Airports
The Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation has put together an online guide with information on Brazilian airports, with the aim of assisting national and foreign visitors in transit in the country.
The website www.transportes.gov.br/aeroportos2016 is available in three languages (Portuguese, English and Spanish) and has the aim of helping passengers to plan and organise all stages of their air travel. The guide helps tourists prepare their flight (insurance, necessary shots and transport of valuables), in addition to presenting information on arriving at the airport (check-in, luggage restrictions, the carrying of jewellery or electronic items). Information will also be available on boarding (compulsory documents, times and procedures), flights (including departure changes and monitoring), arrivals and leaving the terminal (connecting with transport). There is a specific section for visitors and other nationalities, with recommendations on passport, visas and leave to stay, and an area with information on passengers rights and how to proceed in case of any problems.
The Civil Aviation Planning Manual for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games was also developed. The manual is the result of a big planning and operational agreement, put together after around 400 hours of debates, technical analysis, procedure review, fine-tuning and cooperation actions, among the 27 bodies that make up the Special Operations Technical Committee (CTOE) and CONAERO (Airport Authorities National Commission).
The manual standardises operations in 40 airports (among priority, support and air bases), which will supply for the mega sporting event's main demand. The goal is to establish coordinated and integrated actions between airport operations and public bodies in the civil aviation sector, developing a strategic, coordinated and immediate response network to the sector's hiccups and incidences. The material establishes norms and procedures for passenger terminals, addresses rule in relation to the occupation of yards and runways, approaches security/safety and aerial defence issues, airport operating capacity, as well as infrastructure and accessibility.
In addition, the federal government, airport operators, commercial, general and executive airlines, as well as auxiliary air transport services for the Rio 2016 Games have signed an agreement to establish commitments and responsibilities related to the allocation of human resources, infrastructure and services for the extra demand expected for the period. The goal is to secure the appropriate rendering of air services and public activities in airports throughout the event. The agreement is taking into account the extra and concentrated demand in Rio's airports, as well as the need for the special handling and processing of luggage and equipment, passengers with special needs and live cargo (horses for the equestrian competition for example).
- With Galeão's extension works, the airport's capacity went from 17 million to 30 million passengers a year. The yard has increased from 500 thousand m² to 760 thousand m² and the number of check-in counters at Terminal 2 jumped from 111 to 174. Pictures: Thiago Saramago/ RioGaleão
Accessibility
In order to develop special flows and procedures for passengers with special needs (PNAEs), the Secretariat studied and conducted a series of practical tests, technical visits and knowledge exchange. The following were part of this preparation: international experience analyses, like the 2015 Toronto Parapan American Games; seminars for the exchange of experiences between airports, aimed at preparing for the Rio 2016 Games; real drills to test boarding, arrival operations, as well as airport flow and procedures in the event's main airports (like the Paralympic boccia and wheelchair rugby test-events).
The aviation sector is a pioneer in supplying humanised services to people with disabilities. Since 2012, airports have undergone a wide review and adaptation process to norms, based on international experiences. They have also undergone an infrastructure remodelling process, so that the terminals serve as an inclusion space, where each passenger is respected in their difference. The Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation assesses that one of the main legacies of the special operations put in place at the airports for the Games, will be the new standard in accessibility services, built throughout the events planning process. The Brazilian government estimates that 4.3 thousand Paralympians will arrive at airports in Rio at Games time.
Big figures
Developed by CTOE and coordinated by the Civil Aviation Secretariat, the manual works with the estimated demand of a million athletes, delegation members and tourists, who will bring with them around 4.7 million suitcases in Rio's airports.
The mega event will bring delegations from 206 countries to Brazil, as well as over 100 heads of state. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers have undergone specific training for the event and over 1 thousand extra parking spots were created at the terminals' yards to park aircraft during the period. Around 1,000 volunteers and 2,500 civil servants will provide services to the public at the airports. On the event's first day (5 August), Rio airports expect to register between 900 and 1,000 landings and take-offs by executive aircrafts.
