Skip to content

SBBR - Brasília

General Information

Information
Aerodrome name Brasília - Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek
Type of Operation International, Public and Military
Transition altitude 10000 ft5
Elevation 3498 ft (1066 m)
Largest aircraft Wide-bodies (code 4E)
Airspace Brasília CTR, class C, GND/6500 ft5
Accepts A380?

Useful Information

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

Loading METAR...
Loading TAF...

Traffic

Runways

Preferential runway system

SBBR has two staggered parallel runways: 11L/29R (3200 × 45 m) to the north and 11R/29L (3300 × 45 m) to the south. The terminal sits between them. H runs along 11L/29R on its south side and U runs along 11R/29L on its north side. All four thresholds have ILS CAT I.

  • 11L / 29R: North and Northeast

    Landings from and departures to the N and NE of Brasília1.

  • 11R / 29L: South and Southeast

    Landings from and departures to the S and SE of Brasília1.

Preferential system

With a tailwind component of up to 7 kt and a dry runway, the runways in use are 11L and 11R1.

With 11L/11R in use and a tailwind, pilots who request 29R/29L should expect a delay in landing or takeoff1.

Departure peaks

  • Peak towards N/NE/NW: 11L/29R is departures only. All landings and the departures to the south go to 11R/29L1.
  • Peak towards S/SE/SW: 11R/29L is departures only. All landings and the departures to the north go to 11L/29R1.

Runway data

Runway Dimensions TORA LDA Approach Remarks
11L 3200 × 45 m 3050 m 3050 m ILS CAT I ALSF-1 and PAPI
29R 3200 × 45 m 3200 m 3050 m ILS CAT I MALSF and PAPI. Displaced threshold (150 m)
11R 3300 × 45 m 3150 m 3150 m ILS CAT I ALSF-1 and PAPI
29L 3300 × 45 m 3300 m 3150 m ILS CAT I ALSF-1 and PAPI. Displaced threshold (150 m)
  • Independent simultaneous parallel operations follow the SBBR-specific AIC1.

ATC Units

Code Abbr. Callsign Frequency Remarks
SBBR_ATIS ABR Brasília Information 127.800 D-ATIS
SBBR_DEL DBR Brasília Clearance 121.000 DCL (code SBBR)
SBBR_GND GBR Brasília Ground 121.800
SBBR_TWR TBR Brasília Tower 118.100 Single Tower
SBBR_N_TWR TBRN Brasília Tower 118.450 Split Tower: runway 11L/29R
SBBR_S_TWR TBRS Brasília Tower 118.750 Split Tower: runway 11R/29L

Monitor without initial call

SBBR uses monitor handoffs: the pilot changes frequency and does not make an initial call1.

  1. The pilot calls Clearance from 15 min before EOBT, giving apron and stand. Once the clearance is copied, they report when actually ready for start-up.
  2. Clearance instructs the pilot to monitor Ground. Ground calls the aircraft for start-up.
  3. On handoff to Tower, Ground instructs the pilot to monitor Tower. The aircraft waits for Tower's call, ready for an immediate departure.
  4. Tower does not give the takeoff time. The next unit's frequency comes with the takeoff clearance.

Example: GLO1234, monitor Brasília Ground 121.800.

DCL

SBBR has DCL (departure clearance via datalink)2. On the network, the station code is SBBR.
Station code SBBR
Who operates it SBBR_DEL. Without DEL, the position covering clearance top-down (GND, TWR, APP or ACC)
Controller tool TopSky DCL window, with your personal Hoppie ACARS code
Pilot tool Aircraft ACARS or a Hoppie-compatible client, sending the clearance request to SBBR

How it works:

  1. The pilot sends the request (RCD) to SBBR, with the parking stand and 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 monitors Ground, which calls them for start-up or pushback.

Controller setup

  • Log in to the TopSky DCL with the code SBBR before opening the position.
  • Announce it in the controller information: DCL AVBL LOGON SBBR.
  • A faulty request (invalid plan, wrong SID, no ATIS) goes back as REVERT TO VOICE: the pilot calls Clearance on frequency.
  • If the pilot does not accept within a reasonable time, consider the clearance not delivered and call them by voice.

Areas of responsibility

Map of SBBR with both runway strips in yellow, under Tower, and the rest in blue, under Ground
Yellow strips: Tower. Rest: Ground. The dashed line runs through the holding points. White circles: apron numbers.
Position Responsible for
GND Aprons 1, 2, 3, general aviation and military, and the TWY up to the holding point
TWR Both runways and the TWY inside the holding points. With a split Tower, N takes 11L/29R and S takes 11R/29L
  • SBBR has no Apron position (APRON): Ground handles all aprons.
  • Departures: Ground hands off to Tower (monitor) before the holding point. Pilots reach the holding point ready for departure; if not, they tell Ground1.
  • Arrivals: after vacating the runway, Tower hands off to Ground.
  • Taxiing between the two sides (apron 1 to U, or U to H) never crosses a runway: it goes along K or R.

Ground flow

General rule

  • North side (11L/29R): H runs along the runway. L1 and L2 link apron 1 with H; A and B lead to the thresholds; C, G and F are rapid exits; N and O lead to the military apron.
  • South side (11R/29L): U runs along the runway. K and R link apron 1 with U; Y and Z lead to the thresholds; BB and EE are rapid exits; T and W serve apron 3.
  • Apron 2 and general aviation leave via Q and QQ to H.

