Augusto Severo International Airport
Encyclopedia
Augusto Severo International Airport , formerly called Parnamirim Airport, is the airport serving Natal
, Brazil
, located in the adjoining municipality of Parnamirim
. Since November 24, 1951 the airport is named after the aviator Augusto Severo de Albuquerque Maranhão (1864-1902).
It is operated by Infraero
.
Some of its facilities are shared with the Natal Air Force Base
of the Brazilian Air Force
.
as a strategic base for aircraft flying between South America and West Africa. Particularly between 1943 and 1945, this facility was used jointly by the Brazilian Air Force
, United States Army
, United States Navy
, the Royal Air Force
, and commercial airlines. The maintenance and security installations were made by the U.S. Army
in the South Atlantic (USAFSA).
On March 31, 1980, the Ministry of Aeronautics transferred to Infraero
the task of managing the airport. On the same date major renovations were completed.
In 2000, the present passenger terminal was built. The terminal is 11,560 m², has 4 jetways, and is capable of handling 1.5 million passengers annually. There are 500 parking places.
Due to the fact that the capacity of the airport does not meet the present demand of passengers, the brand-new Greater Natal International Airport
is presently under construction at São Gonçalo do Amarante
.
a. Airline operating regular charter flights.
which will be held in Brazil. At the occasion it was announced that even though Natal is one of the venue cities, the plan excluded its airport because renovations had been recently completed and Infraero considered the airport fit to handle the forthcoming increase in traffic.
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
-History:The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, located in the adjoining municipality of Parnamirim
Parnamirim
Parnamirim is a city in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. It is located at around . Augusto Severo International Airport, the airport serving the city of Natal, is located there....
. Since November 24, 1951 the airport is named after the aviator Augusto Severo de Albuquerque Maranhão (1864-1902).
It is operated by Infraero
Infraero
Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, Infraero in short, is a Brazilian government corporation created in 1972 and responsible for operating the main Brazilian commercial airports. In 2009, Infraero's airports carried 128,135,616 passengers and 1,114,754 tons of cargo and operated...
.
Some of its facilities are shared with the Natal Air Force Base
Natal Air Force Base
Natal Air Force Base – BANT is a base of the Brazilian Air Force, located in Parnamirim, near Natal, Brazil.It shares some facilities with Augusto Severo International Airport.-History:...
of the Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
.
History
This airport had an important role during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a strategic base for aircraft flying between South America and West Africa. Particularly between 1943 and 1945, this facility was used jointly by the Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
, United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and commercial airlines. The maintenance and security installations were made by the U.S. Army
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the South Atlantic (USAFSA).
On March 31, 1980, the Ministry of Aeronautics transferred to Infraero
Infraero
Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, Infraero in short, is a Brazilian government corporation created in 1972 and responsible for operating the main Brazilian commercial airports. In 2009, Infraero's airports carried 128,135,616 passengers and 1,114,754 tons of cargo and operated...
the task of managing the airport. On the same date major renovations were completed.
In 2000, the present passenger terminal was built. The terminal is 11,560 m², has 4 jetways, and is capable of handling 1.5 million passengers annually. There are 500 parking places.
Due to the fact that the capacity of the airport does not meet the present demand of passengers, the brand-new Greater Natal International Airport
Greater Natal International Airport
Greater Natal International Airport or São Gonçalo do Amarante – Natal International Airport is a new airport presently under construction in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Brazil...
is presently under construction at São Gonçalo do Amarante
São Gonçalo do Amarante, Rio Grande do Norte
São Gonçalo do Amarante is a town and municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in the Northeast region of Brazil.São Gonçalo do Amarante-Natal International Airport, the new airport to serve the metropolitan area of Natal, scheduled to open in 2014, is presently under construction in the...
.
Airlines and destinations
a. Airline operating regular charter flights.
Accidents and incidents
- 7 September 1946: British South American AirwaysBritish South American AirwaysBritish South American Airways or British South American Airways Corporation was a state-run airline in Britain in the 1940s. It was originally called British Latin American Air Lines Ltd....
, an Avro 685 York IAvro YorkThe Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
registration G-AHEW named "Star Leader" flying Bathurst (Banjul)-JeshwangBanjul-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
to Natal lost control and crashed shortly after takeoff from Bathurst. The cause of the loss of control cannot be determined with certainty, but a mishandling of the controls by the captain is the most likely explanation. All 24 occupants died. - 11 June 1947: Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina, an Avro 691 Lancastrian registration LV-ACS flying from Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
to Natal struck a post on landing and caught fire. Of the 18 passengers and crew, 13 survived. - 13 July 2011: a Noar Linhas AéreasNoar Linhas AéreasNoar Linhas Aéreas a regional domestic airline with headquarters in Caruaru, Brazil. Regular scheduled services started on June 14, 2010....
Let L-410 Turbolet registration PR-NOB operating flight 4896Noar Linhas Aéreas Flight 4896Noar Linhas Aéreas Flight 4896 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Recife Airport, Brazil, to Mossoró Airport via Natal. On 13 July 2011, it was operated by Let L-410UVP-E20 PR-NOB. Shortly after take-off, a mayday was issued and the crew indicated their intention to land on the beach at...
from Recife to Natal crashed shortly after take-off from Recife. All 16 occupants were killed.
Future developments
On 31 August 2009 Infraero unveiled an ambitious BRL5.3 billion (USD2.8 billion; EUR2.0 billion) investment plan to renovate and upgrade airports of ten cities focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup2014 FIFA World Cup
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that will take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014....
which will be held in Brazil. At the occasion it was announced that even though Natal is one of the venue cities, the plan excluded its airport because renovations had been recently completed and Infraero considered the airport fit to handle the forthcoming increase in traffic.