The time of interminable truck caravans of the organization has already gone. Now the "Dakar" travels, daily, between airports. The most diverse merchandise, communications technology, medical assistance and people are carried in 17 airplanes plus 9 helicopters of several types and nationalities to make the media covering of the competition, with the most spectacular images.
Once again, the Dakar organization has chosen Aerocondor, so, this year for the fifth time, they contracted a Dornier 228 with crew to assure the transport of the aircraft recognition and communications team (PC AIR). This is the first airplane to take-off, in the eve of each stage, to prepare the arrival of the remaining structure and to define the parking spaces of the remaining airplanes. Pilot António Carloto and António Correia were in command, with the assistance of the maintenance technician Luis Silva.
Around the airplanes or in the shade of its wings, the tents start to quickly appear, grouped in accordance with its personal affinities (nationalities and so on): the doctors next to the campaign hospital; the bike mechanics close to the airplanes that carry the metallic boxes with the substitution parts; the journalists next to the tents of the press and communications (close to the boards where the classifications are), etc..
Furthermore there is the famous "Bivouac" (a French word that means a military camp. Every day changes its place, being settled in civil and military airports. In this year’s edition, has achieved to gather together about 2000 people plus all the vehicles of the caravan, being during the night a truly oasis in the most remote places.

(Text and Photos by Antonio Correia - see Gallery

ATA - Aerocondor Transportes Aéreos, S. A., has started on the last 31st December the aerial link between the French cities of Agen and Paris.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by all the local authorities and some representatives of the Central Government of France, having Aerocondor been represented by its President, Victor de Brito, and by the Commercial Manager, Fernando Lopes.
The French media gave a lot of relevance to the event, pointing out that Aerocondor has wan this tender in competition with several national and foreign companies.