Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso
Encyclopedia
Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso – CPBV (Brigadeiro Velloso Testing Range) is a large complex of the Brazilian Armed Forces located in Serra do Cachimbo
(Cachimbo Mountains), in the southern part of Pará
, Brazil
. The complex includes the Cachimbo Airport
operated by the Brazilian Air Force
. Since January 17, 1995 the complex is named after Haroldo Coimbra Velloso (1920–1969), a military, politician and responsible for the development of the complex.
, and Novo Progresso
, in an area comparable in size to the Brazilian state of Sergipe
.
The complex has its origins on an airfield opened on September 3, 1950. With the end of World War II
, the Brazilian government saw the need to a strategic support facility for the operation of aircraft flying between the Northern Region (location of the Amazon Rainforest
) and the Southeast Region of Brazil
(location of Rio de Janeiro
and São Paulo
), flying on a straight route. Before the construction of the airfield the link was only possible to be operated with safety following the longer coastline route. The airfield was officially commissioned on January 20, 1954.
In the 1970s studies were made in order to upgrade the facility to a Center for Testing Weapons and Training of the Brazilian Armed Forces with the purpose of development of weapons, bomb tests, experiments, training and maneuvers of national interest. Indeed, on March 7, 1983, the Campo de Testes do Cachimbo (Cachimbo Testing Range), subordinated to the Brazilian General Command for Aerospace Technology was created. On January 17, 1995 the name of the complex was changed to Campo de Provas Brigadeiro-do-Ar Haroldo Coimbra Velloso, the commander who set the whole infra-structure of the complex. On July 30, 1997, the name was again changed to Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso.
On August 18, 1979 a new renovated airfield was opened and given the name of Cachimbo Airport
.
On September 7, 1990, President Fernando Collor symbolically sealed an underground pit that was supposedly used for testing of nuclear weapons.
The complex has several shooting exercises areas.
Near the administration there are accommodation facilities for up to 240 military personnel. The complex has also a hospital for not only the military but also civilian population that lives in the area. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources also has a Research facility in the complex.
.
Serra do Cachimbo
Serra do Cachimbo is a mountain range in Northern Brazil, in the southern part of the state of Pará, located mostly in the municipalities of Altamira, Itaituba, Jacareacanga, and Novo Progresso....
(Cachimbo Mountains), in the southern part of Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The complex includes the Cachimbo Airport
Cachimbo Airport
Cachimbo Airport is the military airport serving Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso, a large Testing and Training Range complex of the Brazilian Armed Forces located in Serra do Cachimbo , in the southern part of Pará, Brazil....
operated by the Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
. Since January 17, 1995 the complex is named after Haroldo Coimbra Velloso (1920–1969), a military, politician and responsible for the development of the complex.
History
Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso has an area of 21,588 km2 and perimeter of 653 km. It is within the limits of four municipalities: Altamira, Itaituba, JacareacangaJacareacanga
Jacareacanga is a town and municipality in the state of Pará in the Northern region of Brazil.-References:...
, and Novo Progresso
Novo Progresso
Novo Progresso is a town and municipality in the state of Pará in the Northern region of Brazil.-References:...
, in an area comparable in size to the Brazilian state of Sergipe
Sergipe
Sergipe , is the smallest state of the Brazilian Federation, located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of the country. It borders on two other states, Bahia to the south and west and Alagoas to the north, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean...
.
The complex has its origins on an airfield opened on September 3, 1950. With the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Brazilian government saw the need to a strategic support facility for the operation of aircraft flying between the Northern Region (location of the Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
) and the Southeast Region of Brazil
Southeast Region, Brazil
The Southeast Region of Brazil is composed by the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It is the richest region of the country, responsible for approximately 60% of the Brazilian GDP. São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais are three richest states of Brazil,...
(location of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
), flying on a straight route. Before the construction of the airfield the link was only possible to be operated with safety following the longer coastline route. The airfield was officially commissioned on January 20, 1954.
