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SBPA - Salgado Filho

General Information

Information
Aerodrome name Porto Alegre - Salgado Filho
Type of Operation International and Public
Transition altitude 10000 ft7
Elevation 30 ft (9 m)
Largest aircraft Wide-bodies (code 4E)1
Airspace Porto Alegre 1 CTR, class C, GND/1500 ft7
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

SBPA has one runway, 11/29 (3200 × 45 m, asphalt). All the TWY are in the western third and the middle of the runway: D runs along the north side only between C and E. East of E up to threshold 29 there are no TWY, just the 1st turn pad (~2400 m from threshold 11) and the turn pad at the end of the runway.

  • Runway 11

    ILS CAT I and CAT II (ALSF-2). Departure from the threshold, via A or J.

  • Runway 29

    RNP and VOR. Departure from intersection E (TORA 1994 m).

Runway selection

The AIP sets no preferential runway: the runway in use follows the wind.

Runway data

Runway Dimensions TORA LDA Approach Remarks
11 3200 × 45 m 3200 m 3200 m ILS CAT I/II ALSF-2
29 3200 × 45 m 3200 m 3200 m Non-precision RNP and VOR
  • The AD accepts aircraft up to code 4E1.
  • On approach to 11, do not confuse the runway lights with those of Av. Sertório, parallel and 900 m to the right. On final for 29, do not confuse it with the approach to runway 31 at Canoas, to the right9.

ATC Units

Code Abbr. Callsign Frequency Remarks
SBPA_ATIS APA Palegre Information 132.350 D-ATIS
SBPA_DEL DPA Palegre Clearance 122.150 DCL (code SBPA)
SBPA_GND GPA Palegre Ground 121.900
SBPA_TWR TPA Palegre Tower 118.100

DCL

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

How it works:

  1. The pilot sends the request (RCD) to SBPA, 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 calls Ground for start-up or pushback.

Controller setup

  • Log in to the DCL with the code SBPA before opening the position.
  • Announce it in the controller information: DCL AVBL LOGON SBPA.
  • 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 SBPA with the runway strip in yellow, under Tower, and the rest in blue, under Ground
Yellow strip: Tower. Rest: Ground. The dashed line runs through the holding points. White circles: apron numbers.
Position Responsible for
GND Aprons 1 to 4 and the TWY up to the holding point
TWR Runway 11/29 and the TWY inside the holding points
  • SBPA has no Apron position (APRON): Ground handles all aprons.
  • Aprons 3 and 4 (general aviation) are south of the runway: the way to the terminal crosses the runway via K and C, with Tower's clearance.
  • Departures: Ground hands off to Tower before the holding point. Pilots reach the holding point ready for departure; if not, they tell Ground5.
  • Arrivals: after vacating the runway, Tower hands off to Ground.

Ground flow

General rule

  • M3 and M4 run in front of apron 1; P serves apron 2.
  • B and J (or A) lead to threshold 11; C links apron 1 with the runway and, on the other side, with K (apron 3).
  • D runs along the runway between C and E; F and E are the exits to apron 1.
  • L and H serve general aviation south of the runway. L is closed between K and G (glide slope antenna protection)4.
  • Aprons 1 and 2: wingspans above 16 m leave with pushback; there is no stand for self-manoeuvring out3.

Ground flow on runway 11: departures via M3, B and J to the threshold; via C only during HIRO; landings vacate via F or E and return along D
Green: departures. Dashed orange: departure from C (HIRO) and exit via E. Blue: landings.

  • Departures (11): M3, B and J (or A) to the threshold, preferably: that section is concrete5.
  • Intersection C: only with HIRO active, coordinated with Ground beforehand, and it may be refused according to Tower's planning5.
  • Landings (11): vacate via F (1502 m) or E (1994 m) and return along D. If a backtrack is needed, do it at the 1st turn pad5.

Example: GLO1234, taxi to holding point runway 11 via M3, B and J.

Ground flow on runway 29: departures via D to E; via F if agreed; landings vacate via C
Green: departures. Dashed orange: departure from F. Blue: landings.

