1961, it operates as a joint military and civil installation, sharing infrastructure with Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport. The base lacks geographical obstacles in its approach paths and functions as an alternate landing site for aircraft experiencing in-flight emergencies. In 1972, the installation was formally named after Vice Admiral Marcos Zar, the founder of the Argentine Naval Aviation.

Operated by the Argentine Naval Aviation, the base functions as the primary installation for maritime exploration and surveillance assets. It hosts the Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Exploración (EA6E), which transferred to the base from Comandante Espora Naval Air Base in 1983. The squadron originally operated Lockheed L-188 Electras modified for maritime duties before re-equipping with Lockheed P-3 Orions in 1996.

The installation is also the operating base for the Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Vigilancia Marítima (EA6V), which conducts maritime patrol missions. This squadron operates Beechcraft Super King Air aircraft, locally designated as the B-200M "Cormorán." These aircraft underwent specific modifications for maritime operations, including the installation of ventral RDR-1500 maritime surveillance radars that provide 360-degree coverage with a range of 160 to 180 km. Additional airframe modifications include extended engine nacelles housing supplementary fuel tanks that increase flight autonomy, bubble observation windows, and AGFLITE cameras linked to GPS positioning. The B-200M aircraft are equipped with upgraded UHF/VHF communications systems featuring a TNC data link, alongside a deployment system used to air-drop life rafts, survival equipment, smoke markers, and sonobuoys during flight.