The pilot of a light aircraft was rescued by Brazilian Air Force (FAB) on Thursday afternoon (04), in Ponte Alta do Norte (SC). The aviator suffered an accident the day before and was missing until he was found by an integrated FAB operation. 

The Tecnam P92 2000 experimental aircraft, registration PU-VRB, took off from the Aeroclube de Santa Catarina, in São José (SC) and crashed during the flight to Videira aerodrome (SC). Rescued, 60-year-old pilot Mauro Ribeiro was taken to Florianópolis airport, where he was taken by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) to Celso Ramos Hospital.

The mission to find the missing aircraft, coordinated by the Brazilian Aeronautical Search and Rescue System (SALVAERO), involved an SC-105 Amazonas SAR plane from the Pelicano Squadron, which found the crash site, and a H-60L Black Hawk helicopter, from the Panther Squad. The latter went to the scene to rescue Ribeiro. The FAB aircraft flew for almost 12 hours over an area of ​​more than 1500 km2. 

“We had the pleasure of being welcomed with a wave of the pilot's hand, and when we realized that he was alive, the crew was extremely happy, motivated even more to carry out the mission. We train for this!” says the pilot of the H-60, Lieutenant Aviator Vitor Lucas de Mello. “We managed to rescue him with the stretcher, apparently he had a broken foot, according to our rescue men. Conscious, he talked to people, said he had a daughter and asked us to inform the family that he was alive.”

Based in Campo Grande (MS), the Pelicano Squadron was called in the early hours of the day (04) to search for the missing plane. With 25 soldiers on board the SC-105, the searches began at night, using night vision glasses and sensors. After locating the aircraft, two parachutists from PARA-SAR jumped from the plane to provide first aid. At the same time, the Black Hawk was called in to rescue the pilot and team. 

“I can say that it was a significant milestone in my career. We work, study and train daily. All of our preparation is rewarded by the unparalleled feeling of being able to spot a survivor. This corroborates the reason and our Squadron motto 'so that others may live”, said Major Aviator Bruno Fernandes Vela, who coordinated the mission. 

“We had the pleasure of being welcomed with a wave of the pilot's hand, and when we realized that he was alive, the crew was extremely happy, motivated even more to carry out the mission. We train for this!” says the pilot of the FAB helicopter, Lieutenant Aviator Vitor Lucas de Mello. “We managed to rescue him with the stretcher, apparently he had a broken foot, according to our rescue men. Conscious, he talked to people, said he had a daughter and asked us to inform the family that he was alive.”

With the victim rescued, the Air Force now begins the investigation to discover the causes of the accident. The investigation will be carried out by the Fifth Regional Service for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (SERIPA V), in Canoas (RS). 

Investigators will use specific techniques to collect and confirm data, preserve elements, initially verify damage caused to the aircraft or by the aircraft, and collect other information necessary for the investigation. The conclusion of the investigation will take as short a time as possible, always depending on the complexity of the occurrence and, also, the need to discover possible contributing factors, as FAB concluded. 

With Brazilian air force