Santos Dumont Airport - Brasil

SDULocation within greater Rio de Janeiro

Santos Dumont Airport Aeroporto Santos Dumont
IATA: SDU - ICAO: SBRJ
Summary
Airport type		Public/Military
Operator		Infraero
Serves		Rio de Janeiro
Elevation AMSL		3 m / 11 ft
Coordinates		22°54′37″S 043°09′46″W
Website		Infraero SDU
Map
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
02R/20L	1,323	4,341	Asphalt
02L/20R	1,260	4,134	Asphalt
Statistics (2011)
Passengers			8,522,225
Aircraft operations			130,026
Metric tonnes of cargo			5,406
Statistics: Infraero Sources: Airport Website, ANAC

Santos Dumont Airport (IATA: SDU, ICAO: SBRJ) is the second major airport serving Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is named after the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont (1873-1932).

In 2011, the airport was ranked 6th in terms of transported passengers and aircraft operations, placing it amongst the busiest airports in the country. It is operated by Infraero.

Santos Dumont has slot restrictions operating with a maximum of 23 operations/hour, being one of the three airports with such restrictions in Brazil.

• 1 History
• 2 Airlines and destinations
• 3 Accidents and incidents
  • 3.1 Major accidents involving fatalities
  • 3.2 Incidents
• 4 Access
• 5 Future developments

Contents

History

Airbus 319 of TAM Airlines taking off on the short Santos Dumont runway.

Originally known as Calabouço Airport, the history of the airport can be traced back to the early 1930s. Until that time, the few aircraft equipped with landing gear used Manguinhos Airport. Seaplanes, which at the time operated the majority of domestic and international flights, used a terminal located at the Calabouço Point, an area known today as Praça Marechal Âncora. Take-off and landings were made using an area of Guanabara Bay then known as estirão do Caju (English: Caju water stretch). It was as a development of the terminal at Calabouço Point, that Calabouço Airport was created.

A new public terminal building for seaplanes was inaugurated on October 29, 1938. It was a replacement for the original passenger terminal and was used by all airlines except Panair do Brasil and Pan American World Airways which used their own facilities. Due to the obsolescence of seaplanes, it ceased to be used in 1942. Today, this protected building houses the Historical and Cultural Institute of the Brazilian Air Force (INCAER).

In 1934, in order to handle a growing amount of land operations, land was reclaimed from the sea to create the first runway of the airport with a length of 1,300 feet (400 m). In 1936, the runway was extended to 2,300 feet (700 m) and on November 30 it received its first commercial flight, a VASP Junkers Ju 52 aircraft flying from São Paulo-Congonhas. The airport complex was officially inaugurated on 16 October 1936 and was named Santos Dumont Airport.

It was also in 1936 that the construction of a new passenger terminal began. It was a project led by the architects MMM Roberto (Marcelo, Milton and Mauricio Roberto Doria-Baptista) inspired in the Paris-Le Bourget Airport terminal. Its pioneering, modernist, architectural features created a Brazilian national landmark. It was only in 1947 that its construction was completed. This building continues to be used to the present day. In the lobby of this terminal, (presently the arrivals terminal) two monumental paintings by Cadmo Fausto de Sousa can be seen. Named "Old Aviation" and "Modern Aviation", they feature many old and new means of flying. Both were unveiled in 1951.

Adjoining the original seaplane terminal, Pan American World Airways and its Brazilian subsidiary Panair do Brasil constructed their own dedicated terminal for seaplanes and aircraft with landing gear. This terminal opened in 1937 featuring an architecture was inspired by the Pan American Seaplane Base and Terminal Building in Miami. It included not only a passenger terminal but also offices and hangars. It remained the headquarters of Panair do Brasil until the airline was forced to cease its operations in 1965. Presently, it headquarters the Third Regional Air Command of the Brazilian Air Force.

On 21 May 1959 a formal agreement between Varig, Cruzeiro do Sul, and VASP created an air shuttle service (Portuguese: Ponte Aérea), the first of its kind in the world. This service operated between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport and São Paulo-Congonhas and comprised regular hourly departures, common check-in counter, and simplified tickets and formalities. The service was an instant success. Transbrasil joined the partnership in 1968. Starting in 1975 the service was operated exclusively by Varig's Lockheed L-188 Electras. In 1999 this service came to an end because airlines decided to operate their own independent services.

Over the years, the airport's main runway has been extended several times, first to 2,300 feet (700 m), then to 3,000 feet (910 m), and finally 4,340 feet (1,320 m).

With the gradual shift of international operations to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport opened in 1952, Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont lost its place as an international hub, but for many years retained its position of a major hub for domestic traffic, particularly until 1960, when the capital of Brazil was moved to Brasília. Presently the airport handles only part of Rio's short to medium haul domestic air traffic as well as part of its general aviation and military operations. The airport is famous for having some of the shortest runways on which some Boeing and Airbus aircraft can land. An idea of these operations is given in the 007-James Bond film Moonraker of 1979, in which a Lockheed L-188 Electra briefly appears taking-off from the airport.

Due to a fire that almost destroyed the main terminal in 1999, the passenger terminal building was closed for 6 months.

