Santos Dumont Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Santos Dumont Airport is the second major airport serving Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
. It is named after the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont
(1873-1932).
In 2010 the airport was ranked 5th in terms of passengers and 4th in terms of number of operations in Brazil, placing it amongst the busiest airports in the country. It is operated by Infraero
.
Santos Dumont has slot restrictions operating with a maximum of 23 operations/hour, being one of the three airports with such restrictions in Brazil.
. Seaplane
s, which at the time operated the majority of domestic and international flights, used a terminal located at the Calabouço Point, an area known today as Praça Marechal Âncora. Take-off and landings were made using an area of Guanabara Bay
then known as estirão do Caju (Caju water stretch). It was as a development of the terminal at Calabouço Point, that Calabouço Airport was created.
A new public terminal building for seaplanes was inaugurated on October 29, 1938. It was a replacement for the original passenger terminal and was used by all airlines except Panair do Brasil and Pan American World Airways which used their own facilities. Due to the obsolescence of seaplanes, it ceased to be used in 1942. Today this protected building houses the Historical and Cultural Institute of the Brazilian Air Force (INCAER).
In 1934 in order to handle a growing amount of land operations, land was reclaimed from the sea to create the first runway of the airport with a length of 1300 feet (396.2 m). In 1936 the runway was extended to 2300 feet (701 m) and on November 30 it received its first commercial flight, a VASP
Junkers Ju 52
aircraft flying from São Paulo-Congonhas. The airport complex was officially inaugurated on 16 October 1936 and was named Santos Dumont Airport.
It was also in 1936 that the construction of a new passenger terminal began. It was a project led by the architects MMM Roberto (Marcelo, Milton and Mauricio Roberto Doria-Baptista) inspired in the Paris-Le Bourget Airport terminal. Its pioneering, modernist, architectural features created a Brazilian national landmark. It was only in 1947 that its construction was completed. This building continues to be used to the present day. In the lobby of this terminal, (presently the arrivals terminal) two monumental paintings by Cadmo Fausto de Sousa can be seen. Named "Old Aviation" and "Modern Aviation", they feature many old and new means of flying. Both were unveiled in 1951.
Adjoining the original seaplane terminal, Pan American World Airways
and its Brazilian subsidiary Panair do Brasil
constructed their own dedicated terminal for seaplanes and aircraft with landing gear. This terminal opened in 1937 featuring an architecture was inspired by the Pan American Seaplane Base and Terminal Building in Miami. It included not only a passenger terminal but also offices and hangars. It remained the headquarters of Panair do Brasil until the airline was forced to cease its operations in 1965. Presently, it headquarters the Third Regional Air Command of the Brazilian Air Force
.
On 21 May 1959 a formal agreement between Varig
, Cruzeiro do Sul
, and VASP
created an air shuttle service
, the first of its kind in the world. This service operated between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport and São Paulo-Congonhas and comprised regular hourly departures, common check-in counter, and simplified tickets and formalities. The service was an instant success. Transbrasil
joined the partnership in 1968. Starting in 1975 the service was operated exclusively by Varig's Lockheed L-188 Electra
s. In 1999 this service came to an end because airlines decided to operate their own independent services.
Over the years, the airport's main runway has been extended several times, first to 2300 feet (701 m), then to 3000 feet (914.4 m), and finally 4340 feet (1,322.8 m).
With the gradual shift of international operations to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport opened in 1952, Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont lost its place as an international hub, but for many years retained its position of a major hub for domestic traffic, particularly until 1960, when the capital of Brazil was moved to Brasília
.
Presently the airport handles only part of Rio's short to medium haul domestic air traffic as well as part of its general aviation
and military operations. The airport is famous for having some of the shortest runways on which some Boeing
and Airbus
aircraft can land. An idea of these operations is given in the 007–James Bond film Moonraker
of 1979, in which a Lockheed L-188 Electra
briefly appears taking-off from the airport.
Due to a fire that almost destroyed the main terminal in 1999, the passenger terminal building was closed for 6 months.
