Ceremony honored the 120th anniversary of the birth of Air Marshal Casimiro Montenegro Filho
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Scarlet
The Brasília Air Base hosted a ceremony marking Embraer’s 55th anniversary and the 120th anniversary of the birth of Air Marshal Casimiro Montenegro Filho, founder of the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) and the Aeronautics Technical Center (CTA), which would later become the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA).
The event, held on Monday (26/08), was attended by the Minister of State for the Office of Institutional Security of the Presidency of the Republic, Marcos Antonio Amaro dos Santos, the President of Embraer, Francisco Gomes Neto, the Commander of the Air Force, Air Brigadier Lieutenant Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, former Commanders and members of the High Command of the Air Force, as well as other civil and military authorities.
During the ceremony, the Commander of the Air Force highlighted the importance of the historic partnership between Embraer and the FAB, stressing how this collaboration has been essential for strengthening national defense and developing cutting-edge technologies that put Brazil at the forefront of the aerospace industry.
“It is with great satisfaction that we celebrate two significant milestones in our history: the 120th anniversary of the birth of Air Marshal Casimiro Montenegro Filho and the 55th anniversary of Embraer. I reaffirm the Air Force Command’s commitment to further strengthening the enriching relationship with the company, ensuring that our institutions continue to soar, side by side, towards a bright and promising future,” said the Commander.
For Embraer’s president, Francisco Gomes Neto, the company’s trajectory over more than five decades is a source of pride for Brazil. He highlighted how Embraer has become one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, playing an important role in the progress of civil and military aviation.
“This occasion is not just a celebration of Embraer’s successful trajectory, but a tribute to the pioneers who turned the dream of flying into reality. I thank the Air Force for its trust in the company,” said the president.
The unveiling of a commemorative plaque honoring Embraer’s 55th anniversary and the 120th anniversary of the birth of Marshal Montenegro was the highlight of the ceremony. The symbolic act reaffirms Brazil’s commitment to innovation and technological progress in the aerospace sector. The plaque will be fixed at the DCTA, where it will remain on display, symbolizing Embraer’s and the Air Marshal’s legacy of innovation and excellence in the history of Brazilian aviation. At the end of the ceremony, the guests visited aircraft that are part of Embraer’s history, on display in the courtyard of Brasília Air Base.
The Director General of the DCTA, Air Brigadier Maurício Augusto Silveira de Medeiros, emphasized the importance of Air Marshal Casimiro Montenegro Filho’s legacy. “Embraer was born within the CTA, at the time of the Air Marshal, with the idea of producing aircraft in our country. To do this, we needed to train engineers and, with two pillars, teaching and research, Montenegro managed to leverage this within our country, creating the Technological Institute of Aeronautics and the Technical Center of Aeronautics to conduct research,” recalled the General Officer.
History
The Patron of Aeronautical Engineering, Casimiro Montenegro Filho, was born on October 28, 1904, in Fortaleza (CE). He was the founder of ITA and DCTA, institutions that were essential to the development of Embraer. He was also a pioneer in the Military Air Mail (CAM), which later became the National Air Mail (CAN).
At the head of the first Commission for the Organization of the Aeronautics Technical Centre (COCTA), he pursued a strategy defined by the trilogy “Teaching, Research and Industry”. With this in mind, the Technological Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) was born in 1950. That same year, the Aeronautical Engineering Course began in São José dos Campos (SP), the location chosen to set up the Aeronautics Technical Center, which in 1969 became the Aerospace Technical Center (CTA). ITA and the CTA were fundamental to the development of Brazil’s promising aeronautics industry.
The CTA evolved into the current Aerospace Technical Center, one of the pillars of aerospace research and development in Brazil. Casimiro Montenegro Filho’s vision lives on, driving Brazil towards the future of aviation and space. The Research and Development Institute (IPD) was also a vital creation, fostering innovation and the development of advanced technologies. The IPD has put Brazil at the forefront of aeronautical technology.
Photos: Sergeant Viegas / Cecomsaer