Campo de Marte, Brazil 18th July 2011

Left to right: Vera Berthault, Rodrigo Duarte and Carolina Denardi, from ABRAPHE, the Helicopter Pilot's Association of Brazil.
Rodrigo, President of the Association, says that ABRAPHE tries to work as a mediator between the pilots and ANAC, the civil aviation authority.
Problems that exist here include the reduction of the number of helipads because of noise complaints, which has seriously reduced some pilot's livelihood, and the length of time it takes to revalidate a licence - anything up to 90 days.
These problems, Rodrigo explains, are not unique to Brazil but exist all over the helicopter world.

The 'Helicopter traffic lights' at Campo de Marte.
Campo de Marte is the 5th busiest airport in the world - according to its website - and consequently has to regulate its traffic on the ground. These traffic lights allow separation between helicopters, aeroplanes, and cars.

Gualter Garcez Pizzi, Commercial Director of Audi Helicopteros the Robinson dealer for San Paulo.
Audi have already got firm offers on 60 R66s, even though the first one is not yet in the country and certification is not due until next month. Pizzi says he could sell 20 right now if they were here and the delay is the speed of getting them from the factory. At present buyers will have to wait until November 2012.

Jorge Bitar Neto, owner of Helimarte taxi aereo, with Claudio Agostini.
Jorge started his air taxi firm in April 1999, but it began doing well in 2003, and since 2005 had increased exponentially. He started with one R22 and half a Bell 206 and now has six AS350s, three Bell 206s, two R44s and four fixed wing aircraft. He currently has just under 60 staff, of whom 19 are pilots. Although the original business was air taxi, he is now diversifing into various other areas including pipeline and external load. He was deeply involved in the rescue at Nova Friburgo, the mudslides in southeastern Brazil.

Helibras is Eurocopter's Brazilian wing based at Campo de Marte (they also have a factory at Itajuba). I am standing between Sergio Roxo, the Offshore Salesman and Carla Metne, the Marketing Manager.
Eurocopter has been doing very well in Brazil, and the whole of South America, in the last fifteen years, mostly because it has an established base in the country which all of the other big manufacturers lack. Other manufacturers have dealers but, as they explained, this is not at all the same as being part of the culture like Helibras.