BUSINESS AVIATION IN Latin America A resurgent economy is propelling demand for business aircraft. Text and photography by Kirby J. Harrison here is an old joke in Brazil that this business aircraft and all that goes with them. business aviation in Latin America, “those few makers of light piston singles and tur- largest of Latin American nations “is Rui Tomaz de Aquino, president of the dreams are becoming a reality.” boprop aircraft were present, including T a country of the future, and always Associação Brazileira de Aviação Geral Aquino was speaking at the Latin Amer- Cirrus, EADS Socata, Pilatus and Piper. will be.” But things have a way of changing. (ABAG, Brazilian General Aviation Asso- ican Business Aviation Conference & Ex- John Rosanvallon, CEO of Dassault Today, Brazil and the rest of Latin Amer- ciation) recently recalled the words of poet hibition (LABACE), sponsored by Falcon Jet, said the Falcon fleet ica represent a rapidly maturing business avi- Walt Whitman, who said that if we can ABAG and held in August in São in Brazil alone now totals 20 air- ation market. Indeed, Brazil is now counted dream, we can also realize those dreams. Paulo, Brazil. If that show is a craft and the company has firm among the “BRIC” nations, referring to “Now,” said Aquino of the resurgence of barometer of the growth of busi- orders for another 25 to be deliv- Brazil, Russia, India and China–all rapidly Growing demand for business aircraft in Latin ness aviation in Latin America, ered over the next four years. That maturing markets with a growing demand for America has spelled growth for the LABACE show. then there is room for optimism, fleet, he added, will total more at the very least. The total of 108 than 50 Falcons within the next exhibitors comfortably surpassed five years. Perhaps more surpris- the total of 71 at the 2007 event ing is the fact that of the 25 air- and, perhaps more important, an craft on order for delivery over estimated $400 million in new the next four years, 12 are for the business was generated, double Rui Thomaz de Aquino new $40-plus million Falcon 7X. the tally at LABACE 2007. Fabio Rebello, Bombardier’s Aquino noted that 308 execu- v-p of sales for Latin America, tive jets were delivered in Latin said the region accounts for six America last year. Among other to eight percent of the Canadian factors fueling the growth is the OEM’s sales worldwide, and that aging of the business aircraft fleet Mexico and Brazil are its largest in Latin America: 52 percent of customers. In Brazil, 92 Bom- executive jets and 66 percent bardier airplanes are in service, of helicopters in the region are at of which 86 are Learjets. least 15 years old, he noted. Like Rosanvallon, Rebello That market potential is not John Rosanvallon noted the growth in demand for lost on the world’s aircraft man- large-cabin business jets, partic- ufacturers. Virtually all had aircraft on dis- ularly in Brazil. That demand, added Rebello, play at LABACE 2008, a space set aside is expected to continue to grow for the next for helicopters was filled, and more than a 10 to 20 years, driven in great part by 42aaAviation International News • November 2008 • www.ainonline.com expanding oil and gas industry and mining are 2009 delivery slots. The large-cabin jets and commodity producers seeking to boost carry price tags ranging from $20 million to São Paulo, the World’s Helicopter Capital their share of world markets. slightly more than $50 million, with back- Cessna expects to deliver 48 new busi- logs out beyond 2014. ness jets to Latin American customers this Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer High above the miles-long ribbons of daily traffic is regulated by São Paulo ATC. year, and the Citation order backlog for the is also keenly aware of Latin America’s traffic jams in Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo, Most of the helipads were built at a time (in region now totals more than 175 airplanes. status as a fast-growing market, and is not there is luxurious freedom in the more than the not-so-distant past) when there were no But the Wichita-based OEM counts taking for granted its inside track as the 420 helicopters that flit from rooftop to regulations governing helicopter traffic patterns. Brazil as its largest Latin Ameri- region’s only resident OEM. rooftop. According to Cleber Mansur, president As a result, there remain many intersecting can customer. “Cessna will de- Of the 800-plus combined or- of the Brazilian Helicopter Pilots Association, approaches to helipads. liver more Citation business jets ders for its new Phenom 100 and that number will approach 