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SBFZ - Fortaleza

General Information

Information
Aerodrome name Fortaleza - Pinto Martins
Type of Operation International, Public and Military
Transition altitude 5000 ft8
Elevation 83 ft (25 m)
Largest aircraft Code 4E1
Airspace Fortaleza CTR, class C, GND/3500 ft8
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

Main runway

SBFZ has one runway, 13/31 (2755 × 45 m, asphalt). Taxiway A runs along the south side, next to the passenger terminal (apron 2) and the cargo terminal (apron 3). J runs along the north side, next to general aviation (apron 1) and the military area (apron 4).

  • Main: 13

    Landings and takeoffs. ILS CAT I on 13. It is the runway of the high intensity procedures (HIRO).

  • Alternate: 31

    Non-precision approaches only (RNP and VOR). Used when the wind does not allow 13.

Runway data

Runway Dimensions TORA LDA Approach Remarks
13 2755 × 45 m 2755 m 2755 m ILS CAT I
31 2755 × 45 m 2755 m 2755 m Non-precision
  • The AD accepts aircraft up to code 4E1.

ATC Units

Code Abbr. Callsign Frequency Remarks
SBFZ_ATIS AFZ Fortaleza Information 127.700 D-ATIS
SBFZ_GND GFZ Fortaleza Ground 121.950 DCL (code SBFZ)
SBFZ_TWR TFZ Fortaleza Tower 129.000

DCL

SBFZ has DCL (departure clearance by data link)2. On the network, the station uses the code SBFZ. The AIP only publishes Fortaleza Clearance by data link, with no voice frequency, and the package has no Clearance (DEL) position: Ground runs the DCL.
Station code SBFZ
Who operates it SBFZ_GND. Without GND, whichever position covers clearance top-down (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 SBFZ

How it works:

  1. The pilot sends the request (RCD) to SBFZ, with the stand and the ATIS letter.
  2. The controller checks the flight plan and replies with the clearance: limit, runway, SID, squawk, ATIS letter and next frequency.
  3. The pilot accepts (WILCO/ACCEPT). The clearance is then delivered and no voice readback is needed.
  4. Once the clearance is accepted, the pilot calls Ground for start-up or pushback.

Controller setup

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

Areas of responsibility

SBFZ map 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, TWY A, J, K, L, ZA, ZB and the links up to the holding point
TWR Runway 13/31 and the TWY inside the holding points
  • SBFZ has no Apron position: Ground handles all aprons.
  • Departures: Ground hands off to Tower before the holding point. Pilots reach the holding point ready for departure; if not, they advise Ground6.
  • Arrival: after vacating the runway, Tower hands over to Ground.

Ground flow

General rule

  • TWY A runs along the south side and links aprons 2 (via L, ZA and ZB) and 3 to threshold 13 (via P or B). A ends at D: there is no south-side TWY to threshold 31.
  • J runs along the north side, links aprons 1 and 4 (via G) to both thresholds and reaches 31 via H or Q.
  • From the south side to threshold 31, the aircraft crosses the runway via D and G and continues on J.
  • Aircraft with a wingspan above 24 m leave aprons 2 and 3 with pushback3.

Ground flow on runway 13: departures via A to P, at the threshold; with HIRO, via B; landings vacating via D and following A to apron 2
Green: departures. Dashed orange: departure from intersection B (HIRO). Blue: landings.

  • Departures (13): A westbound to P, at the threshold. From the north side, J to the threshold.
  • With HIRO active (ATIS): departures preferably from intersection B. Without HIRO, B only in coordination with Ground7.
  • Code A/B, light, turboprop, piston and general aviation: depart from intersections C or E7.
  • Landings (13): vacate via D and follow A to aprons 2 and 3, or via G and J to the north side. General aviation jets vacate via F; other general aviation aircraft via E or C7.

Example: AZU4321, taxi to holding point runway 13 via A, P.

Ground flow on runway 31: departures via A and D, crossing the runway to G and J up to Q; intersection H; landings vacating via C and following A to apron 2
Green: departures. Dashed orange: departure from intersection H. Blue: landings.

