Brazilian agricultural aviation grows 3,4% and remains the second largest in the world

With a share of 27,4% in Brazilian GDP, agribusiness is one of the most powerful production chains in our economy. In addition to itself, the sector drives several others, such as transport and logistics, real estate and commerce. But there is an economic segment that is also strongly impacted by agriculture, but many people don't pay attention to this: it is business aviation, and within that, agricultural aviation.

With 2.432 aircraft – 2.409 planes and 23 helicopters – Brazilian agricultural aviation recorded growth of 3,4% in 2021, according to data from the National Union of Agricultural Aviation Companies (Sindag). As a result, Brazil continues to have the second largest agricultural fleet in the world, behind only the United States, with more than 3,6 aircraft. Also according to Sindag figures, Goiás has the fourth largest fleet of agricultural aircraft in the country, with 295 pieces of equipment. Ahead are only Mato Grosso (600 aircraft), Rio Grande de Sul (419) and São Paulo (322).

Aware of this enormous potential, a group of entrepreneurs made up of six companies from Goiás are building in the metropolitan region of Goiânia, the largest infrastructure for general aviation in the Center-West and one of the largest in Brazil. With investments of around R$100 million, the Antares Polo Aeronáutico will be aimed at so-called general aviation, which encompasses executive aviation, aeromedical services, air cargo transport, agricultural aviation, regional flights or regional aviation and aircraft maintenance . 

“The project is divided into five phases and the first is scheduled for delivery in 2024, with the landing strip and boarding and disembarking areas already in place, in addition to all the necessary infrastructure for the hangars. Our objective is to serve companies from all segments of general aviation, including agriculture, which is very strong in Goiás and throughout the Center-West”, informs the developer and one of the entrepreneurs responsible for the Antares Polo Aeronáutico, Rodrigo Neiva. 

According to the executive, Antares was born after realizing the need for a large place that could serve aviation, right in the center of Brazil. “For Goiás, this project promises to be a watershed, as the State will house the largest and most complete business aviation hub in the country, serving, thanks to its privileged geographical position, as a support, maintenance and stopover center for the national aviation”.

Big market

The businessman highlights that agribusiness is, indeed, an important anchor for the enterprise that is being built in the heart of Brazil. “Agriculture has always boosted general aviation. The application of agricultural pesticides, sowing of pastures, reforestation of forests, in addition to firefighting services, make agricultural aviation a large market in the country. And the Brazilian center-west, especially Goiás, is a reference in this segment”, explains Neiva.

Rodrigo Neiva's statement is corroborated by figures from the Brazilian Association of General Aviation (Abag), which indicate that the Central-West region holds 48% of the country's entire private fleet (except commercial airline aviation) and is home to 37% of companies that provide this specialized aviation service.”Due to this strong impact of agricultural aviation in the Center-West, Goiás is today the third largest aircraft maintenance center in Brazil, a segment that will also be covered by Antares”, adds Rodrigo Neiva .

Recent improvements

Aware of the possibility of meeting various demands of the executive aviation market in Brazil, the Antares Polo Aeronáutico Administrative Council recently defined several improvements for the expansion of the enterprise. 

The main one concerns its landing and take-off runway, which is 1,8 kilometers long and now 45 meters wide, instead of 30 m. The project also changes its PCN, or Pavement Classification Number, from 30 to 43. This is a calculation that evaluates the structural condition of landing and take-off runways at airports, to ensure runway integrity and operational safety of runways. aircraft.

Another change in the project concerns the aircraft apron, which from its current 11 thousand m², can now have its area expanded to 22 thousand m², depending on demand. In some blocks the width of the sidewalks will also be greater, going from 7,5m to 12,5m. With these changes, the Antares Polo Aeronáutica airport will have the capacity to receive large aircraft, such as a Boeing 737 800.