460 helicopters by According to Mansur, a new law will require to Brazil this year than to any Phenom 300, more than 100 are 2010. And, he added, there are currently 260 that in such cases, one of the landing sites must other international market,” said from Brazilian customers, and by helipads in this sprawling metropolis of more be closed. Another law will require a minimum v-p of international sales Trevor the end of this year 15 Legacy than 3,000 square miles. of 400 meters separation between helipads. This Esling. And he noted that “Brazil 600s will be in service in Brazil. is our largest single international Embraer is also converting market for the Mustang, outside letters of intent received at In the state of São Paulo, the size the European Union.” EBACE for its Legacy 450 and of the helicopter fleet is expected Cessna anticipates its fleet in 500 to firm orders, and according to reach 600 aircraft by 2011. Brazil alone will reach 175 Cita- Luis Carlos Affonso to Luis Carlos Affonso, executive tions by the end of this year, about v-p of Embraer Executive Jets, 55 percent of the total of 317 business jets those orders “fully justify” the decision ear- in service in the country. lier this year to launch the program. While Latin American operators as a Finally, Embraer has received an order whole continue to exhibit more interest in from the Brazilian government for two mid-range jets, Cessna is well aware of the head-of-state variants of its E190 airliner. growing popularity of large-cabin jets, and The first is to be delivered by the end of starting in about late 2013 or early 2014, it this year and the second next year. will put an airplane into service that will fit that market segment. The large-cabin Cita- Growth in Individual Wealth tion Columbus, with 4,000-nm range, will be Perhaps the interest in large-cabin air- R E capable of non-stop flight between São Paulo craft, particularly in Brazil, should not be T P O and Miami at speeds of up to Mach 0.92. so surprising. A Capgemini/Merrill Lynch C O R U Gulfstream Aerospace is known for its study released in June placed Brazil as the E N A large-cabin, long-range business jets and Latin American country with the greatest C I R E has seen its Latin American fleet go from number of millionaires. In fact, since 2006 M 35 to 92 airplanes in the past six years. the number of people in Brazil categorized A In 2012, Gulfstream’s largest airplane as ultra-high net worth, with assets of $30 It all began in the early 1990s, when main too might force the closing of some. to date, the G650, is expected to enter million or more, has increased 19 percent. highways into the city became jammed, not A different solution had to be worked out service. According to Gulfstream Aero- The Merrill Lynch report also notes that merely at rush hour but virtually any hour. for helicopter operations in the vicinity of Con- space president Joe Lombardo, the com- Latin America as a whole has seen the Today, São Paulo is home to some 20 million gonhas Airport, located not far from the city pany is already talking with Brazilian greatest increase of any region of the world people and about 6 million automobiles, and a center. There are nearly 30 helipads on either customers. The clean-sheet twinjet is in the number of millionaires since 2007. one-hour drive from Guarulhos International side of the Congonhas Airport Runway 17 ap- expected to have 7,000-nm range at Mach According to the World Wealth Report Airport to the city center became two and even proach and the problem, explained Mansur, is 0.85 and a max speed of Mach 0.925, issued in 2007, there were approximately three hours. Growing crime rates darkened the that the TCAS equipment on helicopters flying outlook. It was not unheard of for criminals to in close proximity to the approach was setting walk up to limos stuck in traffic and demand off TCAS warnings in fixed-wing aircraft land- money from passengers. Worse still, passen- ing at Congonhas. gers were sometimes forced from their vehicle, “Needless to say, this was alarming to the taken to the nearest automatic teller machine fixed-wing pilots, despite the fact that the fixed- and ordered to empty their accounts. wing airplanes were transiting the area at about Faced with this, those with the means dis- 4,000 feet and the helicopters were operating at covered that helicopters offer the perfect solu- about 2,000 feet.” tion: speed and security. As the ranks of wealthy The solution was to establish a control area individuals and companies in and around São around and above the runway approach that is Paulo swelled, so did the number of helicopters.