Entity must define with associates the contributions to public consultations on rules for ag aviation operations, personnel training and other requirements

The two main regulatory bodies for Brazilian agricultural aviation – the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC, in Portuguese acronym) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) – are in the process of reassessing the rules for the aviation sector. This is already on SINDAG’s radar: the entity should start an agenda with at least two meetings with members next week to decide on their contributions to each of the processes.

In the case of ANAC, it is preparing its 2024/2025 Regulatory Agenda. This is a routine planning for the Agency, where it formalizes the priorities for the review processes in the following two years. The deadline for suggestions from professionals, companies and institutions in the Brazilian aviation is next Tuesday (October 29).

There are almost 30 items already planned on the agenda until 2026. ANAC intends, for example, to regulate civilian flights for humanitarian missions to disaster areas. Such as the more than 50 missions carried out last May by ag aviation companies – delivering food, water and medicine during the record flooding in Rio Grande do Sul State.

This is in addition to changes in training requirements and the work of aircraft mechanics. Among other issues that directly or indirectly affect the ag aviation industry.

According to the SINDAG’s CEO, Gabriel Colle, the idea is to open the entity’s channel next week for agav companies to present their observations and contributions on the Regulatory Agenda. “We will then hold a debate with members and our technical advisory team to then present (to ANAC) Sindag’s assessment and suggestions.”

Ministry should unify rules for airplanes and drones

For the Ministry of Agriculture, the SINDAG procedure should be the same, but with more time. According to Ordinance SDA No. 1,187, published on October 14 in the Federal Official Gazette, suggestions from the sector can be sent until December 15.

In this case, the Public Consultation is about new rules for the registration and operation of agricultural aviation companies and private operators of agricultural aviation – of manned aircraft or drones. It also covers the accreditation of schools for agricultural aviation courses.

In short, MAPA is preparing a new and wider ordinance for agricultural aviation. Replacing and unifying what is currently governed by Normative Instruction No. 2/2008, which deals with manned aircraft, and by Ordinance No. 298/2021, which covers unmanned aircraft (ARP or drones). “Our goal is to contribute to a consistent and rational process, ensuring the safety and efficiency of operations and, at the same time, promoting the development of the sector”, concludes Gabriel Colle.

Contributions to the Ministry of Agriculture must be sent through the Regulatory Acts Monitoring System (Sisman), of the Secretariat of Agricultural Defense (SDA/Mapa). Important: the suggestions must be technically substantiated – otherwise, they may be automatically rejected.

REVIEW: SINDAG must define with associates the contributions to public consultations on rules for agricultural aviation operations, personnel training and other requirements – photo: Castor Becker Jr/C5NewsPress