At Sao Paulo's Congonhas Airport, 70 planes were on display as part of the ninth Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition, which organizers say is the second-largest general-aviation show in the world after the Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin.
A major air show in Sao Paulo last week turned the spotlight on the robust health of Brazil's general-aviation market, which is thriving despite the global economic slowdown.
General aviation, which makes up the majority of the world's air traffic, refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline-passenger and cargo flights.
The category, made up mostly of small planes, covers corporate travel, private flying, flight training, air ambulance, police aviation, aerial firefighting, air charter and bush flying.
At Sao Paulo's Congonhas Airport, 70 planes were on display as part of the ninth Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition, which organizers say is the second-largest general-aviation show in the world after the Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin.
"The general aviation market has expanded considerably in Brazil, unlike in other countries," said Eduardo Marson, president of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Association (ABAG).
The sector soared 6.4% from 2010 to 2011 and should grow 4.5% to 5% from 2011 to 2012, he added. "But we are not immune from the world [economic] crisis," he said.
The three-day air show, which closed Friday, drew around 100 manufacturers, including Canada's Bombardier Inc. (IW 1000/241); Gulfstream and Hawker Beechcraft from the United States; Europe's Airbus; and Brazil's Embraer SA (IW 1000/702); as well as providers of airplane service, insurance and maintenance.
Last year, the show featured 60 aircraft, drew 15,000 visitors over three days, and closed with contracts worth a total of $400 million.
There is growth in all general-aviation categories in Brazil, "but especially business aviation," said Dorieldo Luis dos Prazeres, an air-control expert at the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency.
"The economy is booming, the companies, the number of rich people and this means higher sales of aircraft," dos Prazeres said.
