Graesp celebrates Aviator Day and reaffirms commitment to public safety
With 20 years of operation, the Air Group of Public Safety (Graesp) is a reference in combating environmental crimes and humanitarian actions
With over 50,000 flight hours in 20 years of operation, the Air Group of Public Safety (Graesp), linked to the Secretary of Public Safety and Social Defense (Segup), celebrates, this Thursday (23), Aviator Day. The date received a special ceremony to reinforce the importance of the work performed by more than 100 professionals of the group.
During the celebration, 20 members of Graesp were awarded the “Operational Merit of the Fire Department” medals, “Good Services Rendered - Golden Metal 30 years”, “Tiradentes PMPA” and “Colonel Fontoura”. Others also received the Operational Highlight Certificate for their services rendered.
Acting in actions against crime, combating fires and forest crimes, transporting organs and animals, as well as health actions, Graesp is a fundamental piece in the protection and safety of human lives, playing an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic by transporting alcohol and masks to hard-to-reach areas.
For Ualame Machado, head of Segup, Aviator Day should be celebrated, recognizing the essential work performed by professionals who operate in the skies of Pará daily. “The work developed by Graesp demonstrates how much Pará has advanced in the integration of security forces.”
"They are highly trained professionals, ready to act in any situation, whether in combating crime, rescuing lives, or in social defense actions, showing the value of a troop prepared to operate in the skies of Pará," said Ualame Machado.
Personnel
Currently, Graesp has 14 aircraft, including helicopters and planes, fully equipped to meet missions in all regions of the state. The unit also has two simulators for training aviators, so that all pilots must undergo training four times a year before using the machines.
“We are very happy for Aviator Day, which is our daily activity, which we do with great care and pleasure, providing safety and reducing the time and distance for the population in the interior with the capital. Today we celebrate the activity of everyone here, which we all enjoy doing, with pleasure, dedication, and in such a way that while we feel fulfilled with the activity, we serve the people who need air service daily for missions in our state,” said the director of the air group, Colonel PM Armando Gonçalves.
Esdra Lemos, Lieutenant Colonel of the Military Fire Department and pilot of the group for 5 years, spoke about the challenges faced daily and the importance of integrated work both within the security system and with other state agencies.
“Aviator Day is important and allows us to reflect on the challenge that is the aviator career. I have been with the group for five years, and even with all this time as a pilot, performing the function, each flight is a challenge, and as mentioned by other colleagues, our flight begins the day before the mission we are going to execute, with all the planning, all the analysis, resorting to the available information means so that we can ensure that our flight has the greatest safety, both for our lives and for those passengers we transport. The state has also been concerned with ensuring a safe flight as we have good equipment, good planes. Recently, we acquired a simulator and we are also constantly training so that our mission can be executed successfully,” noted the officer, Esdra Lemos.
Text by Rubens Alves, under the supervision of Roberta Meireles
