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SBSL - São Luís

General Information

Information
Aerodrome name São Luís - Marechal Cunha Machado
Type of Operation International and Public
Transition altitude 10000 ft5
Elevation 177 ft (54 m)
Largest aircraft Code 4C2
Airspace São Luís CTR, class D, GND/2500 ft5
Accepts A380?

Useful Information

Select one of the tools in the tabs above (Charts, Weather or Traffic) to access the aerodrome information.

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Traffic

Runways

Runway system

SBSL has one runway in use, 06/24 (2385 × 45 m, asphalt). The former 09/27 is closed (marked with X on the ADC chart) and is not used for landing, takeoff or taxiing. There is no parallel taxiway: the only link between the apron and the runway is TWY A, which joins the runway ~1690 m from threshold 06 and ~690 m from threshold 24. Both thresholds have a turn pad.

  • Runway 06

    ILS CAT I. Takeoff from the threshold, after a backtrack from A (~1690 m).

  • Runway 24

    RNP and VOR. Takeoff from the threshold, after a short backtrack from A (~690 m).

Runway selection

The AIP sets no preferential runway: the runway in use follows the wind. Since every departure and almost every jet arrival backtracks on the runway, Tower must sequence departures and arrivals with margin.

Runway data

Runway Dimensions TORA LDA Approach Remarks
06 2385 × 45 m 2385 m 2385 m ILS CAT I Turn pad at the threshold1
24 2385 × 45 m 2385 m 2385 m Non-precision RNP and VOR. Turn pad at the threshold1
  • The AD accepts aircraft up to code 4C2.
  • 180° turns on 06/24 only at the thresholds for aircraft with a wingspan of 28.7 m or more or an MTOW above 40 t3.

ATC Units

Code Abbr. Callsign Frequency Remarks
SBSL_ATIS ASL São Luís Information 136.975
SBSL_TWR TSL São Luís Tower 118.900 DCL (code SBSL)
  • The VATSIM package only has Tower and the ATIS: there is no Ground or Clearance. In the real world, SBSL only has D-ATIS4.
  • Above Tower, top-down: SBWS_APP (São Luís Control, 119.100).

DCL

SBSL has DCL (departure clearance by data link)4. On the network, the station uses the code SBSL. There is no Clearance (DEL) position: Tower delivers the clearances.
Station code SBSL
Who operates it SBSL_TWR. Without TWR, the position covering clearance top-down (APP or ACC)
Controller tool TopSky DCL window, with the personal Hoppie ACARS code
Pilot tool Aircraft ACARS or a Hoppie-compatible client, sending the clearance request to SBSL

How it works:

  1. The pilot sends the request (RCD) to SBSL, with the parking stand and the ATIS letter.
  2. The controller checks the flight plan and replies with the clearance: limit, runway, SID, transponder code, ATIS letter and next frequency.
  3. The pilot accepts (WILCO/ACCEPT). The clearance is then issued and there is no voice readback.
  4. With the clearance accepted, the pilot calls Tower for start-up or pushback.

Controller setup

  • Log in to the TopSky DCL with the code SBSL before opening the position.
  • Announce it in the controller information: DCL AVBL LOGON SBSL.
  • A request with an error (invalid plan, wrong SID, no ATIS) goes back as REVERT TO VOICE: the pilot calls Tower on frequency.
  • If the pilot doesn't accept in reasonable time, treat the clearance as not delivered and call by voice.

Areas of responsibility

Since Tower is the only position, SBSL_TWR controls everything: aprons, taxiways and runway 06/24. There is no Ground or Apron in the AIP or in the package.

  • Departure: Tower clears the flight (DCL or voice), approves pushback and taxi, and clears the backtrack and the takeoff on the same frequency.
  • Arrival: Tower clears the landing, the turn at the threshold when needed and the taxi to the apron.
  • Pushback is mandatory for aircraft above 20 t leaving the stand. On stands 4 and 5, these aircraft only start engines after the pushback is complete3.
  • The general aviation apron to the west (aero club and hangars) is out of Tower's sight: use pilot reports to confirm position.

Ground flow

General rule

  • A is the only link between apron 1 and the runway. It leaves the east corner of apron 1, next to apron 2.
  • Every departure enters via A and backtracks to the threshold: ~1690 m for 06 and ~690 m for 24.
  • The apron 1 taxilane runs in front of the stands, from A to B. B continues west to the former threshold 09, which is closed, and does not reach 06/24.

Ground flow on runway 06: departures via A and a backtrack to threshold 06; arrivals vacating via A
Green: departures (backtrack drawn beside the centerline). Blue: arrivals.

  • Departures (06): from apron 1 via A, enter the runway and backtrack to threshold 06, turning on the turn pad.
  • Arrivals (06): vacate via A (~1690 m) and continue to the apron. Aircraft that pass A turn at threshold 24 and come back to A.

Example: AZU4321, taxi to holding point runway 06 via A. Then: AZU4321, enter runway 06 via A and backtrack to the threshold.

Ground flow on runway 24: departures via A and a short backtrack to threshold 24; light aircraft vacating via A; jets turning at threshold 06 and coming back to A
Green: departures. Blue: arrivals vacating via A. Orange dashed: jets turning at threshold 06.

  • Departures (24): A and a short backtrack to threshold 24.
  • Arrivals (24): light aircraft vacate via A (~690 m). Jets roll to the end, turn on the threshold 06 turn pad and backtrack to A.

Example: GLO1234, taxi to holding point runway 24 via A.

Runway exits

Runway Exits
06 A (~1690 m) or turn at threshold 24 and back to A
24 A (~690 m, light aircraft) or turn at threshold 06 and back to A

Approximate distance from the threshold to A, measured on the diagram. The SBSL AIP does not publish exits.

Takeoff points

Overview of SBSL with the aprons, the closed former 09/27 and the takeoff points marked with the available TORA
Takeoff points (purple) with the available TORA. Circles: aprons. Grey with X: former 09/27, closed.
Runway Point TORA Used by
06 Threshold, after backtrack 2385 m All
24 Threshold, after backtrack 2385 m All
  • The SBSL AIP does not publish intersection takeoffs.

Aprons and airlines

Reference for simulation. Stands follow the PDC charts; airlines follow the airport's airline list on Wikipedia. The split between stands is a simplification, not the airport's official allocation. VAs use the stands of the real airline they represent.

Apron1Passenger terminalDomestic and internationalStands 1, 1A and 2 to 10
Azul
AZU
GOL
GLO
LATAM
TAM
TAP
TAP
Apron2General aviationEast of the terminal, next to AStands 11 to 17

General and business aviation.

ApronHHangars and aero clubTo the west, via the apron 1 taxilane

General aviation. Out of Tower's sight.

Logos from GRU Airport. Trademarks belong to their respective airlines.

Diagrams drawn by VATSIM Brasil over OpenStreetMap geometry (ODbL), checked against the SBSL ADC and PDC charts. Not for real-world navigation. Normative source: AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBSL, AMDT 2610A1.

  1. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBSL 2.12 and 2.13 and ADC chart. ↩↩

  2. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBSL 2.20, item 1. ↩↩

  3. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBSL 2.20, item 6. ↩↩

  4. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBSL 2.18, ROTAER and ADC chart. ↩↩

  5. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBSL 2.17 and IAC charts. ↩↩