SBWR - Brasília

General data

Useful Information

Map

Click a volume to see its limits and class. Use the layer control to change the base map and toggle the volumes.

The Visual corridors (REA) layer shows the 5 REAs of AIC N 10/17 and their gates (yellow). One-way segments carry an arrow in the direction of flight; on two-way segments the altitude depends on the direction. Click a segment to see its track and altitude. Details in Visual corridors (REA).

Volumes

ATC Units

Top-down coverage

Read from bottom to top: when a position is offline, the airspace falls to the next online position above.

---
config:
  flowchart:
    wrappingWidth: 1000
---
flowchart BT
    p0["SBBS_CTR"]:::ctr
    g0["<span style='display:inline-block;margin:0 6px;padding:8px 14px;border:2px solid rgb(138,86,201);background:var(--md-mermaid-node-bg-color);color:var(--md-mermaid-label-fg-color)'>SBBS_NE_CTR</span><span style='display:inline-block;margin:0 6px;padding:8px 14px;border:2px solid rgb(138,86,201);background:var(--md-mermaid-node-bg-color);color:var(--md-mermaid-label-fg-color)'>SBBS_NS_CTR</span>"]:::grpctr
    p1["SBBS_N_CTR"]:::ctr
    p2["SBWR_APP"]:::app
    p3["SBBR_TWR"]:::twr
    a0(["Brasília TMA"]):::esp --> p2
    a1(["Brasília CTR<br>Brasília ATZ"]):::esp --> p3
    g0 --> p0
    p1 --> g0
    p2 --> p1
    p3 --> p2
    classDef esp stroke-dasharray:4 3
    classDef twr stroke:#2e9e5b,stroke-width:2px
    classDef app stroke:#2f7fd1,stroke-width:2px
    classDef ctr stroke:#8a56c9,stroke-width:2px
    classDef grpctr fill:none,stroke:#8a56c9,stroke-dasharray:4 3

VFR circulation

TMA layers and who handles VFR

• Mandatory corridors in the CTR: all VFR traffic within the Brasília CTR projection flies along the REAs. It may join or leave them at any point stated in the flight plan; any other track only with APP clearance.
• Contact with the APP: even with the REAs in class G, the pilot makes first contact with the APP before entering the corridors, when possible, and keeps a continuous listening watch. After that, speak only when needed or when called.
• In the real world, the AIC tells VFR traffic on the REAs to use 120.650; the current AIP lists 121.150 as the primary VFR frequency of Brasília APP. Air-to-air coordination on the REAs is on the free frequency 123.450, or on the aerodrome's coordination frequency (FCA), where there is one.
• In the package there is only SBWR_APP (119.200), which handles all VFR traffic on the REAs. Pilots call the online position, not the real-world frequency. Without the APP, the next position in the coverage takes over. Air-to-air coordination goes on UNICOM 122.800.

General VFR rules

• Flight plan: departures from a controlled aerodrome put REA in item 15 and the corridors in item 18 (e.g. BRAVO, CHARLIE). On a first flight on the REAs, tell the APP. Traffic from an aerodrome without an ATS unit states the origin, destination and the REAs it will use on first contact.
• References on the left: pilots fly with the corridor's visual references on their left.
• Width: 3 NM along the whole route (1.5 NM either side of the centreline).
• Altitudes: 4500 or 5000 ft, depending on the segment and direction, kept preferably for the whole en-route phase. On two-way segments, the altitude separates the two directions.
• QNH for Brasília, from the APP or the SBBR ATIS.
• Landing and taxi lights on, day and night. A mode A/C or S transponder is mandatory.
• Holding: to space out entries into the CTR, the APP may hold traffic over the REA reference points.
• Helicopters may also use the REAs.
• IMC: if VMC can't be kept, turn back and land at the departure aerodrome or the nearest one, ask for special VFR, or ask the APP for a change to IFR.

Unless the APP assigns another code, VFR traffic within the TMA projection builds its transponder code from the origin (first two digits) and the destination (last two):

AIC examples: from APUB to SSGP, 2122; from CBAAER to SWUZ, 2526.

Visual corridors (REA)

The 5 REAs of the TMA. Altitudes in feet (QNH). → is a one-way segment; ⇄ is two-way, with track and altitude given as outbound / return.

What each corridor does:

• ALFA (one-way, westbound) leaves the LAGOA BONITA gate in the northeast, passes Sobradinho and the Santa Maria dam and ends at the PONTA NORTE gate, at the north tip of Lake Descoberto. Traffic from the northeast bound for SBBR turns down the BRAVO at the Santa Maria dam.
• BRAVO links the LAGOA 2 gate, near the Army barracks, to the north. Up to the Santa Maria dam it is two-way (5000 ft northbound, 4500 southbound); from there it runs only north and northeast, via TORRE 4 and FERCAL, to the CIPLAN gate.
• CHARLIE (one-way, eastbound) is the entry from the west: from the PONTA SUL gate, at the south tip of Lake Descoberto, via ESTACIONAMENTO and SÍTIO to the LAGOA 2 gate.
• DELTA is the long two-way arc around the east and south. It leaves the SARA gate (Sarah Kubitschek Hospital), passes CBAAER and the towers along the DF-130 (TORRE 1 to 3 and TORRE TROCO), goes round SBBR and heads west via BARRAGEM 1, GRANJA 2, ALPHAVILLE and BUNGE to the TORRE ENGENHO gate (Engenho das Lajes village). From SARA towards TORRE ENGENHO at 4500 ft; the other way at 5000.
• ECHO links BUNGE (the Bunge silos and sheds) to the ESTUFA VERMELHA gate to the north: 5000 ft northbound to ESTUFA VERMELHA and 4500 southbound to BUNGE.

Gates (REA entry and exit): LAGOA BONITA, CIPLAN, PONTA NORTE, PONTA SUL, LAGOA 2, SARA, ESTUFA VERMELHA, GRANJA 2, BUNGE and TORRE ENGENHO.

Aerodromes under the TMA

From SSGP to SIQE: take off heading for the town of São Sebastião at 4000 ft and, once released from the frequency by the APP, coordinate with traffic in the SIQE circuit.

Other rules

• AFIL flight plans are not accepted, nor abbreviated flight plans filed by radiotelephony from the ground.
• Helicopters in the South sector: minimum altitude 4100 FT (600 FT AGL).
• Departures from aerodromes and heliports inside the ATZ projection must call Brasília Tower before take-off.

Phraseology

Brazilian VFR traffic usually calls in Portuguese. First contact with the APP, before entering the corridor:

Controle Brasília, PR-MWN, decolado de CBAAER para Luziânia, 4500 pés, solicita REA DELTA até BUNGE.

Arrival at SBBR along the CHARLIE:

Controle Brasília, PR-MWN, REA CHARLIE, posição SÍTIO, 5000 pés, proa LAGOA 2, pouso em Brasília.

Air-to-air coordination (123.450 in the real world; UNICOM on VATSIM), with registration, position, direction or destination and altitude²:

Coordenação, PR-MWN, posição TORRE 2, 4500 pés, proa TORRE 3, REA DELTA.

Remarks

• The TMA is class A between FL145 and FL195 and class C between 6500 FT and FL145.
• In the real world, a 3 NM minimum separation applies within 40 NM of SBBR.
• ATZs have no class published in the AIP (ENR 2.2).
• Volumes and map follow AIP AMDT AIRAC 2612A1 (26 NOV 2026). The VATSIM sector package may carry slightly different TMA and CTR outlines.

Back to the Brasília FIR terminals overview.