The Aviator Cadets of the Artemis Class begin their operational activity, with Air Lieutenant Brigadier Reis as their instructor for the first flight.
Air Force Agency – AFA, by Lieutenant Chayanne
On January 23rd, the Air Force Academy (AFA) began the first aerial instruction of the year, with the flight of Cadet Aviator Hilton Maia Lourenço, under the instruction of the General Commander of the Air Force Personnel, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Ricardo Reis Tavares. In this way, the Cadet Aviators of the Artemis Class officially began their aerial activities in the First Air Instruction Squadron (1st EIA), flying the T-27M aircraft.
Before this historic flight, there was intense preparation to ensure operational safety. “Air Lieutenant Brigadier Reis had been preparing for this moment for a few days. He underwent his readaptation, airborne instruction and fulfilled all the prerequisites. This serves as an example and becomes a catalyst for our young cadets who are starting out in the air. Today’s instructor can be tomorrow’s student,” said AFA Commander, Air Brigadier Eric Breviglieri.
During Air Brigadier Reis’ visit to the Academy, the day before the flight, he also handed out the Leadership Badges, an event that symbolizes the importance of training the future leaders of the Brazilian Air Force and recognizes achievements in the continuous process of learning and exchanging knowledge.


The Director of Aeronautical Education, Major General Marcelo Fornasiari Rivero, celebrated the event, pointing out that AFA is where it all begins. “The Teaching Directorate’s main activity is instruction and having an officer from the High Command taking part is extremely important. He can observe these dynamics up close, see what has changed since he was a cadet and witness the seriousness with which we transform all this experience into excellence in teaching aviation. In the specific case of Brigadier Reis, we also had the opportunity to honor the instructor with the most flight hours in the T-27,” he said.
For Air Lieutenant General Reis, it was a unique moment to be present with the cadets on this occasion. “This is the last stage of a long journey as students. Soon, they will be realizing their dream of becoming Aspiring Aviator Officers and it is extremely gratifying to be able to take part in this moment with them. It’s an opportunity to share their expectations of what the year holds and, at the same time, to offer words of encouragement, actively participating in the instruction process,” he concluded.