The week before LABACE 2016 opened, one of the remaining display spaces was taken by Power Helicópteros, which brought an Ecureuil, an H130, an EC130T2 and a Robinson R66 from its base at the upstate airport of Ribeirão Preto. Power had missed last year's LABACE, but had made a splash in previous years, including delivering a B4 HC130 in 2013 for soccer star Neymar, hero of Brazil's Olympic gold medal in Rio. The decision to return this year was explained by sales analyst Indauê Lopes: “Even with Brazil's problems, our product [sales] have improved a lot in the first six months.” The firm has clients from all over Brazil, not just from the rich agricultural region where it is headquartered.
The fast and firm decision to exhibit, and exhibit big, was possible because Power is a family firm. Technical director André Cunha said of owner and president Dalvaro Lima, "The moment inspires caution, but he's optimistic and has vision, and managed to make it viable." Cunha spoke of some of the challenges the location outside of major cities poses for Power as an authorized Helibras (Airbus Helicopters) and Robinson maintenance center, "For clients in Belo Horizonte, it's a two hour flight, and they'll think twice before making visit, when there may be someone two minutes away." For Cunha, "Being away from the urban centers provides a better life for our collaborators."
Dalvaro Lima himself was opening the stand on Thursday morning, and told AIN that Power's presence at the fair represented "planting so we can harvest." He said " I had been studying [participation at LABACE], and managed to get a large space." On the upstate location, he said that "We work with the whole country as the Robinson dealer for Brazil, and it's more practical today, with the internet and WhatsApp." Lima interrupted the conversation to greet a client, who had purchased the R66 on display the day before LABACE started. The client, who lives in Minas Gerais, was on his was to his factory in the state of Paraná.
Lima said that Power recently sold the first Robinson R44 with an autopilot in Brazil, and would have displayed Brazil's second such at LABACE, except that it was held up in customs. The chalet also displayed posters announcing a safety course in Ribeirão Preto with Timothy C. Tucker, FAA chief of safety courses with 21,000 flight hours logged. It also alerted that this is the last chance to catch Tucker's course before he retires. "Safety is very important to us," said Lima. "We've been offering safety courses since 1999."
