Santa Cruz Air Force Base

SBSC / SNZ

Rio de Janeiro, BR

Last Updated
Jul 4, 06:00Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a military aerodrome. Civil aircraft access may be restricted or require prior authorization. Consult the applicable AIP for current access procedures.

Consult the applicable national AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 49 min ago
06:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
2 kt
220°
10+ km
Visibility
1,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBSC 040600Z 22002KT 9999 BKN013 OVC025 21/19 Q1020

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 10 ft
BKN 1,300 ft AGL
OVC 2,500 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,310 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,510 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Santa Cruz Air Force Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (220°) at 2 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1300 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 19°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Light Rain. There is a 40% probability of IFR conditions with Light Rain between 08:00Z and 11:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SBSC 040300Z 0406/0418 19007KT 7000 BKN015 TN19/0408Z TX23/0417Z PROB40 TEMPO 0408/0411 4000 -RA BKN010 RMK PEU
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
06:49Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 190° 7 kt
Visibility: 7 km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
08:00Z PROB40 TEMPO
+2h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Light Rain

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
BSC
5
23 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 5/23
Active: 23
8,986 ft 148 ft ASP
2.0 kt 0.3 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBSC

6,742 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
70.1%
MVFR
24.8%
IFR
4.6%
LIFR
0.5%

Santa Cruz Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 70.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 5.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 6 knots. Temperatures typically range between 13°C and 39°C with an average of 24.1°C. The best months for VFR flying are July, September, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 2%
Direction Distribution:
E
4.3%
N
25.2%
S
21.9%
W
5.4%
NE
12.6%
NW
6.6%
SE
6.8%
SW
15.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.1°C
Range: 13°C to 39°C
13°C 39°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

July September December

Statistics computed from 6,742 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Santa Cruz Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SBSC
IATA Code: SNZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 10 ft MSL

Location

City: Rio de Janeiro
Country: BR
Latitude: -22.932400°
Longitude: -43.719101°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+3

Runway Information

Runway 5/23
Length: 8,986 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Santa Cruz Air Force Base

Santa Cruz Air Force Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the BR AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Santa Cruz Air Force Base (SBSC) is a medium-sized airport located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, serving military and potentially civilian aviation operations. Situated at a low elevation of 10 feet mean sea level, the airport provides strategic air access in the southeastern coastal region of Brazil.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable visual flight conditions, with 75.7% of observations reporting VFR weather. The airport experiences consistent southerly winds averaging 6.8 knots, with occasional gusts up to 23 knots. Temperature ranges from 14°C to 39°C, with an average of 24.2°C, suggesting potential thermal variations during flight operations.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (5/23) with a substantial length of 8,986 feet, constructed with asphalt surface. Its coastal location near Rio de Janeiro implies potential maritime weather influences, though the data indicates minimal fog and consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

Approach Considerations

Given the prevailing southerly winds, runway 23 may offer more favorable landing conditions with wind alignment. The consistently high percentage of VFR conditions (75.7%) suggests reliable visual approach opportunities, particularly during the peak VFR months of September, December, and January.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.