The idea may not be completely new, but it is expected that it will gain «new impetus» with the centenary of the Air Crossing of the South Atlantic, which marks this year. Naming Gago Coutinho Airport Faro it is «a duty» and the main objective of a group of citizens that includes Algarve citizens such as Martins Guerreiro, captain of Abril, Carlos Brito, Afonso Dias and Luís Filipe Madeira, all members of the Constituent Assembly.
With roots in São Brás de Alportel, where his father was born, Gago Coutinho was, with Sacadura Cabral, one of the heroes of this Air Crossing that began in Lisbon and ended in Rio de Janeiro.
The feat – heroic at the time – is now 100 years old, a date that São Brás will not miss, with a program of celebrations that was presented this Thursday, February 17, and includes exhibitions, lectures, visits and the presentation of a Gago Coutinho Route.
It was at that moment that an idea that had been around for a few years was brought up again: naming the current International Airport of Faro.
Admiral Martins Guerreiro, born in São Brás and captain of Abril, leads a group of citizens who promise to fight for this dream.
To journalists, with the replica of the seaplane “Santa Cruz”, inaugurated in São Brás de Alportel in 2017, he explained that the idea of naming the airport after the navigator «is well underway, on several levels», despite «having to gain more momentum”.
«In the area of citizen involvement, it has grown a lot and there is enthusiasm, but there is the next level: the entities of the region, such as the Municipal Councils or the Committee for Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve», he added.
As far as municipalities are concerned, São Brás de Alportel is a natural supporter and Faro also seems not to refuse.
“We had a meeting yesterday with the Chamber of Faro and I think that, at least, there was no negative idea», reported Martins Guerreiro.
Moreover, three years ago, a proposal was presented to AMAL – Comunidade Intermunicipal do Algarve, which ended up not being voted on.
“At the time, the president changed, there was the beginning of the pandemic, but I think now there will be a new impetus. The decision is not of the Chambers, but it is important that they are with us», explained the São Brasense admiral.
The word will always be the Government, with whom there will be contacts» shortly.
“The signs we have is that there will be no difficulties. There is openness and sensitivity”, guaranteed Martins Guerreiro.
The Presidency of the Republic has not yet been contacted, but the admiral also has the opinion that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa “will be with us”.
For this group of citizens, the attribution of the name of Gago Coutinho to the Airport of Faro it is also essential to «create a cultural dimension that comes to the fore in terms of tourism».
«More and more, people don't just want to go to the restaurant and sunbathe, they want to know the history of the region, know something about the culture and having that in an airport is a unique opportunity», defended Martins Guerreiro.
The idea is even to create, at the Airport, a «space for people to see and know the history» of the navigator with Algarve roots.
«The name Gago Coutinho, as an international projection, only benefits the Algarve and it is also important that we teach those who visit us something of our history because in fact there were people here with an international dimension who contributed to the progress of the world», concluded the admiral.
Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação
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