Alleging ‘security’ issues, ministers use FAB jets

federal government

One hour/flight on each of these planes costs approximately US$ 3,000 (or more than R$ 15,000) to public coffers

The Government leaves, the Government enters, the tenants change and the “benefits of Power” conquer them all. It is no different at the re-launch of Lula da Silva (PT) and his entourage, according to a survey by the Column of This is carried out this Sunday (22): Five ministers from the Esplanada already use the Brazilian Air Force jets to travel to their homes and constituencies on weekends. It is not illegal, but it is recommended by all Governments to avoid this type of trip because it exposes a personal agenda, outside the official agenda, which is allowed.

On Friday the 6th of January, a few days after her inauguration, Culture, Margareth Menezes (Salvador); on the farm, Fernando Haddad (São Paulo); Cities, Jader Filho (Belém); and Health, Nísia Trindade (Rio de Janeiro) took off in different planes for their capitals, returning on the 9th, Monday. Haddad repeated the stretch on Thursday, the 12th.

Nísia made a return trip between the 13th (Friday) and the 15th (Sunday) again on the Brasília-Rio-Brasília route. On the same Friday, the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, left for São Luís (MA) and returned on the 16th, last Monday. All of them took from three to nine hitchhikers and claimed security reasons for the FAB.

By rule of the administration, ministers can use the planes on official agendas or for security purposes. For now, according to the records, it connotes that none of them wants to face popularity on a commercial flight.

An hour/flight on each of these planes costs the public coffers around US$3,000 (or more than R$15,000). FAB flights to authorities are commanded by the Special Transport Group (GTE). There are three groups: GTE 1 transports only the President and Vice President of the Republic, in two large planes.

GTE 2 transports ministers, heads of powers (presidents of the Chamber, Senate and STF), commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force, in Legacy 135 and Embraer 145, Phenom 300 and Learjet aircraft. There are a total of eight aircraft for this group. GTE 3 brings together the helicopters, which also transport the president and vice president.

With the creation of 14 new ministries, the demand for FAB aircraft should grow significantly in the Lula Government. Who calculates is the elected federal deputy Lieutenant-Colonel Zucco (Republicanos-RS). The parliamentarian has defended new rules to prevent the abusive use of aircraft.

*With information from Isto É

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