While the aviation business in Brazil is concentrated in São Paulo, the business aviation user often is not. Brazilian representative Plane Aviation’s solution is the “Cirrus Experience” roadshow, of which more than 80 have been held around Brazil with marketing partners, currently Banco Alfa, Timbro Trading, Vokan insurance brokerage, and Truckvan. A shipping container opens to an air-conditioned stand, with a fold-out porch in front and a glassed-in bay expanding behind. The stand is on display during LABACE at Static 5128.
“This year has been very challenging," said Plane Aviation president Sergio Benedetti, "given the country’s financial and economic situation. Demand is low, and improvement is not expected until next year.
“The great uncertainty of the economy affects the value of the dollar, and that affects business. Only after the elections will things stabilize. The value of the dollar is one of the things that most affect sales," he said, expressing a concern echoed by many others at LABACE. “The dollar was stable around R$2.10, and now it’s unstable around R$3.90.”
One of the sectors remaining strong in Brazil is agribusiness because commodity prices are in dollars. For that market, the Cirrus Vision Jet is especially well positioned. While LABACE is the Vision Jet’s first public showing in Brazil, Benedetti noted that it’s been here once for a private showing to position holders, one in 10 of whom are Brazilian. Plane Aviation has two additional positions this year. The first delivery of a Vision Jet in Brazil will be in January.
“Plane does only aircraft sales," he said. "Besides Cirrus, we also represent Maule in Brazil." Support and training are provided by partners, with 25 maintenance centers in Brazil, and a training center, located like Plane in JundiaĂ, named Air Training. The company offers a simulator that can be configured for Avidyne or Garmin avionics, and it includes an airframe parachute simulation.
Finance partner Banco Alfa’s VIP branch finances aircraft and yachts, VIP product manager Ana Carolina Monteiro Portela explained. Dealing with aircraft buyers, she sees “good indications that the market is recovering,” but, she added, “Uncertainties such as the election and so on make many clients hesitate. Many clients are holding off.”
Alfa is ready when the market improves and is working to increase market share. “We believe that next year, the market will heat up, ” she said, adding, “Cirrus and the tradings [import firms with special tax advantages] are good partners. They serve the market Alfa serves. Partnering with Cirrus helps us expose ourselves more to the market.”