On 26 May 2007, in time for the 2007 Pan American Games
, a brand-new, modern extension of the original terminal was opened. This extension handles all departure operations, whilst the original terminal now handles all arrival operations. The new departures terminal increased the total capacity of the airport to 8.0 million passengers/year.
It was announced on 5 August 2009 that in order to renew its operational licence the Rio de Janeiro State Environment Institute – INEA would require Santos Dumont Airport to adjust operational standards. After a meeting between INEA and Infraero held on September 3, 2009, the following compromise was reached: approach route 2 is used only when specific wind conditions that amount to 30% of total operations so require; the airport is closed between 23:00 and 06:00 hours: aircraft may depart or arrive until 22:30 hours, giving a half hour tolerance period; and the maximum amount of flights per hour was reduced from 23 to 19.
There are taxis available.
Real Auto Ônibus operates executive bus 2018, that runs half-hourly (between 05:30 and 22:30 hours), from the airport to the Central Bus Station and Galeão International Airport in one direction, and in the opposite direction to the southern parts of the city along the shore, with its final stop at Alvorada Bus Terminal in Barra da Tijuca
. Bus 2145 is an express link between the Santos Dumont and Galeão Airports via the Central Bus Station and downtown. Ticket counters for these bus services are located at the arrivals terminal.
which will be held in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro being one of the venue cities, and the 2016 Summer Olympics
, which Rio de Janeiro will host. The renovation is expected to be completed in November 2011.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, 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...
. It is named after the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont
Alberto Santos-Dumont
Alberto Santos-Dumont , was a Brazilian early pioneer of aviation. The heir of a wealthy family of coffee producers, Santos Dumont dedicated himself to science studies in Paris, France, where he spent most of his adult life....
(1873-1932).
In 2010 the airport was ranked 5th in terms of passengers and 4th in terms of number of operations in Brazil, placing it amongst the busiest airports in the country. 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...
.
Santos Dumont has slot restrictions operating with a maximum of 23 operations/hour, being one of the three airports with such restrictions in Brazil.
History
Originally known as Calabouço Airport, the history of the airport can be traced back to the early 1930's. Until that time, the few aircraft equipped with landing gear used Manguinhos AirportManguinhos Airport
Manguinhos Airport was an airport that existed in the neighborhood of Manguinhos, near Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro from 1936 to 1972.-History:...
. Seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
s, which at the time operated the majority of domestic and international flights, used a terminal located at the Calabouço Point, an area known today as Praça Marechal Âncora. Take-off and landings were made using an area of Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
then known as estirão do Caju (Caju water stretch). It was as a development of the terminal at Calabouço Point, that Calabouço Airport was created.
A new public terminal building for seaplanes was inaugurated on October 29, 1938. It was a replacement for the original passenger terminal and was used by all airlines except Panair do Brasil and Pan American World Airways which used their own facilities. Due to the obsolescence of seaplanes, it ceased to be used in 1942. Today this protected building houses the Historical and Cultural Institute of the Brazilian Air Force (INCAER).
In 1934 in order to handle a growing amount of land operations, land was reclaimed from the sea to create the first runway of the airport with a length of 1300 feet (396.2 m). In 1936 the runway was extended to 2300 feet (701 m) and on November 30 it received its first commercial flight, a VASP
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Junkers Ju 52
Junkers Ju 52
The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
aircraft flying from São Paulo-Congonhas. The airport complex was officially inaugurated on 16 October 1936 and was named Santos Dumont Airport.
It was also in 1936 that the construction of a new passenger terminal began. It was a project led by the architects MMM Roberto (Marcelo, Milton and Mauricio Roberto Doria-Baptista) inspired in the Paris-Le Bourget Airport terminal. Its pioneering, modernist, architectural features created a Brazilian national landmark. It was only in 1947 that its construction was completed. This building continues to be used to the present day. In the lobby of this terminal, (presently the arrivals terminal) two monumental paintings by Cadmo Fausto de Sousa can be seen. Named "Old Aviation" and "Modern Aviation", they feature many old and new means of flying. Both were unveiled in 1951.
