Aviation Lieutenant Mariana de Bustamante Fontes, helicopter pilot from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), became the first woman to complete the Tactical Piloting Course (T), taught by the Aircraft Instruction Center Brazilian Army Aviation (CIAVEx).
The T 2023 class, formed on 08/12, included two pilots from the Brazilian Navy (MB), 16 pilots from the EB and two from the FAB: Lieutenant Aviator Matheus Albuquerque Brum de Souza, from the First Squadron of the Eleventh Group of Aviation (1st/11th GAV) – Gavião Squadron and Lieutenant Aviator Mariana, from Harpia Squadron.
For Lieutenant Mariana, this is another opportunity to specialize in Rotary Wing aviation. “It’s a possibility to add a lot to interoperability. It was something remarkable not only for me, but for both Forces, after all, the Army and Air Force need to fly on the wing”, commented.
The T aims to enable the pilot to carry out progression in tactical flight, movement in formation flight, know the fundamentals of air-to-air combat, know and practice shooting with the HA-1's axial armament (rocket and machine gun), in addition to to know and participate in the planning and execution of an aeromobile operation.
Throughout the course, which lasted 11 weeks, theoretical and practical instructions were given in Tactical Piloting, Helicopter Fraction Maneuverability, Mountain Flying, among others. The training is all carried out on the Fennec Avex AS550 aircraft in different environments.
The instruction continues in 2024 with the Combat Pilot Course, considered an extension of the first, aiming to enable the pilot to command Sections, Platoons and Squadrons of helicopters, in carrying out combat missions, combat and logistics within the scope of Aviation. of the Army.
The Commander of CIAVex, Artillery Colonel Luiz Marcelo Chan Fock de Oliveira, commented on the training of new specialized pilots. “The conclusion with the use of pilots from the Brazilian Air Force and Navy proves that we are on the right path and everyone will be able to defend the country together, if necessary”, he said.
With Brazilian air force