Ground flow on runways 11L and 11R: 11L departures via L1, H and A; 11R departures via R, U and Y; 11L landings vacate via F; 11R landings vacate via EE
Green: departures. Dashed orange: intersection departure (code A/B). Blue: landings.

  • Departures 11L (N/NE): L1, H and A to the threshold. Code A/B departs from C.
  • Departures 11R (S/SE): R or K, U and Y to the threshold. Code A/B departs from BB.
  • Landings 11L: vacate via F (or G) and return along H to L2 or L3.
  • Landings 11R: vacate via EE and follow K to apron 1.

Example: AZU4321, taxi to holding point runway 11R via R, U and Y.

Ground flow on runways 29R and 29L: 29R departures via L2, H and B; 29L departures via K, U and Z; 29R landings vacate via G; 29L landings vacate via BB
Green: departures. Dashed orange: intersection departure (code A/B). Blue: landings.

  • Departures 29R (N/NE): L2, H and B to the threshold. Code A/B departs from F.
  • Departures 29L (S/SE): K, U and Z to the threshold. Code A/B departs from EE.
  • Landings 29R: vacate via G (or C) and return along H to L2.
  • Landings 29L: vacate via BB and follow U and R to apron 1.

Example: GLO1234, taxi to holding point runway 29R via L2, H and B.

Runway exits

Pilots must vacate the runway completely before stopping, via the listed exit, or tell APP or Tower if they cannot use it1.

Runway Exit Distance from the threshold
11L G or F 1425 m / 1956 m
29R G or C 1359 m / 2193 m
11R EE 2161 m
29L BB 2188 m

Hotspots

Hotspot Where Watch out
HS1 Where C meets H, L1 and Q Complex intersection with rapid exit C, next to threshold 11L
HS2 Where EE meets U, R and K Complex intersection with rapid exit EE

Taxi restrictions

Restriction Where
Wingspan up to 20 m TWY QQ. Before entering Q from QQ, call Tower with your position4
Wingspan above 20 m To the general aviation hangars via QQ, towed only4
General aviation to apron 2 Must use the apron 2 taxiway (stands 52 to 61)3

Takeoff points

Overview of SBBR with numbered aprons, hotspots and the takeoff points marked with the available TORA
Takeoff points (purple) with the available TORA. Red circles: hotspots. Circled numbers: aprons.
Runway Point TORA Used by
11L A (threshold) 3050 m Code C or larger
11L C 2193 m Code A and B1
29R B (threshold) 3200 m Code C or larger
29R F 1956 m Code A and B1
11R Y (threshold) 3150 m Code C or larger
11R BB 2188 m Code A and B1
29L Z (threshold) 3300 m Code C or larger
29L EE 2161 m Code A and B1
  • Code A and B must depart from the intersection. Those who cannot say so when requesting their clearance1.
  • Code C or larger may request the intersection1.
  • Pilots reach the holding point ready for departure; immediate line-up and takeoff roll within 10 seconds of the clearance1.
  • After takeoff, call APP immediately with only BRASÍLIA CONTROL, [CALLSIGN], no additional information, and expect vectors or a direct to a waypoint. Pilots planning to exceed 250 kt below FL100 tell APP1.

Departures between arrivals

Subject to wake turbulence, Tower may clear a line-up and immediate takeoff between an aircraft that departed 11L and has crossed the opposite threshold and another that, on approach, is passing over GELVA. It may also clear a line-up between two arrivals: one passing GELVA and another that has crossed the threshold in use1.

HIRO

HIRO (high-intensity runway operations) cuts runway occupancy time to shorten the spacing on final, between departures and between landings and departures1.
Activation Broadcast on the ATIS
Approach speed Only aircraft keeping at least 120 kt IAS to 4 NM from the threshold
Landing Vacate the runway completely before stopping, via the exit listed in the runway exits table
Takeoff Code A and B from the intersection; jets and medium wake or heavier follow the high-density procedures (immediate line-up, roll within 10 s)

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 terminalDomesticStands 05 to 41 and 47 to 51
Azul
AZU
GOL
GLO
LATAM
TAM
Apron1Passenger terminalInternationalStands 01 to 04A
TAP
TAP
Copa Airlines
CMP
Aerolíneas Argentinas
ARG
LATAM Peru
LPE
Sky Airline
SKU
Apron2Cargo, remote and general aviationVia Q and QQStands 52 to 66 (general aviation: 52 to 61)

Freighters, general aviation up to 5700 kg and overflow from any airline.

Apron3Large freighters and remoteVia TStands 67 to 70

Large freighters and overflow.

ApronMILMilitaryVia N and O
FAB

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

Other procedures

  • Observe the VAC for joining and leaving the traffic pattern1.
  • Helicopters enter and leave via the south sector at no less than 4100 ft (600 ft AGL)1.
  • Go-around off the IAC profile with communication failure: climb to 7000 ft and, once there, fly towards the IAF of the procedure in use1.

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

  1. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBBR 2.22. Declared distances: AD 2.13. ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  2. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBBR 2.18. ↩

  3. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBBR 2.20, item 3. ↩

  4. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBBR 2.20, item 6 and ADC chart. ↩↩

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