Helicopter pilot who disappeared has already been investigated and had his license revoked

Cassino pilot Tete Teodoro was responsible for the helicopter that disappeared on the afternoon of last Sunday, 31st, off the coast of São Paulo. In his history, Cassiano has an investigation for irregular flights and a two-year revocation, from 2021 to 2023, of his license to fly. He was not allowed to fly commercial passenger flights.

The information was confirmed by ANAC, which, in a note, stated that the aircraft “the helicopter is in a normal airworthiness situation, as per the attached record, without permission to carry out air taxi services.”

Pilot history

One of the investigations against Cassiano began in 2020, when he had to make an emergency landing of a helicopter on the terrace of a building on Avenida Faria Lima, west of the city of São Paulo. Pilot and passengers emerged unharmed from the incident. See the video:

At the time, the accident was investigated by the Fourth Regional Service for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Seripa IV). Investigation records indicated that the aircraft showed a tendency to involuntarily turn to the left, followed by loss of lift.

Due to the incident, the case began to be investigated by the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) due to signs of irregular air taxi service provision, as Cassiano did not have legal authorization to offer paid flights.

Investigations

In one of the cases, the pilot was accused of having defrauded the flight plan system by reporting the registration of an aircraft different from the one he was using in 2016. It was recommended that a process be revoked for the pilot's license due to a “serious case”. of presenting false information to the airspace control body in order to obtain personal advantages when taking off with an unauthorized aircraft”.

Teodoro was fined, in 2016, for irregular conduct on a flight plan and was also suspended as a precautionary measure, in 2017, for 93 days, and, in 2019, for 73 days, due to signs of clandestine air transport. During the administrative process, Anac says it informed the Public Ministry of the State of São Paulo about the case, in addition to counting on the support of the Civil Police in operations. Two aircraft piloted by Cassiano Teodoro were also precautionary suspended, in 2017 and 2019.

When contacted, Teodoro expressed concern about carrying out the report. “Wow! If this comes to light now… This may harm our granting of the license that we are requesting from Anac.” He also assured that the company is not operating and was awaiting certification from the regulatory agency. When asked about using another name to introduce himself to passengers, he explains that “Guilherme, internally, is a track name”. CNN also attempted to interview the pilot's lawyer, who declined to comment.

In a note, Anac states that “the process of the company Voe SP for certification as an air taxi company was opened in 2018 and remains in the first phase due to the company's difficulty in meeting the minimum initial requirements for this certification. One of the pending issues is related to the appointment of administration personnel necessary for the company to operate, such as the position of maintenance director”. The agency also states that “it has repeatedly granted deadlines for the company Voe SP to present requirements and informs that the company will not be able to provide transport services such as air taxis while the process is ongoing”.

MPF recommendation

In October 2022, the Federal Public Ministry recommended that the company CBA Investimentos and Cassiano Tete Teodoro refrain from providing any type of air navigation service. The MPF highlighted that Cassiano, “in the name of such companies or in its own name (or codename), it had been or continues to operate air taxi services, or panoramic taxis, in an unauthorized and illegal manner, putting at risk not only the airspace, but also the physical integrity of consumers of such services, in addition to the integrity and safety of ANAC’s own supervisory agents.”

Disappearance of the helicopter

A helicopter that was heading to Ilhabela, on the coast of São Paulo, disappeared on Sunday (31), the eve of New Year's Eve, reported the São Paulo Military Police. CNN obtained information about the passengers from the sister of one of the missing on Monday (1st).

Luciana Marley Rodzewics Santos, 46, her daughter, Letícia Ayumi Rodzewics Sawunoto, 20, and a friend, identified as Rafael, were on the helicopter, in addition to the pilot, who has not yet been identified.

Luciana and Letícia had received an invitation from Rafael to take a helicopter ride, the sister explained.

The family also reported that the location of the young woman's cell phone is active and Air Force aircraft are trying to search.

Due to the lack of visibility, they were unable to land at the signal location this Monday (1st).

According to the PM, the helicopter took off at 1:15 pm from Campo de Marte, on the 31st. The last contact was at 3:10 pm.

Read, in full, the ANAC note about the missing helicopter and the pilot, Cassiano Tete Teodoro:

Note — ANAC

Firstly, ANAC informs that to date it has not received any information from the Aeronautics Command, the body responsible for confirming the possible occurrence involving the helicopter registered PR-HDB.

However, in relation to the aforementioned aircraft, it is stated in the Brazilian Aeronautical Registry (RAB) that the helicopter is in a normal airworthiness situation, as per the attached record, without permission to carry out air taxi services.

In relation to the pilot Cassiano Tete Teodoro, reinforcing that ANAC does not have confirmation of his presence as pilot in command of the flight, we inform that the pilot had his license and all qualifications summarily revoked by the Agency on September 15, 2021 for infractional conduct serious consequences for civil aviation safety. At the time, the pilot appealed to the Court, which upheld ANAC's decision.

Cassiano Tete Teodoro was revoked due to, among other reasons, evasion of supervision, fraud in flight plans and practices involving clandestine air transport.

In October 2023, after observing the legal maximum period for the administrative revocation penalty, which is two years, the pilot returned to the civil aviation system by obtaining a new license with qualification for Private Helicopter Pilot (PPH). This license does not give authorization to carry out commercial passenger flights.