On 26 May 2007, in time for the 2007 Pan American Games, a brand-new, modern extension of the original terminal was opened. This extension handles all departure operations, whilst the original terminal now handles all arrival operations. The new departures terminal increased the total capacity of the airport to 8.0 million passengers/year.

It was announced on 5 August 2009 that in order to renew its operational licence the Rio de Janeiro State Environment Institute - INEA would require Santos Dumont Airport to adjust operational standards. After a meeting between INEA and Infraero held on September 3, 2009, the following compromise was reached: approach route 2 is used only when specific wind conditions that amount to 30% of total operations so require; the airport is closed between 23:00 and 06:00 hours: aircraft may depart or arrive until 22:30 hours, giving a half hour tolerance period; and the maximum amount of flights per hour was reduced from 23 to 19.

Airlines and destinations

Accidents and incidents

Major accidents involving fatalities

• 3 December 1930: a Syndicato Condor seaplane Dornier Wal registration P-BACA crashed on Guanabara Bay while attempting to avoid a collision against another aircraft. Six passengers and four crew members died.
• 3 May 1934: a Syndicato Condor Junkers W-34 registration PP-CAR crashed during landing procedures at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont. Two crew members died.
• 15 August 1938: a Syndicato Condor seaplane Junkers Ju-52 registration PP-CAT suffered an accident while departing from Guanabara Bay. All passengers and crew died, except for one crew member.
• 13 January 1939: a Syndicato Condor Junkers Ju-52 registration PP-CAY en route from Vitória to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed into Sambé peak near Rio Bonito, State of Rio de Janeiro. Four crew members and five passengers died.
• 27 August 1943: a VASP Junkers Ju-52/3mg3e registration PP-SPD flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas struck a building of the Naval Academy located close to the airport, shortly after take-off in fog. The aircraft broke in two and one part fell in the water. Of the 21 passengers and crew, only three survived.
• 27 September 1946: a Panair do Brasil Douglas DC-3-228D registration PP-PCH flying from Belo Horizonte-Pampulha to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed into a mountain near the location of Alto Rio Doce. All 25 passengers and crew died.
• 28 July 1950: a Panair do Brasil Lockheed L-049 Constellation registration PP-PCG flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Porto Alegre struck power lines and crashed on a hill after running out of fuel while in a holding pattern in bad weather near São Leopoldo. All 50 passengers and crew died.
• 28 February 1952: a Panair do Brasil Douglas DC-3A-393 registration PP-PCN flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Goiânia via Uberlândia. One of the wings struck a tree shortly after the pilot executed a go-around. The flight had been cleared to land at Uberlândia. Of the 31 occupants, 8 died.
• 14 October 1952: an Aerovias Brasil Douglas C-47-DL registration PP-AXJ operated by Real Transportes Aéreos en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Porto Alegre struck high ground while flying under adverse conditions over São Francisco de Paula. Of the 18 passengers and crew aboard, 14 died.
• 12 September 1954: a Cruzeiro do Sul Douglas C-47A-70-DL registration PP-CDJ flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas was forced to return to Rio de Janeiro due to technical problems and bad weather at São Paulo. On finals to Rio de Janeiro the aircraft came in too high. An overshoot was attempted but the aircraft descended and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. Six passengers out of 30 occupants died.
• 26 August 1955: a Cruzeiro do Sul Douglas C-53D-DO registration PP-CBY en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Caravelas, struck Forno Grande peak near Castelo, Espírito Santo. The flight was outside its assigned airway and the peak was not clearly marked on the crew's chart. All 13 passengers and crew died.
• 10 April 1957: a Transportes Aéreos Nacional Douglas DC-3/C-47 registration PP-ANX operated by Real Transportes Aéreos en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas crashed into a mountain near Ubatuba. The no. 2 engine caught fire, which forced the crew to make an emergency descent for Ubatuba. Due to rain, the crew noticed Papagaio Peak on Anchieta Island too late. The aircraft stalled during the evasive manoeuvre and crashed into the mountain. Of the 30 passengers and crew aboard, 26 died.
• 1 February 1958: a Lóide Aéreo Nacional Douglas DC-4 registration PP-LEM, experienced a failure of engine no. 4 during a takeoff at night. The takeoff was aborted. 100m before the end of the runway, a tire from the landing gear burst, causing the aircraft to run off the side of the runway and burst into flames. Of the 72 passengers and crew aboard, 5 died.
• 31 May 1958: a cargo Paraense Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando registration PP-BTB crashed shortly after take-off of unknown causes. The crew of 4 died.
• 30 December 1958: a VASP Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQE flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas experienced a failure of engine no.1 during climb-out after takeoff. The pilot initiated an emergency return to the airport, but during its second turn the aircraft stalled and crashed into Guanabara Bay. Of the 37 passengers and crew aboard, 21 died.
• 23 September 1959: a VASP Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQV en route from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont during climb after take-off did not gain enough height and crashed 1 1/2 minutes out of São Paulo killing all 20 passengers and crew.
• 25 February 1960 (1960 Rio de Janeiro air crash): a Real Transportes Aéreos Douglas DC-3 registration PP-AXD flying from Campos dos Goytacazes to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont collided in the air over Guanabara Bay close to the Sugarloaf Mountain with a United States Navy Douglas R6D-1 (DC-6A) registration 131582 flying from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Air Force Base. The probable causes of the accident are disputed, but include error of personnel and faulty equipment. All 26 passengers and crew of the Brazilian aircraft died. Of the 38 occupants of the American aircraft, only three survived.
• 24 June 1960: a Real Transportes Aéreos Convair CV-340-62 registration PP-YRB flying from Belo Horizonte-Pampulha to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed into Guanabara Bay in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro-Galeão due to unknown causes. All 54 passengers and crew died.
• 26 November 1962: a VASP Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SRA, en route from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, collided in the air over the Municipality of Paraibuna, State of São Paulo, with a private Cessna 310, registration PT-BRQ, en route from Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Campo de Marte. Both were flying on the same airway, AB-6, in opposite directions and failed to see each other. Both airplanes crashed, killing all 23 passengers and crew of the Saab and the 4 occupants of the Cessna.
• 3 May 1963: a Cruzeiro do Sul Convair 340-59 registration PP-CDW flying from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont had to return to São Paulo after its no.2 engine caught fire. While on finals to touch down, the aircraft nosed up 45°, stalled, and struck a house. Of the 50 passengers and crew aboard, 37 died.
• 12 April 1972: a VASP NAMC YS-11A-211 registration PP-SMI flying from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont flew into the side of a mountain while on descent 50 km north of Rio de Janeiro due to pilot mistake. All 25 passengers and crew died.
• 23 October 1973: a VASP NAMC YS-11A-211 registration PP-SMJ flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Belo Horizonte-Pampulha aborted its takeoff, overran the runway, and slid into Guanabara Bay. Of the 65 passengers and crew, 8 passengers died.
• 28 June 1984: a TAM Airlines Embraer EMB 110C Bandeirante registration PP-SBC operating a chartered flight by Petrobras from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Macaé flew into a hill while descending through rain and clouds over the Municipality of São Pedro da Aldeia. All 18 passengers and crew died.
• 31 October 1996: a TAM Airlines Fokker 100 registration PT-MRK and operating flight 402 from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed on urban area during take-off procedures and after engine no.2 suffering an uncommanded reverse thrust and thus losing power, stalled, yawed to the right and struck a building. All 95 passengers and crew on board and 4 people on the ground died.
• 16 September 2005: a private Cessna 525 Citation Jet registration PT-WLX on a ferry flight between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and Rio de Janeiro-Jacarepaguá crashed on Morro da Taquara, near the neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca. Its 2 occupants died.
• 31 March 2006: a Team Let 410 UVP-E20 registration PT-FSE operating flight 6865 en route from Macaé to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed over the Municipality of Rio Bonito. Trying to avoid an area of poor weather, the aircraft struck trees near the top of Pico da Pedra Bonita at an elevation of 1920 feet. All 19 passengers and crew died.

