Interview with Gilberto Kassab, the Mayor of São Paulo.

São Paulo has the biggest fleet of corporate helicopters in the world behind New York City.
How do you explain this extraordinary use of the helicopter as a means of transport?
Gilberto Kassab: São Paulo is not only the point of entry for numerous companies to the Mercosur (Southern Common Market); it is also a business city and the economic heart of a country whose GNP is close to 880 billion US dollars.
Almost 11 million citizens live in an area approximately 2,400 km2. This is the reason why the helicopter offers the flexibility necessary for those who live and work in São Paulo, and who need to be able to travel quickly and in complete safety.

How is the helicopter generally used in São Paulo? Who are the main users?
G. K.: The main users are business men and women, and people working in big companies located in the city, or people looking to do business in Brazil.
The public and private rescue services also operate helicopters. In a city the size of São Paulo, it is almost impossible to envisage an emergency operation being carried out without this type of transport and, every day, numerous lives are saved thanks to the flexibility of the helicopter.

Is the air traffic organized by the city council? Who is responsible for it?
G. K.: The air traffic is managed by the “Departamento de Controle e Espaço Aéreo da Aeronáutica”, which controls the airspace, and applies the procedures according to the demand. The city council gets involved in this process at various stages to provide the authorizations required for the construction of a new airport.

As the mayor of the city, do you think that this type of transport could be developed in São Paulo?
G. K.: Considering the economic development of Brazil, it’s obvious that the need for helicopters is going to grow.
The number of aircraft flying over the city is rising very quickly, and this phenomenon will continue over a certain time.

In your opinion, is the helicopter the solution to traffic congestion in megalopolises?
G. K.: Helicopter transport is perfect for people who want to travel quickly and, in a megalopolis like São Paulo, the helicopter clearly reduces transfer times.
However, as the helicopter is not a mass transit vehicle, it’s hard to see it as the solution to traffic jams.