Backstage Pass: A police chief’s aerial view of Rio 2016

The Summer Olympics and Paralympics capture hearts and minds as world champions go for the gold – and they’re not the only ones who must deliver peak performances: Rio police chief Colonel Perlingeiro and Airbus Helicopters are hard at work around the clock to ensure a safe Games for all involved.

Though it seems like all eyes are on the athletes at the center of 2016’s Rio Olympics and upcoming Paralympics, Colonel Luiz Sergio Cosendey Perlingeiro, commander of the air support service unit of Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police, takes a larger view – quite literally. He’s part of the Army Aviation’s aerial operations mission that’s using 90 Airbus helicopters to perform surveillance, counter-terrorism, defense, public security, emergency medical services (EMS) and electronic newsgathering missions across Brazil to help the Games run smoothly behind the scenes. 

“Rio de Janeiro’s topography and urban growth-features make the theater a challenge in any condition,” Perlingeiro says. “It only becomes more difficult during the Olympics, when the world’s attention is turned on the city.” Olympic hosts like Rio – and London before it – are entrusting the successful rollout of their international sporting events to Airbus Helicopters, deploying its civil and military aircraft in the service of security. With as many moving parts as there are at an event of this magnitude – ensuring the safety of millions of spectators, residents, athletes and employees over 16 days and several disparate cities – comprehensive, agile coverage is paramount. 

A force to be reckoned with
During the London Olympic Games in 2012, more than 30 Airbus helicopters from the the H135, H145, H125, AS365 and Puma families served as the backbone of the security force, covering the police, EMS, military, private and television activities. From the lighting of the torch to the closing ceremony, not one of these aircraft had to be taken offline during operations and missions.

At the time of this writing (about halfway through the 2016 Games), in addition to imaging around Maracana Stadium during the Opening Ceremony, Col. Perlingeiro’s team has employed its helicopters to patrol the main thoroughfares of the city, and to quickly ferry troops to hard-to-reach locations.

“Certainly, our most important mission is aerial imaging using FLIR [thermal imaging],” says Perlingeiro. “This tool has enabled more accurate and secure operations, not only in the acquisition of important intelligence information but also among personnel and the general population on the ground.” Public security is priority number one during the Olympics, and in Rio, that includes employing the AS350 – part of the H125 family and referred to as “our wild card” by Perlingeiro – and the EC145 for imaging missions, patrolling, troop transport, aero-medical services, firefighting and rescue missions. 

Working together
The cutting-edge technology and performance that Airbus helicopters deliver best serves the team that knows how to maximize them. In Rio, Col. Perlingeiro’s unit works together as one. “Our team has low turnover, so we have a great interaction,” he explains. “Everyone has trained together, either as student or instructor, or even worked together previously. We aim for an organized atmosphere that fosters operational safety, standardization of procedures, and mutual collaboration. We all own our mistakes and successes.”

One of the challenges of any Olympic Games is the kind of high-level orchestra-conducting that in-depth, multilevel security necessitates. “During the Games, we have several military and police agencies working together, and coordinating them is the biggest challenge,” Perlingeiro says. “Our operators have to give special care and attention to different operating habits and airspace restrictions, ensuring no one flies too close to the events so as not to disturb the athletes.”

To back up these operations, Airbus Helicopters and Helibras have put in place local support teams. The success of the London Olympics’ security was in part due to measures like dedicated logistics and technical hotlines and 24/7 field engineering and technical support, not to mention doubling support staff and parts stock holdings. This summer, Helibras support teams are stationed alongside Army helicopters, with technical representatives, customer and logistics support managers and back-office teams located across São Paulo, Itajubá, and Atibaia. “We are currently in contact with the support team to solve tactical radio configuration conflicts,” says Perlingeiro, noting that radios are the main support tool for ground operations. Helibras also has a parts inventory, tooling and special supplies at the ready for all helicopters involved in the missions. 

Perlingeiro says the most rewarding part of his job is knowing that driving performance in both high-risk and aeromedical rescue operations can make a difference in saving lives. "As long as there is a mission, there will be missionaries," he says, quoting fellow officer Cel Wilton Ribeiro. And as long as the Olympic torch burns, a fleet of Airbus helicopters will continue to protect and serve this global arena.

The Fleet from Ipanema

The 2016 Olympic Games feature a 90-helicopter Airbus Helicopter fleet serving in Rio de Janeiro, Distrito Federal, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Amazonas and São Paulo. Our Olympic team includes:

7 civilian Ecureuils: As with the 2014 World Cup, Ecureuil helicopters were chosen for aerial imagery recording. 

81 military & security aircraft:

• 28 Brazilian Army helicopters: 7 Fennecs, 11 Panthers, 6 H225Ms, 4 Cougars


• 8 Brazilian Navy helicopters: 4 Ecureuils, 4 H225M


• 8 Brazilian Air Force helicopters: 4 H225M, 2 AS332 Super Puma, 2 H135 VIP


• 15 Ecureuils and one H135 from the Military Police of São Paulo


• 3 aircraft from Minas Gerais Fire Department: 2 H125, 1 EC145


• 6 Civil & Military Police, Fire Department and Detran helicopters from the Federal District: 5 Ecureuils, 1 H135


• 4 Bahia Military Police & Governor House aircraft: 2 Ecureuils , 1 EC145 , 1 EC135


• 1 H125 from the Secretariat of Public Security Amazonas


• 5 Ecureuils and EC145 from the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro


• 1 H125 from the Rio Civil Police


• 2 helicopters from the Rio Secretary for Aerial Operations: 1 H135 and 1 AS365