“Of course, we had arranged all that with the local handler, so they knew we were coming. If the handling job is done properly, the services on the other side should be done well, too. We provided a lot of information for that flight ahead of time to the handler, Lider Aviation, that we use there. There are others there as well.”
Fuel at SBGR is provided by the Brazilian refiner Petrobras and, like slots and parking, should be scheduled through handlers and contract fuelers as far in advance as possible — Zamini recommends 48 to 72 hr. prior to scheduled departure, as the airport can get congested. For one of the crews mentioned earlier, Zamini said, “the airport authorities knew it was a Global Express that would be arriving and would need a lot of fuel, and so they sent two trucks — all because we ordered early. It's a good idea to avoid peak periods anyway.” Pricing, at least this summer, is pretty competitive — less than $4/gallon.
Departing, crews are accompanied to a designated place in the passenger terminal by the handler, who also takes care of luggage, security clearance and expedited CIQ clearance. “Then the handler accompanies the crew and passengers to vans on the ramp that transport them to the airplane,” Zamini said. “If the luggage is extensive, it will be transported separately — be aware that you will not be able to see it in that case.”
Security is “everywhere” at SBGR, Zamini claimed, “lots of guard posts with secured gates. Crews have felt safe and that they did not need additional guards for the aircraft.”
At Congonhas, operators can park for the duration of their stays; however, as at Guarulhos, only if ramp space is sufficient. Fuel of good quality is readily available and can be purchased with most fuel and credit cards once a fuel release is obtained. All other services a business jet might need (lav, water, line maintenance, etc.) can be had at SBSP — even good catering from a flight kitchen on the field. (For Guarulhos, Zamini cited a Marriott hotel just outside the gates that he said crews have rated highly for catering.)
Asked about the security situation at Congonhas, Bastos responded that each FBO has its own security system in place. “Aprons and airside areas will not be accessed by people other than crew, passengers and authorized agents.” At SBSP, armed guards are not permitted, and limousines are barred from ramps. Altogether, the airport is quite secure.
While the downtown airports do not host business jet service centers, Bastos provided a directory of where they can be found in São Paulo State: Embraer and Bombardier, São José dos Campos (SBSJ); Cessna Citation, Jundiai (SDJD); and Dassault Falcon Jet and Gulfstream at Sorocaba (SDCO), 65 mi. to the west.
While carbon trading for aviation is currently not an issue in Brazil, Zamini said officials in Brasilia, the capital, are “talking about it.” While the city government of Rio de Janeiro will implement a new carbon trading market for surface industries in 2013, the solons there have not indicated thus far whether it will be extended to cover aviation emissions. “The general consensus,” he said, “is that this is the camel's nose under the tent!”
What is now São Paulo stemmed from the first permanent Portuguese colony in the New World, São Vicente, established on the Brazilian coast in 1532. Twenty-two years later, Jesuit missionaries and Tibirica Indians converted to Christianity traveled 68 km inland and founded São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga — today's São Paulo, which also serves as capital of São Paulo State. Its “Wall Street” is Paulista Avenue, home of the second largest stock exchange in the world in market value. The city is known for its parks, monuments, and several museums, including the Museum of the Portuguese Language and the São Paulo Museum of Art. BCA
Country: Federative Republic of Brazil