After breaking international travel records this year, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will change planes.
Lula wants a plane with greater flight autonomy that doesn’t require as many refueling stops and has more space for guests.
To that end, the Air Force is looking at two alternatives: adapting one of the two Airbus A330-200s purchased during the Jair Bolsonaro administration or buying a new, or used aircraft with the appropriate configurations.
Adapting the Airbus A330-200 would require adding internet, a suite with a shower, and a room reserved for the president – a high expense.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) will determine the cost, which may increase due to the demands of Lula and the First Lady, Rosângela da Silva (Janja).
Therefore, the purchase of another used aircraft could become more attractive.
The issue was raised during a lunchtime meeting between the president and the FAB high command last Wednesday (31).
To adjust the Airbus A 330-200, the aircraft would have to be grounded for up to 45 days or more, depending on the configuration.
The two aircraft were purchased from “Azul” for US$80 million during the pandemic, which led to a decrease in flights, especially international flights.
According to a military official, the Air Force saw the opportunity to take advantage of the operational difficulties that arose during that period and strengthen the fleet with two aircraft.
These included transporting oxygen tanks to Manaus and repatriating Brazilians from China.
The president purchased the current presidential aircraft (A 319), called “Aerolula,” during his first term.
It has been in service for 18 years and is approaching its life cycle, which will require a reformulation.
The aircraft has a presidential suite with a shower, a reserved area with two tables and eight chairs, and seats 16 people plus crew, for 39 passengers.
The A 330-200 seats about 250 passengers or slightly more, depending on the configuration.
It is a huge aircraft with an autonomy of up to 16 hours of flight time,” a military official said.
The Air Force wants Lula to use the new plane only for long-haul flights.
THE EXCHANGE WAS ALREADY PLANNED
The FAB already discussed replacing the presidential plane with a newer aircraft with more flight autonomy.
However, the project was accelerated after Lula’s trip to Japan, when he had to make two stopovers in Guadalajara (Mexico) and Alaska (US).
This made the trip tiring for the 77-year-old president and the higher cost of airport fees and security risks.
Lula has flown on an A 330-200 before, but still without adjustments.
In February, he flew between Brasilia-Rio and Washington.
In addition to “Aerolula,” the president has at his disposal a fleet of airplanes and helicopters operated by the Special Transport Group (GTE), which is based in Brasília.
The current fleet of GTE consists of an A319 for long-haul flights, two Emb-190s for regional routes, the smaller jets E-135 and E145, and two large helicopters.
News Brazil, English news Brazil, Brazilian government
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