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SBRF - Recife

General Information

Information
Aerodrome name Recife - Guararapes / Gilberto Freyre
Type of Operation International, Public and Military
Transition altitude 4000 ft
Elevation 33 ft (10 m)
Largest aircraft Wide-bodies (code 4E); B747-8F under special authorization1
Airspace Recife 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

Preferential runway system

SBRF has a single runway, 18/36 (2937 × 45 m, asphalt). Taxiway M runs along the east side of the runway, next to the terminal; K and D run along the west side, next to the military area.

  • Preferential: 18

    Landings and takeoffs. ILS on 18. Threshold displaced by 186 m.

  • Alternative: 36

    Non-precision approaches only (RNP and VOR). Used when the wind rules out 18.

Preferential system

With a tailwind component of up to 7 kt and a dry runway, the runway in use is 183.

With 18 in use and a tailwind, pilots who request 36 should expect a delay in landing or takeoff3.

Runway data

Runway Dimensions TORA LDA Approach Remarks
18 2937 × 45 m 2937 m 2751 m ILS CAT I Displaced threshold (186 m)
36 2937 × 45 m 2751 m 2751 m Non-precision
  • On 18, aircraft of code 4C or higher may use the section before the displaced threshold for the takeoff roll, except the B747-8F11.
  • 180° turns by aircraft the size of a Fokker 100, B737 or larger only at the thresholds2.
  • The aerodrome takes aircraft up to code 4E. The B747-8F operates under special authorization1.

ATC Units

Code Abbr. Callsign Frequency Remarks
SBRF_ATIS ARF Recife Information 127.650 D-ATIS
SBRF_DEL DRF Recife Clearance 118.900 DCL (code SBRF)
SBRF_GND GRF Recife Ground 121.850
SBRF_TWR TRF Recife Tower 118.350

DCL

SBRF has DCL (departure clearance via datalink)4. On the network, the station code is SBRF. Equipped aircraft must request their clearance through DCL7.
Station code SBRF
Who operates it SBRF_DEL. Without DEL, whichever position covers 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 SBRF

How it works:

  1. The pilot sends the request (RCD) to SBRF, 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 SBRF before opening the position.
  • Announce it in the controller information: DCL AVBL LOGON SBRF.
  • A request with errors (invalid plan, wrong SID, no ATIS) is answered with REVERT TO VOICE: the pilot calls Clearance 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

Map of SBRF 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, the hangar area, TWY M, K, D and the links up to the holding point
TWR Runway 18/36 and the taxiways inside the holding points
  • SBRF 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 Ground7.
  • Arrivals: once the aircraft vacates the runway, Tower hands off to Ground.

Ground flow

General rule

  • TWY M runs along the east side, links aprons 1 and 2 to both thresholds and reaches 36 via C.
  • K and D run along the west side and link aprons 3 and 4 and the hangar area (via W) to both thresholds.
  • B and L connect the east side to the runway; J, G, F and E, the west side.
  • Aircraft above 40 t leave the stand with pushback5.

Ground flow on runway 18: departures via M to the beginning of the runway; intersections B and G; landings vacating via L to apron 2 or via E to the west side
Green: departures. Dashed orange: intersection departure. Blue: landings.

  • Departures (18): M northbound to the beginning of the runway.
  • Turboprops and code A/B: depart from intersection B (from the east) or G and J (from the west), unless instructed otherwise. Code C may request the intersection7.
  • Landings (18): vacate via L and follow M to apron 2. For the west-side aprons, via E and K. Turboprops may vacate via B.

Example: AZU4321, taxi to holding point runway 18 via M.

Ground flow on runway 36: departures via M and C to threshold 36; west aprons via K and D; landings vacating via B to apron 2 or via G to the west side
Green: departures. Dashed orange: departures from the west-side aprons. Blue: landings.

  • Departures (36): M southbound and C to threshold 36. From the west-side aprons, K and D.
  • Landings (36): vacate via B and taxi back on M to apron 2. For the west-side aprons, via G and K.

