Brazil Convention comes to a close

The 2012 SINDAG congress came to a close Friday night, June 29 after three, successful days of conducting ag-aviation business. A large party was held for the closing and was sponsored by Helices Costa, Aviation Parts EXE . According to SINDAG president, Nelson Paim, approximately 850 people registered and attended the event. There were approximately 40 exhibitors. Like in most parts of the world, ag-aviation in Brazil is booming. The country takes delivery of the more new U.S.-built ag-planes delivered internationally than any other country. Only a few short years ago, it was hard to find a turbine-powered ag-plane in Brazil. Today, it is rapidly becoming the norm. After a long week in Brazil, now it is time for me to start working my way back home to Georgia. The 30-hour travel event starts in Campo Grande Saturday morning where I catch a flight to Rio de Janeiro. I will have about a four-hour connection time in Rio before I board the 9-hour flight to Miami. Once in Miami, arriving there at 4a, I will clear immigration and customs and then catch another flight to Atlanta. From Atlanta, it is still an additional two hours of driving with hopes of arriving home in time for Sunday lunch. It will be good to return home to some sort of normalcy. However, it will be only about a month before I return to South America, this time the visit will include Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. There will be two conventions, one in Brazil and a few days later, too close together to warrant returning home, another one in Rosario, Argentina. The few days between the convention I plan to visit ag-operators in Uruguay, a very interesting country in its own rights. Keep turning...