Santa Cruz Air Force Base (SBSC)
Medium airport · Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Airport data
| Name | Santa Cruz Air Force Base |
|---|---|
| ICAO | SBSC |
| IATA | SNZ |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 22°55'57" W 43°43'9" -22.93240, -43.71910 |
| Location | Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/23 | 8,986 ft (2739 m) | 148 ft | ASP | No |
Santa Cruz Air Force Base at a glance
Santa Cruz Air Force Base is a medium airport in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, known to airline systems as SNZ. The field elevation of 10 ft (3 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at SBSC are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 5/23, offers 8,986 ft (2739 m) of asp surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 5 points roughly 50° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for SBSC shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Santa Cruz Air Force Base
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Campo Délio Jardim de Mattos Airport | SBAF | 35 km (19 NM) |
| Jacarepaguá - Roberto Marinho Airport | SBJR | 36 km (19 NM) |
| Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport | SBGL | 50 km (27 NM) |
| Santos Dumont Airport | SBRJ | 57 km (31 NM) |
| Francisco de Assis Airport | SBJF | 131 km (71 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Santa Cruz Air Force Base
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 10 ft field elevation of Santa Cruz Air Force Base can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 138 airports and airfields we list for Brazil — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Cruz Air Force Base
What is the ICAO code of Santa Cruz Air Force Base?
The ICAO identifier of Santa Cruz Air Force Base is SBSC, and its IATA code is SNZ. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Santa Cruz Air Force Base above sea level?
Santa Cruz Air Force Base sits at an elevation of 10 feet (3 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Santa Cruz Air Force Base located?
The airport lies at -22.9324, -43.7191 — in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Campo Délio Jardim de Mattos Airport, about 35 km away.
Does SBSC publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for SBSC appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Santa Cruz Air Force Base?
Santa Cruz Air Force Base has one runway. The longest, 5/23, measures 8,986 ft (2739 m) with a ASP surface.