After a series of international trips in the first months of the new term, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided that it was necessary to have a larger aircraft for long trips, and the choice was for the largest aircraft currently in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the Airbus A330.
President Lula currently uses an Airbus A319ACJ (VC-1) that was acquired in 2005 in his first term. Some time ago, the idea that the presidency needed a bigger plane that could make more direct trips was considered.
Currently, the FAB has two Airbus A330-200s in its fleet, acquired during the government of Jair Bolsonaro, and intended only for military use. On a recent trip to China, the A330 accompanied the entire Brazilian delegation including President Lula who was on board the A319, despite the greater autonomy, the large jet also made the same stopovers.
The FAB Airbus A330, called KC-30, has some seats still available from Azul Linhas Aéreas, which was the former operator of both the FAB2901 and the 2902. cargo and humanitarian missions.
Now according to portal 360, President Lula decided that one of those aircraft that would receive the MRTT multi-mission package would become a presidential aircraft.
For this, the Airbus A330 would receive an internal adaptation in a VIP configuration for a comfortable transport of the president and his entourage. The aircraft would also need to receive an internet antenna, meeting rooms and other amenities such as a kitchen and rest areas.
Although the MRTT configuration allows adaptation to use VIP transport on board, the costs would be quite high. This would be the second time that President Lula would change the presidential aircraft.
In its first term, the Brazilian Air Force still operated the KC-137, which was an old Boeing 707 used for presidential transport, the well-known 'Scraps'. In 2005, Lula acquired the current VC-1, the Airbus A319ACJ, with a capacity for 39 engers and a range of approximately 7.000km to replace the old plane.
tanker
The FAB A330 that took off from Dublin this afternoon is part of the KC-X3 Project, which sought to acquire new transport and in-flight refueling aircraft of a strategic nature. The aircraft is the result of contract 220004/CABW/2022, from the Brazilian Aeronautical Commission in Washington, whose winner was Azul SA
Azul presented the aircraft MSN 1492 (Manufacturer's Serial Number), which was already operating, and the MSN 1508 (future FAB 2902), acquired on the international market and offered for bidding. As provided for in the announcement, the first aircraft must be delivered within 90 days and the second in up to 150 days, counted from the signature of the contract.
Brazilian Air Force A330-200 sn1900 departing @DublinAirport on a lovely evening after repainting! tks @Essiejosie #avgeek pic.twitter.com/HfoLjJc3WM
ADVERTISING —Brian Hayes (@BrianHayes757) July 13, 2022
With information Portal 360