Adjoining the original seaplane terminal, Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
and its Brazilian subsidiary Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
constructed their own dedicated terminal for seaplanes and aircraft with landing gear. This terminal opened in 1937 featuring an architecture was inspired by the Pan American Seaplane Base and Terminal Building in Miami. It included not only a passenger terminal but also offices and hangars. It remained the headquarters of Panair do Brasil until the airline was forced to cease its operations in 1965. Presently, it headquarters the Third Regional Air Command 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"...
.
On 21 May 1959 a formal agreement between Varig
Varig
VARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
, Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
, and VASP
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
created an air shuttle service
Air shuttle
An air shuttle is a scheduled airline service that operates a frequent, regular service on short routes with a simplified fare and class structure. Although no exact specifications exist, frequency is normally once per hour or more often and travel time is typically an hour or less, although longer...
, the first of its kind in the world. This service operated between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport and São Paulo-Congonhas and comprised regular hourly departures, common check-in counter, and simplified tickets and formalities. The service was an instant success. Transbrasil
Transbrasil
TransBrasil is a defunct Brazilian airline which ceased operations in December 2001. During most of its history, Transbrasil was owned by local entrepeneur Omar Fontana. Its aircraft usually featured a colorful livery, remarkably with a rainbow on the tail fin. Transbrasil base was Brasilia...
joined the partnership in 1968. Starting in 1975 the service was operated exclusively by Varig's Lockheed L-188 Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
s. In 1999 this service came to an end because airlines decided to operate their own independent services.
Over the years, the airport's main runway has been extended several times, first to 2300 feet (701 m), then to 3000 feet (914.4 m), and finally 4340 feet (1,322.8 m).
With the gradual shift of international operations to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport opened in 1952, Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont lost its place as an international hub, but for many years retained its position of a major hub for domestic traffic, particularly until 1960, when the capital of Brazil was moved to Brasília
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
.
Presently the airport handles only part of Rio's short to medium haul domestic air traffic as well as part of its general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and military operations. The airport is famous for having some of the shortest runways on which some Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
aircraft can land. An idea of these operations is given in the 007–James Bond film Moonraker
Moonraker (film)
Moonraker is the eleventh spy film in the James Bond series, and the fourth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The third and final film in the series to be directed by Lewis Gilbert, it co-stars Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale, Corinne Clery, and Richard Kiel...
of 1979, in which a Lockheed L-188 Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
briefly appears taking-off from the airport.
Due to a fire that almost destroyed the main terminal in 1999, the passenger terminal building was closed for 6 months.
On 26 May 2007, in time for the 2007 Pan American Games
2007 Pan American Games
The 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
, a brand-new, modern extension of the original terminal was opened. This extension handles all departure operations, whilst the original terminal now handles all arrival operations. The new departures terminal increased the total capacity of the airport to 8.0 million passengers/year.
It was announced on 5 August 2009 that in order to renew its operational licence the Rio de Janeiro State Environment Institute – INEA would require Santos Dumont Airport to adjust operational standards. After a meeting between INEA and Infraero held on September 3, 2009, the following compromise was reached: approach route 2 is used only when specific wind conditions that amount to 30% of total operations so require; the airport is closed between 23:00 and 06:00 hours: aircraft may depart or arrive until 22:30 hours, giving a half hour tolerance period; and the maximum amount of flights per hour was reduced from 23 to 19.
Airlines and destinations
Major accidents involving fatalities
- 3 December 1930: a Syndicato Condor seaplane Dornier WalDornier Do JThe Dornier Do J Wal was a twin-engine German flying boat of the 1920s designed by Dornier Flugzeugwerke. The Do J was designated the Do 16 by the Reich Air Ministry under its aircraft designation system of 1933....
registration P-BACA crashed on Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
while attempting to avoid a collision against another aircraft. Six passengers and four crew members died. - 3 May 1934: a Syndicato Condor Junkers W-34 registration PP-CAR crashed during landing procedures at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont. Two crew members died.
