Focus on Affiliates

by David York

The Sun Is Shining on Brazil, Helicopters, and on

ABRAPHE The Association of Brazilian Helicopter Pilots

s everyone knows, the Federal Republic of Brazil (Repblica Federativa do Brasil) is home to the largest expanse of rain forest in the world the Amazon Rain Forest. Brazil is also home to the ASSOCIAO BRASILEIRA DE PILOTOS DE HELICPTERO (ABRAPHE), the Association of Brazilian Helicopter Pilots. The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is proud to call ABRAPHE an HAI Affiliate Organization. Headquartered at Campo de Marte Airport in So Paulo, the Association of Brazilian Helicopter Pilots was chartered in 1996, and represents 723 pilot members in So Paulo City alone, as well as 12 sponsor members companies such as Turbomeca, Rolls-Royce, Helibras (Brazilian Eurocopter), Shell, and Petrobas. Its membership also includes three helischools. Through this membership base, and through its safety initiatives, ABRAPHE, in effect, represents the 2,300 pilots throughout Brazil. ABRAPHE President, Captain Cleber Mansur, has been a non-stop helicopter pilot for 29 years. He flew in Canada for three years and has fought fires in Chile, but most of his flying career has been centered in Brazil. He credits the success of ABRAPHE to the fact that everyone in the leadership, from the Board of Directors and association officers on down, is an actively flying helicopter pilot. It is also the reason that the primary focus of the association is enhancing flight safety.

Brazils Economy The Sun is Really Shining

To qualify for designation as a rain forest, a region needs to have about 80 inches of rain a year or about 1 inches a week. This means, at any given time, chances are very good that it is raining somewhere in the Amazon River basin. Nonetheless, for the Brazilian economy as a whole, the sun is shining very brightly these days. In 2003, a Goldman Sachs economist coined the term BRIC referring to the economic potential of four emerging national economies those of Brazil, Russia, India and China. Goldman Sachs argued that the economies of these BRIC countries were developing so rapidly that, by 2050, they could eclipse most of todays wealthiest nations of the world. (Sometimes Mexico is thrown in for good measure, making the acronym BRIMC). And, Brazils economy is definitely on the move right now. Not too long ago, because of quadruple-digit rates of inflation and huge debts, Brazils economy was in danger of imploding. But

things have turned around. At the end of April, after a consistent series of foreign trade surpluses, steady economic growth, and substantial

Brazils economic future is sunny and bright.

revenues from its booming offshore oil and other commodity exports, Standard and Poor raised its rating on Brazils bonds to investment grade level. Also, in the past few months, Brazil made a transition from debtor to creditor nation for the first time in its history. The nations middle class is growing rapidly, inflation is stabilized and unemployment rates are at their lowest levels in decades. It has sidestepped the credit crunch that has the U.S. and Europe reeling. Adding to this optimistic outlook, Brazil recently made some vast new offshore oil discoveries that could catapult it into the ranks of the worlds major oil exporters. It may well be raining somewhere on the Amazon, but overall the economic future of Brazil appears to be sunny and bright.

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Helicopter Industry Thriving in Brazil

The outlook for the Brazilian helicopter industry is pretty sunny too. In February, Captain Marco Antonio Augusto Infante represented ABRAPHE at the HAI Affiliate Symposium at HELI-EXPO 2008. Captain Infante is vice president of the pilots association. He made an excellent presentation on the state of the helicopter industry in his homeland. And the picture he presented, like the picture of Brazils economy, was very bright. Between 1996 and today, Brazils civil helicopter fleet has doubled in size, growing from 547 aircraft to more than 1,100. And that growth is expected to continue. According to Captain Mansur, Our

fleet is expected to add another 83 new twin-engine helicopters in So

Paulo State alone in the coming yearand-a-half, and this does not take into account the growing offshore activity. While it is clear that offshore operations and corporate activity

have been the drivers for this growth, Captain Mansur points out that his association members are active in the full range of helicopter missions. These missions include charter, corporate, offshore, electronic newsgathering, and emergency medical and firefighting operations. In addition to the expanding opportunities at home, Brazilian helicopters and crews are in much demand during fire season in Portugal. This year, Brazil will send 25 pilots to Portugal to help fight forest fires, and they are asking for more, Mansur stated. Frequently, when Mansur or Infante discuss their association and the helicopter industry in Brazil, they will focus their comments on