In the 1970s studies were made in order to upgrade the facility to a Center for Testing Weapons and Training of the Brazilian Armed Forces with the purpose of development of weapons, bomb tests, experiments, training and maneuvers of national interest. Indeed, on March 7, 1983, the Campo de Testes do Cachimbo (Cachimbo Testing Range), subordinated to the Brazilian General Command for Aerospace Technology was created. On January 17, 1995 the name of the complex was changed to Campo de Provas Brigadeiro-do-Ar Haroldo Coimbra Velloso, the commander who set the whole infra-structure of the complex. On July 30, 1997, the name was again changed to Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso.
On August 18, 1979 a new renovated airfield was opened and given the name of Cachimbo Airport
Cachimbo Airport
Cachimbo Airport is the military airport serving Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso, a large Testing and Training Range complex of the Brazilian Armed Forces located in Serra do Cachimbo , in the southern part of Pará, Brazil....
.
On September 7, 1990, President Fernando Collor symbolically sealed an underground pit that was supposedly used for testing of nuclear weapons.
The complex has several shooting exercises areas.
Near the administration there are accommodation facilities for up to 240 military personnel. The complex has also a hospital for not only the military but also civilian population that lives in the area. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources also has a Research facility in the complex.
Accidents and incidents
- 7 December 1960: a RealReal Transportes AéreosReal Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1945. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Real was the main carrier....
Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando registration PP-AKF belonging to Transportes Aéreos NacionalTransportes Aéreos NacionalTransportes Aéreos Nacional was a Brazilian airline founded in 1946. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Transportes Aéreos Nacional was one of the partners.-History:...
, en route from CuiabáMarechal Rondon International AirportMarechal Rondon International Airport is the airport serving Cuiabá, Brazil, located in the adjoining municipality of Várzea Grande. It is named after Marshall Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon , a Brazilian explorer.It is operated by Infraero....
to Manaus-Ponta PeladaPonta Pelada AirportPonta Pelada Airport was until 1976 the main airport of Manaus, Brazil. Between 1970 and 1976 public facilities were shared with the military facilities of Manaus Air Force Base. In 1976, with the opening of Eduardo Gomes International Airport, all public operations were transferred to the new...
crashed on Cachimbo mountainsSerra do CachimboSerra do Cachimbo is a mountain range in Northern Brazil, in the southern part of the state of Pará, located mostly in the municipalities of Altamira, Itaituba, Jacareacanga, and Novo Progresso....
. The engine no.2 failed during the flight. Altitude was lost, the pilot jettisoned some of the cargo but the aircraft continued to lose height. It crashed and caught fire. 15 passengers and crew died. - 29 September 2006: a damaged executive Embraer Legacy 600 performed an emergency landing on Cachimbo AirportCachimbo AirportCachimbo Airport is the military airport serving Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso, a large Testing and Training Range complex of the Brazilian Armed Forces located in Serra do Cachimbo , in the southern part of Pará, Brazil....
, after a mid-air collision with a Gol Transportes AéreosGol Transportes AéreosGol Transportes Aéreos is a Brazilian airline based in Comandante Lineu Gomes Square, São Paulo City, Brazil....
Boeing 737-800Boeing 737 Next GenerationThe Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
operating flight 1907Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907 was a Boeing 737-8EH, registration PR-GTD, on a scheduled passenger flight from Manaus, Brazil, to Rio de Janeiro. On 29 September 2006, just before 17:00 BRT, it collided in midair with an Embraer Legacy business jet over the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso...
. The Boeing subsequently crashed in the jungle killing all 155 people on board.
Access
The administration center of the complex approximately 8 km from the highway BR-163BR-163
BR-163 is a highway in Brazil, going from Cuiabá, the capital city of Mato Grosso state, to Santarém in the state of Pará. It runs through in the heart of the Amazon Basin. Currently, only 44% of the road are paved. Most parts of the road are muddy and impassable in the wet season. Lorries can get...
.