Arrival in Campo Grande

For me, it is important to allow time to rest while traveling in Brazil. This is particularly true when you are switching airlines, meeting people and all at the same time carrying luggage that contains a few hundred AgAir Updates and trade show materials weighing well over a couple of hundred pounds.

After my visit with ABA Maintenance Aeronaves in Barreiras, Bahia, I caught a flight to Brasilia that connected to my destination, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. I arrived at the hotel just after midnight, Monday night. Here is where I would settle in for the rest of the week before returning home on Saturday night. This would give me all of Tuesday to rest and prepare for three days of "congresso", the Brazilian national agricultural aviation association's (SINDAG) convention. 

Wednesday started the three-day event. It is located at the local Santa Maria (on Google Earth) airport that is a $25 taxi ride each way from the hotel. Once you leave the hotel in the morning, you stay at the convention airport for the duration. Renting a car is about $200 a day, plus taxes, insurance and fuel, so that is out of the question. 

I was setting up at 9a and left at 9p before the day's event ended. There is just only so much a person can get done in a day; a long day of standing and being challenged to speak in Portuguese through the use of two translators. One of the translators is my long time (over 10 years) representative, Gina Hickmann from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (in the southern region). The other translator is a local, hired just to help with the convention. Both ladies are fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. 

There are approximately 40 exhibitors at the SINDAG congress. They are set up in exhibit stands inside three adjacent hangars with more weatherproof stands of exhibitors between another row of three hangars. One of these hangars houses the cantina for eating, two others for meetings and lectures.

Not unlike any other trade show, I have the opportunity to meet AgAir Update readers, these from throughout Brazil and sometimes readers will attend from nearby Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. I have been doing this work in Latin America for about 17 years and have made many longtime friends, even though our conversations are somewhat limited with the differences in languages. However, some can speak excellent English. 

I also have an excellent opportunity while at the congress to visit with the exhibitors, who for the most part are AgAir Update advertisers. There are a few that are new to the ag-aviation business and I am sure to visit with them, explaining the virtues of advertising in AgAir Update's Latin American versions. 

Now, it is Thursday morning. It is a beautiful day, about 70dF with a clear sky. Like yesterday, I expect more aerial demonstrations of the Thrush, Ipanema and Air Tractor. A couple of the Brazilian ag-pilots are accomplished aerobatic pilots. They always perform a great air show. I'll have to wait and see which type aircraft they will use for the aerobatics, but I am sure one will be an RV-6 flown by "Beto" Textor.

Keep turning...