Embraer Ipanema Renato Spilimbergo Carvalho, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons
Agricultural
Aviation
/ Brazil
Air Tractor
Meet Embraer's (almost) competitor in agricultural aviation
By: Gabriela Ramos
On: 8/12/2021
AT-402B
Divulgação/Air Tractor
Despite the fact that the great sovereignty of Embraer's Ipanema in agricultural aviation is not even remotely threatened, there is another manufacturer gaining ground in the Brazilian market, the American Air Tractor. The American aircraft already has orders in the pipeline for 2022.
The Air Tractor's participation in Brazilian crops has been motivated by its large net carrying capacity, which makes it a good option for aerial spraying of large areas, as explained by Luiz Fabiano Zucarelli Cunha, partner-owner of one of the three agents of Air Tractor in South America, Aeroglobo. For this type of operation, Ipanema may not be the best option, as it would need more passages over the plantations, which would increase the cost of the service. Meanwhile, Ipanema's advantage would be the fact that it runs on ethanol, which makes it not subject to the high volatility of oil.
According to statistics from Sindag (National Union of Agricultural Aviation Companies), in 2020 Brazil had 2,352 registered agricultural aircraft, which represents an increase of 3.16% compared to 2019. And the forecast is that the continue, with an increase between 100 and 110 new aircraft, with an increase of about 4.5%. In other words, this seems to be a promising market in Brazil.
The director of Aeroglobo says that he has not felt the pressures of the appreciation of the dollar and of fuel, which, however, have brought great problems to aviation in general.
Thiago Magalhães, president of Sindag and owner of Tangará Aeroagrícola, emphasizes the cost-benefit of using aircraft over the use of tractors. According to him, an outsourced machine would cost an average of R$70 per hectare, while an outsourced aircraft would cost R$40.
According to Cunha, Air Tractor aircraft in general range from US$935,000 to more than US$2 million, but their use pays for itself. For this reason, a significant growth in the sector is expected in the next two years if drastic changes in the political and fiscal scenario do not occur.
Gabriela Ramos
Gabriela is the latest addition to the editorial team of our website, having provided us with her solid background in editing, publishing and photography, and her interest and training in aviation history and historiography. His good taste and common sense and great cleverness and sagacity in the selection of themes and materials greatly enriched our vocabulary and narrative style. Gabriela brought unusual predicates and came to stay, helping to point the way of success of our portal.
   
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