The creation of the Aeroclube de Pernambuco (Pernambuco Flying Club) dates back to the first decades of the 20th century, more specifically, before the World War II, when the country needed a specific place to train pilots qualified to command warplanes. The foundation of the entity, as a space for the training of officers, took place on March 15, 1940, with the following address: Rua Tomé Gibson s/n, Encanta Moça, in the Pina neighborhood, in Recife.
The Pernambuco people used to call the island formed, in the Pina basin, by one of the branches of the Capibaribe River as Encanta Moça. At a time when Pernambuco aviation still did not have an adequate landing and take-off field to receive small planes, some French pilots discovered the usefulness of that island for this purpose.
Notably, in the 1920s and 1930s, seaplanes predominated over land-based planes, as the former had the advantage of not needing expensive concrete runways to land. Thus, seaplanes used the Pina Basin.
Currently, the Pernambuco Flying Club is available to all those who have flown or who have never flown and wish to practice aviation, maintaining permanent courses. Theoretical courses are given in the virtual flight laboratory, which has three computers, connected in a network, containing a stick, headphones, and microphones (so that the apprentices can communicate with each other), and also a flight controller installed in a fourth machine.
The entity offers two types of courses: basic and advanced. The first one lasts three months and uses the following software: Flight Simulator 2002 and 2004 (standard and professional), Pro Controller (control tower radar simulator), and Roger Wilco, intended to simulate the communication between the pilots. During the theoretical course, in turn, students learn basic maneuvers, simulator and aircraft commands, receive information about air traffic, safety, and spend a few hours training with virtual navigation.
The basic subjects of the course include: regulations, meteorology, air navigation, flight theory and technical knowledge of engines. Before the practical classes, however, everyone learns to fly using instruments. Regarding simulators, apprentices are trained using an ATC810 twin-engine and an ATC710 single-engine. Regarding aircraft, Aeroboero AB 115 and AMT200 Super Ximango (a motor glider) are available.
In the advanced course, students train online flying, learn standard aviation phraseology, interpreting charts, briefings, NDB, VOR and IIS, and piloting a Baron 58 to familiarize themselves with commercial aviation practice. After completing the theoretical course, and approval by the Board of the Department of Civil Aviation (DAC), candidates must then take the practical course, which has a minimum level of 35 hours of flight time.
It is worth mentioning two important data: the first is the existence, in the city of Salvador (Bahia), of a university course in Aeronautical Sciences, which makes it possible to learn the knowledge necessary to fly an aircraft; and the second is that, in recent years, regarding the aviation market, 20 new air taxi companies have been approved in the Northeast of Brazil.
Since the end of World War II, Pernambuco has been counting on an important center for the training of pilots and also an excellent starting point for all individuals who love aviation.
Recife, February 24, 2005.
sources consulted
AEROCLUBE. [Foto neste texto]. Disponível em: <http://www.voovisual.com.br/ultima-visita-ao-aeroclube-de-pernambuco/>. Acesso em: 18 nov. 2016.
AEROPORTO Internacional dos Guararapes. Disponível em: <www.sbrf.hpg.ig.com.br/historico.htm>. Acesso em 21 jan. 2005.
MOREIRA, Iuri. Para matar a secura de ser um piloto. Diario de Pernambuco, Recife, 16 jun. 2004. Informática.
how to quote this text
VAINSENCHER, Semira Adler. Pernambuco Flying Club. In: PESQUISA Escolar. Recife: Fundação Joaquim Nabuco, 2005. Available from: https://pesquisaescolar.fundaj.gov.br/pt-br/artigo/aeroclube-de-pernambuco/. Access on em: mês dia ano. (Ex.: ago. 6 2020.)