Example: GLO1234, taxi to holding point runway 36 via M, C.

Runway exits

Pilots must vacate the runway with the minimum runway occupancy time (MROT)7.

Runway Exits
18 B (~990 m, turboprops), L or E (~1870 m)
36 L or E (~720 m, turboprops), B (~1600 m), G (~1690 m) or J (~2200 m)

Approximate distance from the threshold to the exit. B and L: AIP; the others measured on the diagram.

Taxi restrictions

Restriction Where
Maximum wingspan 36 m TWY G and K6
Wingspan below 24 m TWY N6
Wingspan below 15 m TWY P6
In IMC No simultaneous operation of aircraft with a wingspan of 36 m or more on the runway and on TWY M, D and K2

Takeoff points

Overview of SBRF with numbered aprons and takeoff points marked with the available TORA
Takeoff points (purple) with the available TORA. Circled numbers: aprons.
Runway Point TORA Who uses it
18 M (beginning of the runway) 2937 m Jets
18 B 1609 m Turboprops and code A/B, from the east side7
18 G 1703 m Turboprops and code A/B, from the west side7
18 J 2186 m Turboprops and code A/B, from the west side7
36 C or D (threshold) 2751 m Everyone
  • Pilots unable to depart from the intersection advise it when requesting the clearance7.
  • Pilots reach the holding point ready for departure; if not, they advise Ground7.
  • Immediate line-up when cleared, and the takeoff roll starts within 10 seconds of the takeoff clearance7.
  • After takeoff, call APP immediately with RECIFE CONTROL, [CALLSIGN] only, with no additional information7.
  • Turboprops and piston aircraft expect radar vectors or a clearance direct to a waypoint right after takeoff7.

HIRO

HIRO (high-intensity runway operations) reduces runway occupancy time to shorten the spacing on final, between departures and between landings and departures7.
Hours 1000–1200, 1330–1600 and 1830–2030 UTC. ATC may change them according to demand; the hours are broadcast on the ATIS
Approach speed 170 to 150 kt at 5 NM from the threshold. Speeds assigned by ATC are mandatory
Landing Vacate the runway completely before stopping, via the planned rapid exit: B or L. If unable, advise APP or Tower
Takeoff Request through DCL; turboprops and code A/B depart from intersections B, G or J

Aprons and airlines

Reference for simulation. The stands follow the PDC charts; the 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 internationalStands 01 to 17
Azul
AZU
Azul Conecta
ACN
GOL
GLO
LATAM
TAM
JetSMART Argentina
JES
JetSMART Chile
JAT
TAP
TAP
Iberia
IBE
Cabo Verde
TCV
Apron2Cargo terminalFreightersStands 19 to 22
LATAM Cargo
LCO
Lufthansa Cargo
GEC
Modern
MWM
Apron2RemoteOvernight and overflowStands 23 to 26

Any airline, subject to availability and wingspan.

Apron1General aviationVia N (up to 24 m) and P (up to 15 m)2 stands, category B

General and business aviation.

Apron3·4MilitaryWest side, via K · 4: next to the TowerStands 24 to 26 (3) and 27 to 29 (4)
FAB
AreaWHangarsMaintenance, via TWY W

Aircraft under maintenance.

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

Other procedures

  • Follow the VAC to join and leave the traffic pattern10.
  • Helicopters in the VFR circuit: northwest sector, minimum altitude 800 ft9.

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

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

  2. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.20, item 6. ↩↩

  3. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.20, item 10. Declared distances: AD 2.13. ↩↩

  4. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.18. ↩

  5. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.20, item 2. ↩

  6. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.8 and ADC chart. ↩↩↩

  7. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.20, item 11. ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

  8. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.17. ↩

  9. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.20, item 8. ↩

  10. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.22. ↩

  11. AIP Brasil, AD 2 SBRF 2.23. ↩