Incidents

• 2 December 1959: a Panair do Brasil Lockheed L-049/149 Constellation registration PP-PCR operating as Flight 246 en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Belém-Val de Cães with 44 passengers and crew aboard was seized and hijacked by officers of the Brazilian Air Force and forced to land at Aragarças, Goiás. Their intention was to use the aircraft in a bombing of Government buildings in Rio de Janeiro, and by thus starting a revolt against President Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira. The revolt faded after 36 hours, and the aircraft was commanded to fly to Buenos Aires where the hijackers requested asylum. There were no casualties.
• 31 October 1966: a VASP Vickers Viscount registration PP-SRM, was damaged beyond repair when it overran the runway.
• 8 December 1967: a Brazilian Air Force Vickers Viscount registration FAB2100 was written off when its undercarriage malfunctioned.

Access

The airport is located adjacent to downtown Rio de Janeiro.

There are taxis available.

Real Auto Ônibus operates executive bus 2018, that runs half-hourly between 05:30 and 22:30 hours, from the airport to the Central Bus Station and Galeão International Airport in one direction, and in the opposite direction to the southern parts of the city along the shore, with its final stop at Alvorada Bus Terminal in Barra da Tijuca. Bus 2145 is an express link between the Santos Dumont and Galeão Airports via the Central Bus Station and downtown, that runs every 20 minutes between 05:30 and 22:30 hours. Ticket counters for these bus services are located at the arrivals terminal.

Future developments

On 31 August 2009, Infraero unveiled a BRL152.2 million (USD80.2 million; EUR64.5 million) investment plan to upgrade Santos Dumont Airport, particularly the passenger arrivals terminal. The plan focuses on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup which will be held in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro being one of the venue cities, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, which Rio de Janeiro will host. The renovation is expected to be completed in November 2011.

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• List of the busiest airports in Brazil

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Airport information for SBRJ at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
• Airport information for SBRJ at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective Oct. 2006).
• Current weather for SBRJ at NOAA/NWS
• Accident history for SDU at Aviation Safety Network
• Santos Dumont Airport Photo Archive at airliners.net