SBXS - Salvador

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 7 REAs of AIC N 06/22 and the gates (yellow). Solid magenta line: class D, inside the CTR; dashed blue: class G, outside it; arrows mark the one-way segments. Click a segment to see the tracks, altitudes and class. 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.

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---
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    p0["SBRE_CTR"]:::ctr
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    p1["SBRE_S_CTR"]:::ctr
    p2["SBXS_APP"]:::app
    p3["SBSV_TWR"]:::twr
    a0(["Salvador TMA"]):::esp --> p2
    a1(["Salvador CTR"]):::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 REAs: all VFR traffic in the Salvador metropolitan area or the TMA, to or from the Salvador aerodromes, must use the REAs, unless the APP clears otherwise or in an emergency. Traffic and weather permitting, the APP or the Tower may clear the flight off them.
• Outside the CTR, below the TMA, the routes are recommended, not mandatory, and may be joined or left at any point.
• In the real world, VFR traffic talks to Salvador APP and, near SBSV, to Salvador Tower.
• In the package, VFR traffic calls SBXS_APP (119.350); for the SBSV circuit, SBSV_TWR (118.300). Pilots call the online position, not the real-world frequency. Without it, the next position in the coverage takes over. Air-to-air coordination goes on UNICOM 122.800.

General VFR rules

• A mode A/C or S transponder is mandatory on the REAs and in the TMA/CTR; landing or taxi lights on are recommended.
• Right of the centreline: pilots fly to the right of the corridor centreline.
• Width: REAs 3 NM (1.5 NM either side); gates 1 NM.
• Altitudes: in controlled areas the maximum and minimum must be obeyed; the minimum gives 500 ft over the terrain. Altitude changes are made at the position fixes, under the pilot's responsibility and in VMC: on BONFIM at FAROL DA BARRA (northbound and west/northwestbound) and abeam PARIPE (southbound), on FRADE at ITAPARICA and on INTERLAGOS at INTERLAGOS. The APP may assign another altitude on controlled segments.
• QNH from Salvador APP or Tower.
• Flight plan: the REAs go in item 18 (remarks). Traffic for SBSV states the REA on first contact with the APP, even if it is in the flight plan.
• Crossing the TMA: along the REA segments until leaving it or, exceptionally, on a direct track cleared by the APP.
• Holding: to space out entries into the TMA and CTR, the APP may hold traffic over REA points.
• Helicopters may use the REAs and, with the APP, land elsewhere in the CTR, stating the REA to the destination.
• IMC: turn back and land at the departure aerodrome or the nearest one, ask for special VFR, or change to IFR.

Visual corridors (REA)

The 7 REAs of the TMA. Altitudes in feet (QNH), as maximum / minimum; a single altitude applies to both. ⇄ is a two-way segment, with tracks as outbound / return; → is one-way.

What each corridor does:

• AXEH is the SBSV departure along the seafront: one-way, from the FAROL DE ITAPUÃ gate via AMARALINA to FAROL DA BARRA, at 1200 ft, over the sea, not inland of the beach.
• BONFIM serves the aerodromes north of the TMA: from CANDEIAS (Aratu naval base) to abeam PARIPE, two-way, up to 3000 ft; from FAROL DA BARRA to abeam PARIPE, northbound only, at 1200 ft, past the Bonfim church.
• INTERLAGOS leads to SBSV: from abeam PARIPE (one-way) and from INTERLAGOS to the CEASA gate, where the pilot turns towards SBSV with Tower clearance.
• FORTE comes from the north coast: from the PRAIA DO FORTE gate via Arembepe to INTERLAGOS.
• FRADE crosses Todos os Santos bay: from SALINAS DA MARGARIDA via the ITAPARICA gate (north tip of the island) to FAROL DA BARRA.
• VERA CRUZ comes from the southwest: from CAIXA PREGOS via the TRAVÉS DE SNVR gate to FAROL DA BARRA.
• CAIXA PREGOS links CAIXA PREGOS to the SNCL gate (Morro de São Paulo), to the southwest.

Gates

Other rules

• Departures from aerodromes without an ATS unit under the TMA file a flight plan with the AIS office, call the APP before taxi and report the actual departure time.
• Flight plans may not be filed by radiotelephony, except from helidecks in an emergency.
• Departures from aerodromes or heliports inside the CTR call first, on the FCA or the APP, for crossing or joining instructions.
• With a Z plan, wait for the APP clearance to change flight rules, keeping to the corridor altitudes.

Phraseology

On contact, the pilot gives registration, route or corridor, position, altitude and direction². Brazilian VFR traffic usually calls in Portuguese:

Controle Salvador, PT-THE, corredor CAIXA PREGOS, vertical de CAIXA PREGOS, 1000 pés, proa FAROL DA BARRA.

Controle Salvador, PT-THE, corredor INTERLAGOS, través de PARIPE, 1200 pés, proa CEASA, pouso em Salvador.

Remarks

• The TMA is class A between FL145 and FL195 and class C between 3500 FT and FL145.
• The Salvador CTR is a 21 NM circle, GND to 3500 FT.
• Volumes and map follow AIP AMDT AIRAC 2612A1 (26 NOV 2026).

Back to the Recife FIR terminals overview.