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So Paolo State or So Paulo City. There is a good reason for that. So Paulo City is the largest city in one of the largest cities in the world. So Paulo proper has a population of about 11 million and the wider metropolitan area might contain as many as 20 million people. It is also the economic center of the nation, and home for much of Brazils corporate, banking, and financial infrastructure. According to Carlos Agostini, a longtime associate of ABRAPHE and frequent contributor to Rotor & Wing on Latin American aviation issues, So Paulo accounts for about 90 percent of Brazils aerospace industry. So Paulo City is also one of the most active cities in the world in terms of helicopter operations. Nearly half of the nations helicopter fleet is located in So Paulo State. It boasts 470 helicopters, 310 helipoints, and 10 heliports. In So Paulo City alone, there are 260

helipoints, including 210 rooftop helipads. Infante contends that this is the largest density of helipads in the world.

ABRAPHE Focuses on Safety

Because so much helicopter activity (primarily corporate and VIP transport) is conducted in So

Paulo City, ABRAPHE recently joined forces with the local aviation authorities to promote safety of operations by helping develop and implement a pioneer Helicopter Controlled Area and 21 special

helicopter routes in the city. The program, implemented in 2004, was designed to improve safety, reduce noise, and to enhance coordination between helicopter traffic and fixedwing activities at Congohhas Airport. More recently, in June 2007, ABRAPHE demonstrated its commitment to enhancing helicopter safety when it joined with CENIPA (Brazils National Center for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautic Accidents), and ANAC (Brazils National Civil Aviation Agency) to host a meeting with the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST). The meeting brought together more than 300 people from the Brazilian helicopter industry in support of the IHSTs quest for an 80 percent reduction in worldwide helicopter accident rates over the next ten years. The HeliCam Program is another safety initiative of which ABRAPHE is very proud. HeliCam consists of real time cameras placed in critical flight areas along the Rio de Janeiro

In June 2007 ABRAPHE co-hosted a meeting of the International Helicopter Safety Team.

Photo courtesy of ABRAPHE

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where there is little in the way of flight control support. Although safety is a primary focus of the association, ABRAPHE is always on the lookout for new ways to provide additional benefits for its membership like the agreement they worked out with an insurance company The popularity of helicopters in Sao Paulo could well to create Medical migrate to other states. Certificate insurance coverage, which pays benefits to member pilots who have and So Paulo coastlines that can the misfortune of losing the medical be accessed on the Internet to help certificates required for them do their provide advance information on the jobs in the air. It cant replace the weather. Currently there are seven loss of a certificate, but it does help HeliCams in place and, according displaced pilots get on with their lives to Mansur, Our goal is to increase in another field. the number to 16 in the very near future. As the ABRAPHE president put it, This kind of service can be The Future Outlook Is Bright very important for a region where Carlos Agostini suggests that the weather is highly unpredictable and popularity of helicopters in So Paulo

could well migrate to other states. Noting that the market is highly concentrated in Brazils three key southeast states (So Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais), which collectively represent 74 percent of the countrys total fleet, Agostini suggests, They all have considerable room for growth in their fleets, as do the other states with new, wealthy, developing cities. That growth is fostered by increased appreciation in Brazil for the diverse utility of the helicopter. HAI definitely hopes that Agostinis optimistic outlook is on the money and the sun keeps shining on helicopters and on the Association of Brazilian Helicopter Pilots. In the meantime, we salute ABRAPHEs commitment to safety and look forward to working with the association in every way possible in the years ahead.
David York is Vice President of Regulations and International Affairs for HAI.

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HAI Affiliate Updates

Greater Saint Louis Helicopter Association Virginia Helicopter Association

by David York

Photo courtesy of Tim Gunther of HeliSat

Photo courtesy of Vha

On April 1, 2008 the Greater St. Louis Helicopter Association hosted the Saint Louis Civil Air Patrol, Cadet Group at HeliSat Helicopter Services and Technology, located in Saint Louis, Missouri. Bill Hopper, the founder of The Greater Saint Louis Helicopter Association and owner of HeliSat, gave these future aviators a VIP presentation on helicopters. It was an enjoyable evening for all.

