He was 44 years old and
lieutenant-colonel-aviator in the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) at the time of his
selection as one of the five finalists astronaut candidates for the Brazilian
Space Agency (AEB) in 1998. Earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Science
from Academia da For?a Aérea (AFA) and became a fighter pilot. Graduated
as fixed-wing experimental test pilot from the United States Air Force Test
Pilot School (USAFTPS, 1984). Worked as test pilot at the Departamento de
Ciência e Tecnologia Espacial (DCTA, 1985-1998). Has been director at
Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (IAE, 1999-2000), where he
coordinated the VLS-1 and VLS-2 rockets programs. Retired from FAB in 2001 as
colonel-aviator and began working at Embraer as experimental test pilot, where
he later became chief test pilot and manager of flight test
operations. |