- 15 August 1938: a Syndicato Condor seaplane Junkers Ju-52 registration PP-CAT suffered an accident while departing from Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
. All passengers and crew died, except for one crew member. - 13 January 1939: a Syndicato Condor Junkers Ju-52 registration PP-CAY en route from Vitória to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed into Sambé peak near Rio Bonito, State of Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro (state)Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
. Four crew members and five passengers died. - 27 August 1943: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Junkers Ju-52/3mg3eJunkers Ju 52The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
registration PP-SPD flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas struck a building of the Naval AcademyBrazilian Naval SchoolThe Brazilian Naval School is an Academy of the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian equivalent of the US Naval Academy, located in Rio de Janeiro, on Villegagnon Island just inside of Guanabara Bay....
located close to the airport, shortly after take-off in fog. The aircraft broke in two and one part fell in the water. Of the 21 passengers and crew, only three survived. - 27 September 1946: a Panair do BrasilPanair do BrasilPanair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
Douglas DC-3-228DDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-PCH flying from Belo Horizonte-Pampulha to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed into a mountain near the location of Alto Rio Doce. All 25 passengers and crew died. - 28 July 1950: a Panair do BrasilPanair do BrasilPanair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
Lockheed L-049 ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
registration PP-PCG flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
struck power lines and crashed on a hill after running out of fuel while in a holding pattern in bad weather near São LeopoldoSão LeopoldoSão Leopoldo is an important Brazilian industrial city located in the south state of Rio Grande do Sul. It occupies a total area of 103.9 km² at circa 30 km from the State Capital, Porto Alegre. Climate is sub-tropical, with temperatures varying from 2°C minimum at Winter to more than...
. All 50 passengers and crew died. - 28 February 1952: a Panair do BrasilPanair do BrasilPanair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
Douglas DC-3A-393Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-PCN flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to GoiâniaSanta Genoveva AirportSanta Genoveva/Goiânia Airport is the airport serving Goiânia, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-History:The airport was inaugurated in 1955 although operations started a few years earlier...
via UberlândiaUberlândia AirportUberlândia – Ten. Cel. Av. César Bombonato Airport is the airport serving Uberlândia, Brazil. Since 2001 the airport is named after the Uberlândia-born pilot of the Brazilian Air Force César Bombonato , who died on an air crash....
. One of the wings struck a tree shortly after the pilot executed a go-around. The flight had been cleared to land at Uberlândia. Of the 31 occupants, 8 died. - 14 October 1952: an Aerovias BrasilAerovias BrasilEmpresa de Transportes Aéreos Aerovias Brasil S/A was a Brazilian airline founded in 1942. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Aerovias Brasil was one of the partners.-History:...
Douglas C-47-DLDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-AXJ operated by Real Transportes AéreosReal Transportes AéreosReal Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1945. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Real was the main carrier....
en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
struck high ground while flying under adverse conditions over São Francisco de PaulaSão Francisco de PaulaSão Francisco de Paula is a city located in the Serra Gaúcha of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The municipality covers about 3,289.7 km² and sits about 112 km from Porto Alegre. City population estimate for 2004 is 19,968...
. Of the 18 passengers and crew aboard, 14 died. - 12 September 1954: a Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
Douglas C-47A-70-DLDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-CDJ flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas was forced to return to Rio de Janeiro due to technical problems and bad weather at São Paulo. On finals to Rio de Janeiro the aircraft came in too high. An overshoot was attempted but the aircraft descended and crashed into the Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
. Six passengers out of 30 occupants died. - 26 August 1955: a Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
Douglas C-53D-DODouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-CBY en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to CaravelasCaravelasCaravelas is a fishing village of about 20,000 inhabitants in southern Bahia, Brazil, a few miles above the mouth of the Caravelas River.It was founded in 1581 by Portuguese settlers. Caravelas was once the centre of a flourishing whale fishery. It is the port of the Bahia & Minas railway....
