Serving in Uncertain Times

by Bill Lavender

Brazilian ag-aviation is the second largest group of agricultural pilots and planes in the world following the United States. The industry is growing rapidly with a significant expansion into turbine powered aircraft as the world’s demand increases for food and fiber.

The interests of the Brazilian ag-aviation industry is represented by its national association Sindicato Nacional das Empresas de Aviação Agrícola (SINDAG). Since 1991, the association has grown to be a powerful advocate for the industry. It has been fortunate to have had several very good leaders over the years serving as its president. In June of 2019, the members elected SINDAG director Thiago Magalhães Silva to serve as its president for the next two years.

Middle: Tangara Aeroagricola is an authorized service center for AeroGlobo Aeronaves. The company services all model Air Tractors, aswell as other model ag-aircraft. It is also a sales outlet for both newand used ag-aircraft. These two photos represent the capabilities ofTangara Aeroagricola with the airframe of an AT-802 before being rebuiltand the finished version. The AT-802 is used by Aeroagricola Chapadãofor fire fighting.

Thiago comes from a family of ag-aviators. His father, Antonio Carlos da Silva (Carlito) and his wife, Áurea Lúcia Magalhães Silva, formed Tangará Aero Agrícola, Ltda. in April 1985 in Orlândia, SP. The company initially operated one AgWagon and one Ipanema, but soon after, in the 1990s, it bought three PA-25 Piper Pawnees imported from Argentina. In April 1999, his children got into the business and formed Aeroagrícola Chapadão, by Thiago and his sister, Bruna Magalhães. This company originally operated in Catalão City, Goias. But after three years, Thiago and Bruna moved the company to Orlândia to help Tangará Aeroagrícola. Today, Tangará provides sales and services to ag-operators in the region and is an authorized service center for AeroGlobo Aeronaves, which represents all Air Tractor models for the U.S. Air Tractor dealer Lane Aviation.

While Tangará Aeroagrícola is the sales and aircraft maintenance company, Aeroagrícola Chapadão is the spraying company. It has a fleet of ag-aircraft that consists of 12 Air Tractors, four Piper Pawnee PA-25s and two Piper PA-36 Braves. The 12 Air Tractor models are six AT-402s, five AT-502s and one AT-802, which is used primarily for firefighting outfitted with a Zanoni hydraulic dump gate.

The lineup of hangars at Aeroagrícola Chapadão and Tangará Aeroagrícola in Orlândia, SP. Terraviva Aeroagrícola is another company owned byBruna and her husband, Rogério Velludo Ribeiro. This company extends thespraying services of the Magalhães family into Minas Gerais. Thecompanies are in the process of building new facilities that will havenew, spacious hangars, offices, runway, fuel services and loadingfacilities: completion date is in 2021.

Originally, Thiago planned to attend business school in São Paulo and pursue a career out of aviation. But in 1999, the sugar cane industry was going through a crisis that reflected on ag aviation. So he quit the college in São Paulo and returned to Ribeirão Preto, where he graduated in law and business administration while helping his father with the company. At that time, the company only operated three Pipe PA-25 Pawnees.

After working for 15 years in the ag-aviation business, in 2015 Thiago was invited to be a SINDAG director. Four years later in 2019, he was elected to serve as the association’s president. He is now in his first term as the SINDAG president. SINDAG’s presidential terms are two years, but a current president could be reelected for a second term. He devotes no less than two-three hours a day on SINDAG business. Plus, until early 2020, he often traveled representing the association, meeting with government officials, ANAC and other ag aviation interests.

The exhaust pipe of an Air Tractor’s PT6A engine. This well-polished exhaust pipe is an example of how clean the facilities area Aeroagrícola Chapadão and Tangará Aeroagrícola.

Thiago Magalhães da Silva points to the new Zanoni Equipamentos hydraulic dump gate on an AT502B.

The safety restrictions imposed by the new coronavirus reduced the trips, and even affected SINDAG’s planned events. About this, Thiago explains, that the advent of COVID-19 created uncertainties for the association, especially concerning the in-person Brazilian ag aviation convention that was scheduled for July in Sertãozinho, state of São Paulo. “The convention ended up canceled for 2020 and we moved the program to the same place in 2021. However, social media was already in the association’s plans for training and virtual meetings. The pandemic only hastened this process, therefore we had the online convention in July, so the year wouldn’t get skipped.”

The virtual media program originally was directed to operators. “However, as it progressed, it was offered to ag-pilots and other ag aviation professionals, as well. Like the Flight Security Academy - which had more than 230 participants, the Brazilian Aerial Application Technology Academy and other initiatives.”

Programs are presented through Zoom and reproduced on SINDAG´s YouTube channel. Everything is tailored to meet the needs that were identified through virtual meetings and other events involving operators, pilots, loaders and other professionals. “Ensino A Distância (EAD) is considered to be a huge success and it continues even today.” When asked if social media and virtual speeches would negatively affect future in-person congresses Thiago says a definitive no. “I actually believe EAD will help our attendance at future congresses. 90% of the ag-pilots surveyed wanted to continue with the convention. With virtual training, this will allow the congress to be more efficient. There are plans for major speeches at the introduction and the closing of the convention to be made through the web, increasing the opportunities for speeches from renowned authorities in the field from abroad, or without enough spare time to travel, allowing for more constructive time during the convention.”

Although Thiago does not fly ag, he does have a Private Pilot’s license and devotes his administrative skills to growing the companies owned by the Magalhães. Aside from having the huge responsibility of multi-tasking the management of these companies, he finds time to serve SINDAG. It seems every president has challenges during their terms; Thiago has met his COVID-19 challenge head on and SINDAG is the better for it.

In 2001, Tangará Aeroagrícola imported an ethanol powered Pawnee to add it to its fleet of ag-aircraft. It was the first ethanol powered ag-aircraft to operate in Brazil. Later, Embraer developed the “green” Ipanema EMB-202A with an optional ethanol powered engine. The company also engineered an alcohol conversion for other model Ipanemas.

This photo of a Piper Pawnee PA-25 is the first certificated alcohol powered aircraft with STC SE7734SW issued March 12,1990 to Mr. Maxwell E. Shauck, Jr. from the Department of Aviation Sciences Baylor University Waco, Texas. This STC allowed for modifications to the Lycoming IO-540 and O-540 series engines to operate using ethanol fuel. This was the first ethanol aircraft engine STC.

The ethanol-powered Pawnee is a favorite aircraft of Carlitos Magalhães. His love for the aircraft has restored it to better than new condition. It is lovingly named after his grandchildren; Roberto, Matheus and João.