Legislative Assembly approved the law Telmo Fabrício Dutra

By 31 votes in favor and 12 against, the Rio Grande do Sul State Legislative Assembly approved on December 3 the Telmo Fabrício Dutra Law Project – PL 442/23, which declares Agricultural Aviation to be of Relevant Social, Public, and Economic Interest in the state. The proposal, authored by Representative Marcus Vinícius (PP), was co-signed by 23 other lawmakers. “It was a victory for common sense,” emphasized the Executive Director of the National Union of Agricultural Aviation Companies (Sindag), Gabriel Colle, shortly after the result was announced by the Assembly President, Representative Adolfo Brito (PP).

The bill now awaits approval from Governor Eduardo Leite. “It’s a way to combat prejudice and shed light on the sector’s safety and high technology. We now hope the debate on this topic will become more rational,” added the Sindag director. The voting session was attended by a delegation of about 30 people, including Sindag leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals from the sector, and the presidents of the Brazilian Agricultural Aviation Institute (Ibravag), Júlio Augusto Kämpf, and the Special Commission on Aeronautical and Aerospace Law (Cedaea) of the Rio Grande do Sul section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB/RS), Eduardo Teixeira Farah.

The law’s name pays tribute to Telmo Dutra, a former president (1997-1999) and one of the founders of Sindag on July 19, 1991. Dutra also played a key role in establishing the entity in Porto Alegre, the state capital and birthplace of Brazilian agricultural aviation. Rio Grande do Sul is the state with the largest number of companies in the sector, which gained national and international prominence from this region, focusing on the human and technological development of agricultural aviation.

SAFETY

“We expected a vote with such an expressive margin,” commented Representative Marcus Vinícius, reinforcing the importance of the initiative. “The lawmakers also understood this,” he added, referring to the number of signatures on the proposal. The project aimed to provide legal security so that agricultural aviation could continue operating under its existing regulations.

The lawmaker spoke on the floor shortly before the vote to defend the proposal. Marcus Vinícius also criticized attempts to ban the sector, referring to a project from the PT caucus that was defeated twice in the Assembly and presented a third time with the same text based on myths. “There is no more regulated tool in crop management,” he emphasized.

Regarding claims of product loss due to drift during applications (a risk present with both aerial and ground tools if weather application parameters are not followed), the representative was firm: “It’s a smokescreen (for an ideological issue). It’s like wanting to ban road freight transport in the state because a driver violated traffic rules.”

 A State Marked by Pioneering Spirit 

In addition to being the birthplace of Brazil’s agricultural aviation sector (established in 1947), Rio Grande do Sul currently has the second-largest fleet of agricultural aircraft in the country, with nearly 500 planes—second only to Mato Grosso, which has approximately 700 aircraft (see page 8). The sector also includes agricultural drones, underscoring its innovation and expansion. Agricultural aviation operates in 24 states and is vital for ensuring productivity in key crops for the state’s economy, such as soybeans, corn, and wheat. Additionally, rice—a crop heavily reliant on aerial tools—is essential to Rio Grande do Sul’s economy, as the state produces 70% of Brazil’s rice. 

The importance of the agricultural aviation sector for the state also led to the establishment of the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Agricultural Aviation in the Rio Grande do Sul Legislative Assembly. The group was officially formed in March during the 22nd Expoagro Afubra in Rio Pardo (Valles Region). The pro-Agricultural Aviation Front was proposed in February by State Representative Edvilson Brum (MDB) and initially comprised 26 members—nearly half of the Assembly. 

Moreover, Rio Grande do Sul is home to companies manufacturing and exporting cutting-edge technologies for agricultural aircraft. The state also boasts one of the only national manufacturers of agricultural drones in Brazil. Complementing this, Rio Grande do Sul has historically been a hub for training agricultural pilots who operate across the country. Since July, the municipality of Cachoeira do Sul has been officially recognized as the State Capital of Agricultural Pilot Training under State Law 16.146/24.