, struck Forno Grande peak near Castelo, Espírito SantoCastelo, Espírito SantoCastelo is the name of a municipality and its capital in the southwest of the state of Espírito Santo in Brazil. Its population was 34,704 and its area is 669 km².-History:...
. The flight was outside its assigned airway and the peak was not clearly marked on the crew's chart. All 13 passengers and crew died. - 10 April 1957: a Transportes Aéreos NacionalTransportes Aéreos NacionalTransportes Aéreos Nacional was a Brazilian airline founded in 1946. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Transportes Aéreos Nacional was one of the partners.-History:...
Douglas DC-3/C-47Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-ANX operated by Real Transportes AéreosReal Transportes AéreosReal Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1945. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Real was the main carrier....
en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas crashed into a mountain near Ubatuba. The no. 2 engine caught fire, which forced the crew to make an emergency descent for Ubatuba. Due to rain, the crew noticed Papagaio Peak on Anchieta Island too late. The aircraft stalled during the evasive manoeuvre and crashed into the mountain. Of the 30 passengers and crew aboard, 26 died. - 1 February 1958: a Lóide Aéreo NacionalLóide Aéreo NacionalLóide Aéreo Nacional S/A was a Brazilian airline founded in 1947. In 1962 it was incorporated by VASP.-History:On December 22, 1947, Ruy Vacani founded the airline TCA – Transportes Carga Aérea S.A. in Anápolis, State of Goiás, Brazil, an airline specialized in transportation of cargo...
Douglas DC-4Douglas DC-4The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
registration PP-LEM, experienced a failure of engine no. 4 during a takeoff at night. The takeoff was aborted. 100m before the end of the runway, a tire from the landing gear burst, causing the aircraft to run off the side of the runway and burst into flames. Of the 72 passengers and crew aboard, 5 died. - 31 May 1958: a cargo ParaenseParaense Transportes AéreosParaense Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1952. It ceased operations in 1970.-History:Paraense Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded on February 18, 1952 by Antônio Alves Affonso Ramos Junior and made its maiden flight on March 30 of the same year, using a...
Curtiss C-46D-15-CU CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
registration PP-BTB crashed shortly after take-off of unknown causes. The crew of 4 died. - 30 December 1958: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQE flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas experienced a failure of engine no.1 during climb-out after takeoff. The pilot initiated an emergency return to the airport, but during its second turn the aircraft stalled and crashed into Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
. Of the 37 passengers and crew aboard, 21 died. - 23 September 1959: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQV en route from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont during climb after take-off did not gain enough height and crashed 1 1/2 minutes out of São Paulo killing all 20 passengers and crew. - 25 February 1960 (1960 Rio de Janeiro air crash1960 Rio de Janeiro air crashThe 1960 Rio de Janeiro air crash was an aerial collision between two aircraft over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 25, 1960. In the crash, a United States Navy Douglas R6D-1 flying from Buenos Aires - Ezeiza to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Air Force Base collided in the air over Guanabara Bay,...
): a Real Transportes AéreosReal Transportes AéreosReal Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1945. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Real was the main carrier....
Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-AXD flying from Campos dos GoytacazesBartolomeu Lysandro AirportBartolomeu Lysandro Airport is the airport serving Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil. It is named after the Congressman Bartholomeu Lysandro de Albernaz , a local plantation owner in whose land, the Fazenda Bonsucesso, the airport was built....
to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont collided in the air over Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
close to the Sugarloaf Mountain with a United States NavyUnited States NavyThe 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...
Douglas R6D-1 (DC-6A)Douglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
registration 131582 flying from Buenos Aires-EzeizaMinistro Pistarini International AirportMinistro Pistarini International Airport , more commonly known as Ezeiza International Airport owing to its location within the Ezeiza Partido in the Greater Buenos Aires, is an international airport located south-southwest of Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina...
to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Air Force BaseGaleão Air Force BaseGaleão Air Force Base – BAGL is a base of the Brazilian Air Force located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is named after Praia do Galeão , located in front of the original passenger terminal of the airport and presently the passenger terminal of the Brazilian Air Force...
