What Voe Seguro is
Voe Seguro is the lookup of air taxi companies and aircraft that ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil, Brazil's civil aviation authority) offers to every interested citizen. The lookup page itself asks to be used before you hire a company in the business.
The reason is that air taxi is a service authorized and supervised by ANAC, and only companies that meet a series of requirements can provide it. It is up to the customer to make sure the company is authorized.
Open Voe Seguro on ANAC's site (opens in a new tab) in another tab and follow the steps below. The lookup is in Portuguese.
Step by step
You need two details: the company's CNPJ and the registration (the tail number, such as PT-VLR) of the aircraft that will fly you. Ask the seller for both.
Step 1
Open the lookup
Go to Voe Seguro on ANAC's site and have the CNPJ and the registration at hand.
Step 2
Look up the company
In the field "Razão social ou CNPJ da empresa" (company legal name or CNPJ), enter the CNPJ. The lookup also accepts the trade name.
Step 3
Read the company result
If the company is authorized, the result says it is authorized for air taxi operations (RBAC no. 135) and lists the aircraft models authorized to operate air taxi in its name. If it says the company was not found or is not authorized, stop here.
Step 4
Look up the aircraft
In the field for nationality mark and registration, enter the aircraft's tail number. The lookup lets you verify whether it is authorized to operate air taxi. Also compare the model with the company's list.
Step 5
Look at the aircraft
An air taxi aircraft must carry the words "Táxi-Aéreo" on the fuselage near the main passenger door, clearly visible. ANAC says the person using the service should check this marking.
Step 6
Keep the date of the lookup
The result shows the date of the search. Keep that date together with the CNPJ and the registration you checked.
When the seller is not the one flying
Travel agencies and app operators can sell flights even if they do not run air taxi themselves. In that case, ANAC says they must tell the customer who the service provider is, which must be an air taxi company, and the registration of the aircraft that will fly.
With those details, you run the same lookup. If the seller does not say who will fly or give the registration, the steps cannot even begin: ask for both before you pay.
Sources for this section:[3]
What RBAC 135 means
RBAC stands for Regulamento Brasileiro de Aviação Civil (Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulation), ANAC's rulebook. RBAC 135 covers public air transport operations with airplanes of up to 19 passenger seats (with a paid payload limit) or helicopters, and it is the air taxi regulation: Voe Seguro shows an authorized company "for air taxi operations (RBAC no. 135)".
For an airplane or helicopter to start operating as an air taxi, ANAC runs a certification process that checks whether the aircraft has the safety level needed to carry passengers. By meeting RBAC 135, the aircraft category can change from private (TPP) to air taxi (TPX).
ANAC publishes the list of air taxi companies, with the COA number (Air Operator Certificate) of each, on its RBAC 135 Operations Specifications page (opens in a new tab).
The risk of an illegal air taxi
ANAC warns that irregular air taxi operation breaks the Brazilian Aeronautics Code, puts the lives of people on board and on the ground at risk, and can be a crime under article 261 of the Penal Code.
On its oversight page, ANAC says that when it finds irregularities it can ground the aircraft, suspend or even revoke the pilot's license, and refer the case to the federal public prosecutor, the Federal Police and other agencies involved. Voe Seguro sums up the warning as "Táxi-aéreo clandestino mata!" (illegal air taxi kills).
Signs that it is time to stop and check:
- The company does not appear as authorized in Voe Seguro.
- The aircraft is not authorized to operate air taxi in the lookup.
- The aircraft does not carry the words "Táxi-Aéreo" on the fuselage near the main door.
- The seller does not say which company will fly or give the aircraft registration.
How to report
ANAC says irregular air taxi practice should be reported by phone at 163 or through the Fale com a Anac service. Reports can be anonymous.
According to ANAC's page, 163 is free from any state in Brazil and answers every day, from 8 am to 8 pm. The agency says every report that reaches its service channels is investigated and that suspect aircraft or companies can be inspected.
Florais as an example
To check Florais Táxi Aéreo, enter the company's CNPJ or the aircraft registration in Voe Seguro. Both are in the card below, with a copy button. The CNPJ is 41.280.688/0001-98, of Florais Táxi Aéreo Ltda., and the registration is PT-VLR.
Details for the check
- CNPJ of Florais Táxi Aéreo Ltda.
- 41.280.688/0001-98
- Aircraft registration
- PT-VLR
Florais offers air taxi with one aircraft: the Embraer EMB-810D PT-VLR (Seneca III), a twin-engine plane for up to 5 passengers. See the details on the PT-VLR aircraft and how a flight works on air taxi charter.
Do not take the website's word for it: check ANAC's lookup and compare it with what the company says.
Sources for this section:[1]
Questions and answers
Who can use Voe Seguro?
ANAC makes the lookup available to every interested citizen. The search is done on ANAC's site, by the company's CNPJ or name and by the aircraft registration.
The company does not show up in the lookup. What now?
The lookup says the company was not found or is not authorized for air taxi. ANAC says that if a company is not on the list of authorized providers, it should be reported at 163 or through Fale com a Anac, and that customers should avoid illegal transport.
Can I buy a flight from a travel agency or an app?
ANAC says travel agencies and app operators can sell flights as long as they tell you which air taxi company will fly and the aircraft registration. With those details, run the lookup in Voe Seguro.
Are air taxi and a private plane the same thing?
No. An aircraft in the private category goes through an ANAC certification process before it can operate as an air taxi. The difference is explained in How air taxi charter works.