Story ID: 
Business Aviation Lauded at LABACE Opener
By: Richard Pedicini
Caption: Brazil government officials praise industry for lending a helping hand and expanding access
Word Count: 384
During the opening session today at LABACE 2024, Leonardo Fiuza—chairman of Brazil's business aviation association and show organizer ABAG—said the business aviation industry's greatest short-term hurdle is the country's broad tax reform, with one proposal floating to tax aircraft at the same rate as automobiles. He explained that ABAG is working with other aviation associations, such as those for agricultural aviation and air taxis, “to be present at all the committees studying the matter.”
According to Fiuza, a longer-term challenge is training enough aircraft maintenance technicians, which he suggested should be treated not as a challenge but as an opportunity. “If we're talking about training labor, it means the country is growing, not shrinking,” he said, noting that nearly 1,000 new aircraft have entered the country in the past three years.
Fiuza also thanked airport concessionaire Aena for hosting the fair, despite construction work underway at the airport, and the Brazilian Air Force “without which no LABACE could have taken place.” The air force is responsible for air traffic control in Brazil.
ANAC director Ricardo Bisinotto Catanant emphasized the Brazilian aviation agency’s role in both operational safety and security. He made special note of the Transplantar program in which fees are waived and rules are eased to allow business aviation to transport organs for transplant—“a beautiful opportunity for business aviation to take part in this chance to save lives.” The governor of São Paulo is also signing state legislation for this program.
In addition, Catanant praised business aviation's role in providing humanitarian aid when the state of Rio Grande do Sul was beset by massive flooding earlier this year. Business aircraft operators provided a lifeline when the main commercial airport was flooded and many highways were closed, he said.
Tomé Franca, Brazil’s secretary of civil aviation and the country's highest aviation official, pointed out that airlines “serve 2% of Brazil's cities, while general aviation serves them all—more than 3,000 cities. General aviation lets Brazil grow for everyone, and the government should be alongside it.” He added that air passengers have grown from 98 million to 118 million in 2024 in Brazil “and we hope to reach 140 million by the end of 2026.” The government recently invested R$4 billion in 36 new and modernized airports.