Continuing the 4th Campaign of the Innovatory Local Communities, the President of the Republic visited, in the Air Force Academy, in Sintra, the laboratory where the programme PITVAN – Project of Research and Technology on Unmanned Aircraft is being undertaken.

Developed in cooperation with Portuguese and foreign learning institutions, this programme is intended to produce aircraft for use in other missions aside from military, such as the detection and control of sea pollution, inspection and control of fishing activities, aerial photography and surveillance and control of maritime traffic. During the visit President Aníbal Cavaco Silva had the opportunity to view a demonstration of such an aircraft’s flight.

At the end of the visit, the President went round the Air Museum, recently re-opened to the public in the Sintra Air Force Base.

Following this the President left for the county of Mafra, to visit the Parish of Encarnação Relief Association, which has units available for the promotion of the autonomy and well being of the local people, especially of the aged.