. The probable causes of the accident are disputed, but include error of personnel and faulty equipment. All 26 passengers and crew of the Brazilian aircraft died. Of the 38 occupants of the American aircraft, only three survived. - 24 June 1960: a Real Transportes AéreosReal Transportes AéreosReal Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1945. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Real was the main carrier....
Convair CV-340-62 registration PP-YRB flying from Belo Horizonte-Pampulha to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed into Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro-Galeão due to unknown causes. All 54 passengers and crew died. - 26 November 1962: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SRA, en route from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, collided in the air over the Municipality of Paraibuna, State of São Paulo, with a private Cessna 310Cessna 310The Cessna 310 is an American six-seat, low-wing, twin-engined monoplane that was produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. It was the first twin-engined aircraft that Cessna put into production after World War II.-Development:...
, registration PT-BRQ, en route from Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Campo de MarteCampo de Marte AirportCampo de Marte Airport is the first airport built in São Paulo, Brazil, opened in 1919. It is named after Champ de Mars, in Paris, which in turn got its name from Campus Martius, in Rome....
. Both were flying on the same airwayAirway (aviation)In aviation, an airway is a designated route in the air. Airways are laid out between navigational aids such as VORs, NDBs and Intersections ....
, AB-6, in opposite directions and failed to see each other. Both airplanes crashed, killing all 23 passengers and crew of the Saab and the 4 occupants of the Cessna. - 3 May 1963: a Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
Convair 340-59 registration PP-CDW flying from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont had to return to São Paulo after its no.2 engine caught fire. While on finals to touch down, the aircraft nosed up 45°, stalled, and struck a house. Of the 50 passengers and crew aboard, 37 died. - 12 April 1972: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
NAMC YS-11A-211NAMC YS-11The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
registration PP-SMI flying from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont flew into the side of a mountain while on descent 50km north of Rio de Janeiro due to pilot mistake. All 25 passengers and crew died. - 23 October 1973: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
NAMC YS-11A-211NAMC YS-11The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
registration PP-SMJ flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Belo Horizonte-Pampulha aborted its takeoff, overran the runway, and slid into Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
. Of the 65 passengers and crew, 8 passengers died. - 28 June 1984: a TAM Airlines Embraer EMB 110C BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
registration PP-SBC operating a chartered flight by PetrobrasPetrobrasPetróleo Brasileiro or Petrobras is a semi-public Brazilian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, and the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere by market...
from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to MacaéMacaé AirportMacaé Airport is the airport serving Macaé, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-History:The airport was established in the 1960s as an airfield for general aviation and a Flying club. In the 1980s the runway was paved and an apron and a terminal with 941 m² were constructed, enabling Macaé Airport...
flew into a hill while descending through rain and clouds over the Municipality of São Pedro da AldeiaSão Pedro da AldeiaSão Pedro da Aldeia is a town and a municipality in Brazil. Its population was 88.013 and its area is 340 km².-Geography:It lies in the east of Rio de Janeiro State on the Araruama Lake, 120 km from the state capital, Rio de Janeiro. The Araruama lagoon is the largest hypersaline lagoon...
. All 18 passengers and crew died. - 31 October 1996: a TAM Airlines Fokker 100 registration PT-MRK and operating flight 402TAM Transportes Aéreos Regionais Flight 402TAM Transportes Aéreos Regionais Flight 402 was a Fokker 100 airliner, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Congonhas/São Paulo International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil to Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro on October 31, 1996, which crashed shortly after take-off, killing a total...
from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed on urban area during take-off procedures and after engine no.2 suffering an uncommanded reverse thrust and thus losing power, stalled, yawed to the right and struck a building. All 95 passengers and crew on board and 4 people on the ground died. - 16 September 2005: a private Cessna 525 Citation JetCessna CitationThe Cessna Citation is a marketing name used by Cessna for its line of business jets. Rather than one particular model of aircraft, the name applies to several "families" of turbofan-powered aircraft that have been produced over the years...
