Contributor - South America

Richard Pedicini

The Pará de Minas Aeroclube (Static Display 6106) is a last-minute participant in LABACE 2017, where it's exhibiting for the first time. “We're looking for new markets,” said Capt. Ivan Resende de Leitão, club president since 2008. “Most of our students come from other states. We're one of the clubs that flies the most.”

 


Aeroclubes in Brazil are where most pilots get practical flight training, with theory often taught by universities or independent schools. Leitão attributes Pará de Minas's success to “location, the value of flight hours, and the aircraft and their availability,” as well as the quality of maintentance of the aircraft. The club has 32 aircraft, including a dozen Cessna 152s, four Cessna 172s, three Piper Senecas, two Piper PA-28s, and two Robinson R22s, as well as three simulators. The club acquired two of the aircraft and two of the simulators last year, despite the economic crisis.

 


“It's during a crisis that you have to invest in education. This is the hour for students to invest, to be prepared for the recovery”, said Leitão, in explaining his decision to participate in LABACE for the first time during a difficult year.&nbsp;He describes this year as “very slow, but better than last year,” and sees economic recovery already beginning. The club offers private pilot, commercial pilot, flight instructor and aerial acrobatics courses.

 


The Aeroclube is located at the Pará de Minas Municipal Airport (SNPA), which has a 3,740-foot asphalt runway maintained by the city, roughly equidistant from Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasília, and near the Minas Gerais state capital, Belo Horizonte. “Perfect flying weather all year round” is another advantage, according to the club's website. Another attraction to students from out of state is the club's free dormitory for students and pilots renewing or requalifying licenses. The distance from Belo Horizonte is only 36 nm by air, or 70 km by land, and more than 20 buses a day make the one-hour journey, stopping at the Confins airport, well served by flights from all over Brazil.

Minas Aeroclube Seeks New Markets at LABACE

The club provides private and commercial pilot and flight instructor and aerobatics courses.

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