Santa Cruz Air Force Base

SBSC / SNZ

Rio de Janeiro, BR

Last Updated
Apr 23, 09:00Z

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
Fresh 16 min ago
09:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
2 kt
30°
8 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBSC 230900Z 03002KT 8000 FEW020 SCT050 20/19 Q1017

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 10 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
SCT 5,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,010 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,010 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Santa Cruz Air Force Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 5,000 feet and 8 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (30°) at 2 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,000 ft, scattered at 5,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°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. Conditions are expected to remain MVFR throughout the forecast period.

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.

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 230300Z 2306/2318 01005KT 8000 SCT035 TN19/2306Z TX29/2315Z RMK PDE
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:15Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 10° 5 kt
Visibility: 8 km

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
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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: 5
8,986 ft 148 ft ASP
1.9 kt 0.7 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBSC

5,049 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.7%
MVFR
20.6%
IFR
4.3%
LIFR
0.4%

Santa Cruz Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 74.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 4.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 6.2 knots. Temperatures typically range between 14°C and 39°C with an average of 24.8°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, December, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 6.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 1.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
24.9%
NE
11.5%
E
5.3%
SE
8.2%
S
22.9%
SW
12.7%
W
5.4%
NW
7.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.8°C
Range: 14°C to 39°C
14°C 39°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

September December April

Statistics computed from 5,049 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.