The Ministry of Infrastructure (MInfra), responsible for the special operation to bring 960 tons of masks purchased by the Ministry of Health from China, managed to partner with Lojas Americanas.
The company (Lojas Americanas) will pay for the freight of the first two flights, transporting 53 tons of surgical masks (15 million units). Two Latam Boeing 777 aircraft should take off on the 19th from Guangzhou (China), make a stopover in Doha (Qatar) and arrive on the 21st at Guarulhos/SP International Airport.
It will take 40 flights to bring all the cargo to Brazil and distribute it to the states, totaling 900 tons of cargo, plus an order for 440 tons from Vale.
Latam's aircraft are for enger transport, but will be adapted to carry cargo in the cabin, in addition to the hold. To facilitate a quick response to the pandemic, as well as maximize air freight capacity in the country, the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) issued a resolution that allows the transport of air cargo in the enger cabin.
With this approval, aircraft that are currently without enger demand will be able to be used for cargo transport. The authorization is given on an exceptional and temporary basis, provided that certain safety guidelines required by the Agency are followed.
For security reasons, State flight status will be granted, with priority landing and takeoff prerogatives, to the aircraft involved in the mega-operation. Minfra is still looking for other private partners willing to pay for the transport of PPE from the Ministry of Health to Brazil.
DISTRIBUTION - To face the new coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Infrastructure developed a logistics and distribution plan, in of the Ministry of Health. The national plan covers actions to ensure agility in the transport of imported material, customs clearance at airports and the distribution of equipment among the 27 states.
The plan is already in operation for the arrival of flights chartered by Vale in Brazil, with equipment and quick test kits donated to the Federal Government. There will be 11 flights in total, until the month of May. With the help of Itamaraty, the best routes and countries are being studied for flight stopovers with the load of PPE that will be used in the fight against Covid-19.
MInfra is also anticipating the need for a second logistics center in Guarulhos/SP, in of the Distribution Center of the Ministry of Health. There is the possibility of using an Armed Forces space to pack the cargo until it is distributed to the health system. The Brazilian Army has already provided at least one center in each of the Brazilian capitals.
Via - Ministry of Infrastructure
