The interim director-general of Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), Roberto José Silveira Honorato, clarified that the suspension of Voepass' operations was not a punishment related to the accident that occurred in August 2024. He explained that the decision was made because, starting in October, the airline generally lost the ability to meet the agency’s requirements.

Honorato made these statements on Tuesday, March 18, during a public hearing held by the Infrastructure Commission (CI). The hearing was requested by Senator Sergio Moro (União-PR) to clarify why ANAC suspended Voepass' operations on March 11.

The ANAC director emphasized that the agency began closely monitoring the airline immediately after the accident. He noted that in the initial phase of the monitoring, Voepass addressed the issues identified by ANAC. However, during the second phase, which lasted from October to February, these issues were not rectified, according to reports from our partner publication, Aeroin.

“What we found was a deterioration in the safety management systems. Therefore, there was a loss of trust. We had proposed that the company ground its fleet for more time to manage maintenance, replace some of its staff, and reduce its routes,” he explained.

Honorato also clarified that the suspension could be lifted once the airline meets the requirements set by ANAC. “There is no direct connection to the accident. This is not a sanction for the accident, which is currently being investigated by the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CINAA),” he added.

He also highlighted that ANAC has been monitoring the sector for 15 years, with the cooperation of airlines. According to the director, the company’s management must be able to identify and address risks, as it is impractical for ANAC to oversee operations "on a daily basis." He noted that this regulatory model is internationally adopted.

Complaints from Employees

Senator Sergio Moro questioned ANAC representatives about complaints from Voepass employees. Recent news articles have raised concerns about the poor condition of the airline's aircraft.

"Was there any concrete information about this precarious situation? Or did this issue only come to light now, through the news?" the senator asked.

Bruno Diniz Del Bel, ANAC’s Superintendent of Operational Standards, responded by confirming that the agency had received information about problems at the company prior to the accident, but those issues had been resolved.

“We always addressed the incidents we received: we contacted the company, and they resolved the issues. Until that point, we hadn’t detected this degradation in the pillars of operational safety,” he said.

Voepass currently operates six aircraft and serves 15 cities with commercial flights.

Responsibility in the Accident

Senator Jayme Campos (União-MT) suggested that ANAC was at fault for the accident. He also referred to media reports about potential issues with aircraft parts.

Senator Marcos Pontes (PL-SP), who has experience in investigating and preventing aviation accidents, emphasized that the focus of the discussion should not be on assigning blame.

“When we talk about air safety, it is not about a search for someone to blame; it is about identifying contributing factors to prevent it from happening again,” Pontes said.

The interim director-general of ANAC reiterated that various factors must align for an aviation accident to occur. He explained that the agency's investigation into the August 2024 accident would involve determining whether there were any violations or mistakes that contributed to the crash. He added that such investigations typically take about a year.

Temas

• VOEPASS

AUTOR

Claudio Benites

Comentarios

Para comentar, debés estar registrado

Por favor, iniciá sesión

INGRESA