  • Departures (29): M3, M4 and D to E (TORA 1994 m). Those unable to depart from E say so when requesting their clearance5.
  • Other options: F (TORA 1507 m) or the 1st turn pad (TORA 2280 m), with a backtrack.
  • Landings (29): vacate via C (2627 m) and follow M3 to apron 15.

Example: AZU4321, taxi to holding point runway 29 via M3, M4, D and E.

Entering at intersections C, E and F

These TWY have flexible pavement. When entering the runway from them, follow the yellow line and do not pivot on the aircraft's axis5.

Runway exits

Pilots vacate the runway completely before slowing to taxi speed. Those needing another exit, a backtrack, or not configured for the exits below tell APP or Tower on first contact, preferably at the FAF5.

Runway Exits
11 F (1502 m), E (1994 m) or backtrack at the 1st turn pad
29 C (2627 m)

Hotspots

Hotspot Where Watch out
HS1 Intersection of A and J, next to threshold 11 The layout needs attention: risk of runway incursion

Taxi restrictions

Restriction Where
TWY L closed Between K and G4
Maximum speed 8 kt TWY P4
Wingspan up to 16 m Apron 33

Takeoff points

Overview of SBPA with numbered aprons, the hotspot and the takeoff points marked with the available TORA
Takeoff points (purple) with the available TORA. Red circle: hotspot. Circled numbers: aprons.
Runway Point TORA Used by
11 A or J (threshold) 3200 m Preferred5
11 C 2627 m HIRO only, coordinated with Ground5
29 E 1994 m Standard5
29 F 1507 m If cleared
29 1st turn pad 2280 m If cleared, with a backtrack
  • Pilots reach the holding point ready for departure; immediate line-up and takeoff roll within 10 seconds of the clearance5.
  • After the handoff from Tower, call APP immediately with only PALEGRE CONTROL, [CALLSIGN]5.

HIRO and reduced separation

HIRO (high-intensity runway operations) applies when activated on the ATIS5.
Approach speed Code A, B and C and scheduled flights: 140 to 170 kt IAS between the IF and the FAF. ATC-assigned speeds are mandatory
Landing Vacate the runway completely via the exit listed in the runway exits table
Takeoff 11 from the threshold (C only if coordinated); 29 from E
Separation on final Minimum 5 NM surveillance separation6

RRSM: reduced runway separation minima

Tower may apply reduced separation when all of the conditions hold and RRSM is on the ATIS: wake separation respected, visibility of 5 km or more, ceiling of 1000 ft or more, tailwind up to 4 kt and an uncontaminated runway6.

Runway Landing after landing Landing after departure Departure after departure
29 Preceding aircraft passed 2600 m from the threshold, moving and vacating via C without backtracking Preceding aircraft passed 2600 m (C) Not permitted
11 Not permitted Preceding aircraft passed 2400 m (1st turn pad) Preceding aircraft passed 2400 m (1st turn pad)

Example: AZU4321, cleared to land runway 29, wind 350 degrees 11 knots. A320 ahead vacating the runway.

Note: the AIP only provides for RRSM by day, from sunrise to sunset (SR–SS).

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 01 to 12
Azul
AZU
GOL
GLO
LATAM
TAM
Aerolíneas Argentinas
ARG
Copa Airlines
CMP
LATAM Chile
LAN
LATAM Peru
LPE
TAP
TAP
Apron2RemoteNext to the Tower, via PStands 21 to 28

Overflow from any airline.

Apron3·4General aviationSouth of the runway, via K and LStands 31 to 46 (3)

General and business aviation. Apron 3: wingspan up to 16 m.

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

Other procedures

  • Observe the VAC for joining and leaving the traffic pattern1.
  • Observe danger areas SBD 578 and SBD 579 (Porto Alegre 1 and 2 obstacles) for low-level VMC circulation near the AD8.

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

  1. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.20, item 1. Declared distances: AD 2.13. ↩↩↩

  2. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.18. ↩

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

  4. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.8 and ADC chart. ↩↩↩

  5. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.20, item 10. ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  6. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.20, item 11. ↩↩

  7. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.17 and IAC charts. ↩↩

  8. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.22. ↩

  9. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBPA 2.23. ↩