Brasília (DF) – Operation Ágata Fronteira Norte, a joint effort by the Navy, Army, Air Force, Federal Police, IBAMA, FUNAI and state agencies, continues with humanitarian aid in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in Roraima. Since the beginning of the activities, the Brazilian Army recorded the largest airdrop of supplies in its history, with a total load exceeding 500 tons. The supplies were launched from the 4th Special Border Platoon in Surucucu (4th PEF Surucucu) with the support of aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force.
The launches came from the 8th Contingent of the Parachute Maintenance Folding and Air Support Battalion (B DOMPSA), representing the Parachute Infantry Brigade (Bda Inf Pqdt). To achieve this feat, the B DOMPSA periodically deploys a team headed by a specialist officer. The loads, in turn, are prepared at Boa Vista Air Base by a team composed of load preparation inspectors and assemblers. The equipment and parachutes are placed under the cargoes assembled using the CDS (Container Delivery System) method. Each CDS weighs approximately 560 kg and is assembled for FAB’s C-105 (Amazonas) or KC-390 (Millenium) aircraft.
Air Distribution
In Roraima, the challenge is great, since the distance from the launch site in Surucucu to the city of Boa Vista is more than 300 km in a straight line and passes through dense forests. In addition, landing in Surucucu is not always feasible, due to the infrastructural conditions of the runway. Therefore, the only way to deliver the food baskets to Surucucu is through the use of aircraft equipped with loading ramps, which open during the flight to allow aerial launches. After the launches, the B DOMPSA ground team, with the support of FUNAI employees and soldiers from the 4th PEF, collects the CDS with the food baskets and other materials. The baskets are then loaded onto Army, Navy and Air Force helicopters, which take off to deliver them to several indigenous villages, such as Paa Piu, Auaris, Olomai, Onkioula, Palimiú and Halikatou, among others.
“The work of distributing food baskets to the indigenous people is only possible thanks to the integration and joint work between the Armed Forces and the other agencies involved. Each one does their part in a collective effort, whose results are potentiated in favor of humanitarian aid to those who depend on our actions. In this way, the Brazilian State is present, and we fulfill the mission,” explained the Sub-Commander of the Ágata Fronteira Norte Joint Command, Brigadier General Carlos Alberto Rodrigues Pimentel.