  • Departures (31): from the south side, A eastbound and D, crossing the runway to G, then J to Q (threshold) or H (intersection). From the north side, J directly.
  • Landings (31): vacate via C and follow A to aprons 2 and 3, or via E and J to the north side.

Example: GLO1234, taxi to holding point runway 31 via A, D, cross runway 13/31, G, J, Q.

Runway exits

The pilot must vacate the runway completely before stopping, via the exit that ensures the minimum runway occupancy time (MROT)4.

Runway Exits
13 C or E (1087 m, light general aviation), F (1742 m, general aviation jets), D or G (2242 m), H (2665 m)
31 G or D (~510 m), F (~1010 m), C or E (1668 m), B or J (~2610 m)

Distance from the threshold to the exit. Runway 13: AIP; runway 31: computed from the AIP distances.

Hotspots

Hotspot Where Caution
HS Convergence of TWY A, B, K and P, next to threshold 13 Reduced wingtip clearance: one aircraft at a time taxiing5

Taxi restrictions

Restriction Where
Maximum wingspan 36 m TWY J between threshold 13 and G3
Code E prohibited TWY J between threshold 13 and E3
Wingspan above 24 m Leaving aprons 2 and 3 only with pushback; manoeuvring with the tail toward the passenger, general aviation and cargo terminals is prohibited3
Departure from B Follow the yellow lead-in line to the runway. Backtrack or turning on the runway is prohibited7

Takeoff points

SBFZ overview with numbered aprons and the takeoff points marked with the available TORA
Takeoff points (purple) with the available TORA. Circled numbers: aprons.
Runway Point TORA Who uses it
13 P (threshold) 2755 m Jets, without HIRO7
13 B or J 2613 m Jets with HIRO active; B from the south, J from the north7
13 C or E 1668 m Code A/B, light, turboprop, piston and general aviation7
31 Q (threshold) 2755 m All
31 H 2665 m Intersection6
  • Pilots unable to depart from the intersection advise on receiving the traffic clearance7.
  • The pilot reaches the holding point ready for departure; otherwise, they advise Ground6.
  • Immediate line-up when cleared, and takeoff roll started within 10 seconds of the takeoff clearance6.
  • After takeoff, call APP immediately with only FORTALEZA CONTROL, [CALLSIGN], no additional information6. If Tower only asks to monitor the frequency, do not make the initial call7.
  • Turboprop and piston aircraft wait for vectors or a direct clearance to a waypoint right after takeoff6.

HIRO

HIRO (high intensity runway operations) reduces runway occupancy time to shorten separation on final, between departures and between landings and departures7.
Activation Broadcast on the ATIS
Approach speed 150 to 170 kt IAS between the IF and the FAF; then approach speed. Applies to category C or above and scheduled flights. ATC-assigned speeds are mandatory
Landing (13) Vacate the runway completely before stopping: D or G; F for general aviation jets; E or C for other general aviation aircraft. If unable, advise APP or, on first contact, Tower
Departure (13) Preferably via B; code A/B, light, turboprop, piston and general aviation via C or E

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.

Apron2Passenger terminalDomestic and international, via L, ZA and ZBStands 201 to 224
Azul
AZU
GOL
GLO
LATAM
TAM
TAP
TAP
Air France
AFR
Iberia
IBE
Apron3Cargo terminalFreighters, via A and CStands 301 to 309
GOLLOG
GLO
Sideral
SID
Apron1General aviationNorth side, via J

General and business aviation.

Apron4MilitaryFortaleza Air Force Base, via G
FAB

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

Other procedures

  • Follow the VAC to enter and leave the traffic pattern9.
  • Aircraft departing from aerodromes without an ATS unit under the Fortaleza TMA call Fortaleza APP before taxiing9.

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

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

  2. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBFZ 2.18 and ADC chart. ↩

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

  4. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBFZ 2.20, item 10. ↩

  5. ADC chart SBFZ. ↩

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

  7. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBFZ 2.20, item 12. ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  8. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBFZ 2.17 and IAC charts. ↩↩

  9. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBFZ 2.22. ↩↩