On Tuesday night (1st), the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), and his delegation were preparing to return from Mexico.
For the next few hours, the aircraft had to fly in circles over Mexico so it could burn fuel, become lighter and land safely.
Due to failure, . The presidential aircraft was in Mexico, where it is.
The episode reignited the debate: . The A-319 in question was purchased during Lula’s first term, in 2004.
Since then, new technologies have been developed, which have left the equipment outdated. In the assessment of experts consulted by the CNN, the aircraft should be exchanged for a safer one with adequate equipment to meet the needs of a head of state.
“It is really necessary to replace this aircraft with one that has more autonomy, that can fly with at least one stopover, for example, from Brasília to Tokyo. Today it is necessary to make two, sometimes even three stopovers, this is really a risk for the president”, assesses José Augusto Zague, researcher at the defense and international security study group at Unesp.
The expert also points out that with modern models, the president could also work from an airplane thanks to new satellite communication systems.
And for Boeing 777 pilot Rafael Santos, this is a question of work efficiency not only for the head of state, but for everyone involved in the operation.
“We associate planes or aviation with luxury, travel or leisure, the plane is a work tool, whether it is the president’s plane or the plane of the executive of a large bank, or an employee who is traveling to attend to something, the plane It is a revenue generator, it is not a luxury”, says Santos.
But even so, the issue of security still stands out, points out Enio Beal, former presidential aircraft pilot.
“There is great care when carrying out this type of flight, with many requirements and criteria so that safety is always put first, even above comfort. So, for this reason, I have no doubt that it is essential that a country like ours has to have a presidential aircraft”, reinforces Beal.
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) too. The assessment is that this is not a mere question of the president’s personal security, but of national security.
O Former Defense Minister Aldo Rebelo reinforces the point and highlights that the presidential plane is not intended only for the president, but rather a property in function of the government as a structure.
“It is a Presidency plane for national security, the security of the Presidency of the Republic and the compatible administration of the President’s agenda with the continental dimensions of the country, in addition to international travel”, says Rebelo.