Helicopter Association of Canada

At its very successful annual convention and trade show, held in Calgary April 68, 2008 the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC) formally established a standing committee, the Utilities Flight Operations Committee (UFOC). Dave York, representing HAI at the HAC convention, encouraged the new committee to work with HAIs longstanding Utilities Patrol and Construction Committee (UPAC). In the spirit of cooperation, the newly established Canadian committee followed up on that invitation by sending a delegation of seven HAC members to attend and participate in HAIs UPAC summer meeting in June.

The Virginia Helicopter Association (VHA) conducted its first fundraising event on April 12, 2008 at the Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG) in Chesapeake, Virginia. The featured speaker was Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) David S. Williams, who presented Survival- Against All Odds, the story of his shoot-down and subsequent capture in March 2003, in the Invasion of Iraq. This first fundraising event was deemed highly successful, judging by the number of sponsors and great attendance. A BarB-Q dinner was on tap for everyone, followed by the heart-wrenching story of CWO Williams capture and the ensuing effort to gain his freedom and others from his unit, twenty-some days later. The dinner was held in a hangar, with helicopters on display, courtesy of Hampton Roads Helicopters, at PVG. The dinner was the kick-off event for an ambitious long-term fundraising effort to provide the funds for VHA to purchase a helicopter for use in public service projects, community outreach, and training.

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Eastern Region Helicopter Council

Professional Helicopter Pilots Association

On May 15, 2008 more than 80 pilots, students, and police, fire, and Coast Guard personnel attended the Professional Helicopter Pilots Associations annual safety conference. The theme for this years event was Avoiding Mid-Air Collisions in Dense Urban Environments. The first presentation of the day was given by Terry Palmer of Flight Safety International and Marty Rincon of AirSure Limited, who discussed current research in the causes of mid-air collisions. Howard Plagens, lead investigator with NTSB presented preliminary results of an investigation in mid-air collisions over the last five years in urban environments. Representing HAI, Charlie Cox, chairman of the HAI Fly Neighborly Committee, made a presentation on flying neighborly followed by a roundtable discussion of specific recommendations designed for the Los Angeles Basin. All participating members agreed much progress was made and look forward to continuing to work on these issues in the future.

Photo courtesy of ERHC

About 70 people came together at East 34th St. Metroport on April 26, 2008 for the Paul Smith Emergency Response Drill. Participants included a PHI medical helicopter and an NJSP helicopter, plus a Fire Department of New York (FDNY) boat, truck, and personnel. Pilots, heliport staff, a magazine reporter, and Helicopter Association Internationals (HAI) president, Matt Zuccaro came from as far away as Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. for the event. Presentations on a variety of aviation and safety topics were given and heliport line crew personnel practiced throwing life rings to a FDNY diver.

Atlanta Helicopter Pilots Association

Photo COURTESY OF Mike Milhorn with Edwards & Associates Photo courtesy of ERHC

In addition, on May 14, 2008 ERHC hosted its quarterly General Membership Meeting, which attracted about 60 persons from and related to the helicopter industry. Safety and Fly Neighborly committees led off the program, which also featured guests from FAA, NYC, Teterboro airport, Rutgers University, and HAI. Sponsors included an avionics manufacturer and weather service provider. Additional presentations were from the IFR chairman on the latest in instrument flight, as well as the Chairman and Special Advisors update on recent activities and the Chairmans review of 2007 census highlights and Web sites.

On May 17, 2008 according to President John Woodruff, the Atlanta Helicopter Pilots Association had a successful fly-in meeting and luncheon, in conjunction with an American Heroes air show at the Richard B. Russell Airport (KRMG) in Rome, Georgia. Fourteen AHPA member helicopters participated. The tent meeting was sponsored by Edwards and Associates and featured safety briefings and discussions on the importance of thorough pre-flight inspections along with fried chicken and all the fixins.

David York is Vice President of Regulations and International Affairs for HAI.

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