Based on past experience, dressage horses and political leaders will likely compete head-to-head with business aviation for ramp space during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August. So predicts Carlos Rodriguez, operations director of the privatized RIOgaleão International Airport (SGGL). AIN spoke with Rodriguez last week at the USTDA-sponsored Air Traffic Modernization Workshop in Rio. Recalling the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament, he said a high-density parking plan operated by Jet Aviation and local partner C>Fly handled the rush of private jets for the final game.
But Rodriguez noted that this year’s Olympics face additional challenges, such as unloading and parking large-footprint cargo planes transporting horses for the equestrian events. And 100 heads of state are expected for the games’ closing ceremony. RIOgaleão has added a ground-control tower and ground radar, which will be operated by the airport. There will also be a temporary business aviation terminal. Slots for the Olympic period will be handled though the Brazilian Air Force's CGNA center for air navigation, which also coordinated traffic for the World Cup. The airport sees business aviation as an important market that it hopes to serve more, Rodriguez said. As an example, he pointed to the large and elegant business aviation hangar recently inaugurated by Lider Aviation.