Brazilian Defence Minister Denies his ATC Problems

Conceding that Brazilian ATC is understaffed and lacking modern equipment, in testimony before parliamentary lawmakers on 11 April, aviation potentates nevertheless maintained that the system was still safe. The hearing was called to investigate the industrial crisis that has been disrupting the nation's air traffic ever since the 30 Sep 2006 disastrous midair collision between an Embraer Jet and a GOL 737. International aviation experts have described Brazil's flight security as inadequate, with one group commenting that safety was on a par with Africa's. Defense Minister Waldo Pirez disagreed but the Air Force ATC Commander, Juniti Saito, conceded that Brazil's radar coverage was shot full of holes. However he maintained that "Even when an aircraft is beyond radar's reach, it's being monitored. It is malicious to say there are black holes in our control." Later in his testimony he testified that there was also "occasional" atmospheric interference in ATC's radio communications." Commander Saito did not take a position on demilitarizing the air traffic control system, but said it would be complicated because it would require legal and regulatory changes, re-equipment and a civilianization of military personnel. Air traffic in Latin America's largest country has been growing by 17 percent annually for the past four years and public dissatisfaction with air travel is fast approaching crisis level. For Related Info