São Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 11, 2015 – Nearly 72 years after Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University first helped establish an aviation school for the Brazilian Air Force, the university announced its return to the now ever-growing Brazilian industry on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE).
At LABACE, known as the largest convention in South America for the aerospace industry, Embry-Riddle took the opportunity to announce its plans to return to Brazil with education and training offerings through potential partnerships with other universities, companies and government agencies. Plans are now in motion to open a new office in São Paulo in November to begin fostering business relationships in Brazil and throughout Latin America.
“Embry-Riddle recognizes the great strides Brazil has made since the university first established roots here during World War II to assist the country’s air force in establishing the Escola Técnica de Aviacão (ETAv) in São Paulo,” University Interim President Dr. John R. Watret said.
“As Embry-Riddle begins to reestablish itself in Brazil, it is important to note that the mission the school set out to complete more than 70 years ago remains the same: Meeting the immediate and growing demand for qualified aviation and aerospace professionals to drive increased safety, innovation and operational efficiency,” said William Hampton, Senior Vice President of External Relations.
In the last decade, Brazil experienced a 194 percent increase in aviation growth according to the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority. More growth is on the horizon with the Regional Aviation Development Plan to improve and/or build 270 airports for commercial aviation.
“The foundation for this growth would not have been possible without groundbreaking aviators, such as the alumni from the Escola Técnica de Aviacão,” said Lou Seno, Vice President for Corporate and Government Relations.
During the opening ceremony at LABACE, Watret and Lt. Brig. Nivaldo Luiz Rossato, Commander of the Brazilian Air Force, recognized Francisco Drezza as the top-performing student in the first class of air traffic controllers from ETAv and as a pioneer of Brazil’s air traffic control management.
Additional alumni from ETAv who were recognized in the presence of industry leaders and Brazilian government authorities during an Embry-Riddle alumni luncheon included Remy Gomes Ferreira, Nelson Garcia Perez, Alberto Bertulucci and Irineu Tonon.
MEDIA CONTACT: Melanie Hanns, Director of University Communications/Media Relations, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; (386) 226-7538, (386) 283-0753; [email protected]
About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 75 baccalaureate, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 125 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos atYouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv.