registration PT-WLX on a ferry flight between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and Rio de Janeiro-JacarepaguáJacarepaguá AirportJacarepaguá-Roberto Marinho Airport is an airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil dedicated to general aviation. The name Jacarepaguá refers to the region where it is located...
crashed on Morro da Taquara, near the neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca. Its 2 occupants died. - 31 March 2006: a Team Let 410 UVP-E20 registration PT-FSE operating flight 6865 en route from MacaéMacaé AirportMacaé Airport is the airport serving Macaé, Brazil.It is operated by Infraero.-History:The airport was established in the 1960s as an airfield for general aviation and a Flying club. In the 1980s the runway was paved and an apron and a terminal with 941 m² were constructed, enabling Macaé Airport...
to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed over the Municipality of Rio BonitoRio Bonito, Rio de JaneiroRio Bonito is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 52,529 and its area is 462 km².- Site :...
. Trying to avoid an area of poor weather, the aircraft struck trees near the top of Pico da Pedra Bonita at an elevation of 1920 feet. All 19 passengers and crew died.
Incidents
- 2 December 1959: a Panair do BrasilPanair do BrasilPanair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
Lockheed L-049/149 ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
registration PP-PCR operating as Flight 246 en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to Belém-Val de CãesVal de Cães International AirportBelém-Val de Cães/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport is the main airport serving Belém, Brazil. Val de Cães, the name of the neighborhood where the airport is located, is the most common spelling although Val de Cans is also considered correct...
with 44 passengers and crew aboard was seized and hijacked by officers of the Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe 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"...
and forced to land at AragarçasAragarçasAragarças is a small town and municipality in southwest Goiás state, Brazil.-Location:Aragarças is the most important town in the Aragarças Microregion. It is 410 km...
, GoiásGoiásGoiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
. Their intention was to use the aircraft in a bombing of Government buildings in Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, and by thus starting a revolt against President Juscelino Kubitschek de OliveiraJuscelino Kubitschek de OliveiraJuscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira , known also by his initials JK, was a prominent Brazilian politician of gypsy Czech origin who was President of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. He was born in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, and died in 1976...
. The revolt faded after 36 hours, and the aircraft was commanded to fly to 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...
where the hijackers requested asylum. There were no casualties. - 31 October 1966: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
registration PP-SRM, was damaged beyond repair when it overran the runway. - 8 December 1967: a Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe 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"...
Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
registration FAB2100 was written off when its undercarriage malfunctioned.
Access
The airport is located adjacent to downtown Rio de Janeiro.There are taxis available.
Real Auto Ônibus operates executive bus 2018, that runs half-hourly (between 05:30 and 22:30 hours), from the airport to the Central Bus Station and Galeão International Airport in one direction, and in the opposite direction to the southern parts of the city along the shore, with its final stop at Alvorada Bus Terminal in Barra da Tijuca
Barra da Tijuca
Barra da Tijuca is a famous neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, located southwest of the city on the Atlantic Ocean. Barra, as it is popularly known, will have most of the venues of the 2016 Summer Olympics, which will be the first edition held in South America. Barra is well-known for its...
. Bus 2145 is an express link between the Santos Dumont and Galeão Airports via the Central Bus Station and downtown. Ticket counters for these bus services are located at the arrivals terminal.
Future developments
On 31 August 2009, Infraero unveiled a BRL152.2 million (USD80.2 million; EUR64.5 million) investment plan to upgrade Santos Dumont Airport, particularly the passenger arrivals terminal. The plan focuses 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, Rio de Janeiro being one of the venue cities, and the 2016 Summer Olympics
2016 Summer Olympics
The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, are a major international multi-sport event to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee...
, which Rio de Janeiro will host. The renovation is expected to be completed in November 2011.