Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil

   ​Aviation for Humanity’s Director of Operations, Aaron Perkins, traveled to Brazil this month for business.  The trip did not take him to the paradise of Rio nor the sprawling business capital of Sao Paulo; instead, Aaron traveled inland to a small village engulfed by sugarcane fields - Gaviao Peixoto.   Sugarcane and aerospace, it’s an unlikely pair; but, these two industries collide in a city that hosts just 4,500 people.  Gaviao Peixoto is home to the 4th longest runway in the world which was built for the flight testing team of the aircraft manufacturer, Embraer.  Embraer is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, executive and agricultural aircraft
   Aviation for Humanity provided the school supplies while Instituto Embraer, a non-profit organization ran by Embraer, helped locate the school in need, handle the communication, and even provided an engineer willing to donate his time to assist with an aviation career-day presentation.  Aaron Perkins and Bryan Watson, both professional aircraft evaluation pilots, were able to give an educational presentation about careers in the aviation field.  Embraer’s engineer, Fabricio Toledo, graciously donated his time and translated the presentation from English to Portuguese.  The presentation was a hit!  The children were especially excited about the photos of the military aircraft that Bryan flew as well as the pictures of Aviation for Humanity Founder, Kimberly Perkins, inside the cockpit of her business jet.  The children were inspired!  Thanks to Aviation for Humanity sponsors, fifty backpacks, filled with paper, pens, pencils and other essentials, made these children extremely appreciative.  And, Aviation for Humanity is grateful to have had the opportunity to expand our global community with the village of Gaviao Peixoto!