Operational pilots were specialized to work in Rotary Wing Aviation, Fighter Aviation, Transport Aviation and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Aviation.
Air Force Agency, by Lieutenant Scarlet
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) welcomed new combat pilots on Thursday (December 14). The ceremony marking the end of the 2023 Operational Specialization Program (PESOP), held at the Natal Air Base (BANT), graduated 89 combat pilots, students from the Anúbis Class, 11 of whom are specialized in Rotary Wing Aviation, 21 in Fighter Aviation, 45 in Transport Aviation and 10 in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Aviation, as well as two foreign pilots, from Uruguay and Paraguay.
The Commander of the Air Force, Air Brigadier General Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, presided over the ceremony and was welcomed by the Commander of the BANT, Air Brigadier Éric Cézzane Cólen Guedes. The ceremony was also attended by the Preparedness Commander, Air Brigadier Sergio Roberto de Almeida, as well as other FAB General Officers, among other civilian and military authorities.
“I’ve been training here for 40 years and it’s important to note that we maintain a very standardized training of our combat pilots, which reaffirms the excellence, from the Air Cadet Preparatory School, then at the Air Force Academy, ending here, with the specialization of operational pilots in this expressive and exciting graduation,” said Lieutenant Brigadier Damasceno.
The Commander of BANT, Brigadier Cólen, spoke about the importance of PESOP. “It’s a pleasure to complete our main mission, which is to train combat pilots for the Air Force. It was hard work, with more than 11,000 flight hours. I would like to thank everyone involved in fulfilling the PESOP and congratulate the graduates. Lead the way! Soon each of you will be in operational squadrons as leaders, making decisions,” said the General Officer.
The instructors and trainees who stood out during the year received the Standard 2023 Award during the event, and then the operational badges were awarded to the graduates.
Lieutenant Aviator Jéfferson Júnior, who specializes in Fighter Aviation, received the standard trainee award and spoke about the excitement of graduation. “I was able to fulfill a childhood dream. It’s an immense pleasure to have completed the course, especially being awarded standard trainee. After a lot of study, it’s rewarding to put on the Fighter Aviation badge. I’m very proud to belong to the Brazilian Air Force,” said the new fighter pilot.
PESOP
PESOP aims to prepare military pilots from the Air Force Academy to carry out the operational and administrative activities of the first ranks of the military aviator’s career.
Over the course of the year, military personnel are trained in rotary-wing aviation, fighter aviation, transport aviation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aviation, and are trained to serve in FAB air units throughout Brazil.
Danilo’s Opera
The celebrations to mark the end of PESOP 2023 began the day before graduation, with the traditional staging of Danilo’s Opera, as a way of paying tribute to the new specialized pilots. Danilo’s Opera tells the saga of Lieutenant Danilo Marques Moura. After his P-47 Thunderbolt was shot down by German anti-aircraft artillery in Italy, the airman walked 340 kilometers for 30 days.
He arrived at the Allied base in Pisa 19 kilos thinner. The adventure is traditionally repeated by military fighter aviation. The event was attended by the Commander of the FAB, Lieutenant Brigadier Damasceno; the Commanders of the Military Organizations of the Natal Air Force Garrison; and PESOP instructors and trainees.
Photos: Sergeant Müller Marin/ CECOMSAER / Video: Sergeant Néris/ CECOMSAER – *** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***