The Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM) and the Patrulla Acrobática de Paracaidismo del Ejército del Aire y del Espacio -PAPEA- (Air Force and Space Acrobatic Parachuting Patrol) have signed an agreement aimed at promoting the patrol and its members as part of the Armed Forces in general and the Air Force in particular, while also helping to strengthen the existing social ties between the Ministry of Defence and UCAM, as well as promoting aerospace culture. 

The signing of the agreement took place at the Alcantarilla Air Base (Murcia), where PAPEA has its headquarters. It was signed by Mª Dolores García Mascarell, UCAM president and by Major General José Luis Figuero Aguilar, secretary of the Spanish Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation (FAAE). Members of the UCAM Governing Council, Colonel Alberto J. Lens Blanco, Head of the Alcantarilla Air Base and Director of the Military Parachuting School (EMP), as well as other military commanders and members of the PAPEA were also in attendance.

An agreement that promotes shared values

The leaders of both institutions stressed the importance of this agreement. General Figuero emphasised that this cooperation ‘is one more step in the dissemination of the values that characterise all airmen, and which are shared with UCAM.’ For her part, President García Mascarell expressed her pride in sponsoring and publicising the image of the PAPEA, underlining the importance of projecting the values shared with the Armed Forces beyond Spain's borders. 

For his part, Colonel Lens gave a lecture to the UCAM Governing Council in which he summarised the main missions of the two parachute units stationed at the Air Base in Alcantarilla, the Military Parachuting School and the Parachute Sapper Squadron (EZAPAC). 

He also expressed his gratitude to UCAM for its support of the project to create a monument in honour of those who have fallen in connection with parachuting, taking the opportunity to show them a partial model of the project, which is located in the Unit's Parade Ground. The UCAM delegation also had the opportunity to visit other facilities of the Air Base of Alcantarilla, such as the Control Tower, the Head of Studies of the Military Parachuting School, the mythical "Junkers 52", the Chapel, the headquarters of the PAPEA and two skydiving simulators: the "PARASIM" (virtual reality simulator) and the "Wind Tunnel" (free fall simulator). 

Ever since its creation, UCAM has considered sports to be one of its main cornerstones. It implements a university model that, with increasing strength each year, seeks to instil the motivation, spirit and love of sport in its students. The practice of sport represents values that are in line with its educational philosophy, such as effort, discipline, commitment, self-improvement and companionship.

UCAM sponsors around twenty teams in the Region of Murcia in various sports disciplines, including indoor football, volleyball, athletics, swimming, handball, tennis and judo, to which skydiving will now be added. 

The PAPEA: Emblem of the Spanish sky

The PAPEA is more than an acrobatic squadron; it is the image of the Spanish Air Force's skill and professionalism, as its jumpers are federated athletes and form the basis of the National Team in various skydiving disciplines, having won, since its creation in 1978, more than 90 trophies at international level, both military and civilian, placing it in the TOP TEN of the best skydiving teams in the world. Several of its members are listed as ‘High Level Athletes’ by the Consejo Superior de Deportes (Higher Sports Council) and others are considered "High Performance Athletes" by the Region of Murcia.

As members of the Air Force, PAPEA personnel are characterised by a constant desire to excel, inspired by the spirit of the great feats of Spanish aviation. Captain Lomas, Head of PAPEA, pointed out that, without doubt, the Patrol's motto is a faithful reflection of this spirit: Nothing is impossible unless you never try.