Planespotting / Viewing Guides for Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro airports, and other airports and airfields in Brazil

Planespotting Guides for Brazil's Airfields and Airports

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Spotting locations, viewing areas, the best spotting hotel rooms and advice on access for plane spotters travelling to airports and airfields in Brazil. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs, Google Earth and Google Maps to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more

BELO HORIZONTE-CONFINS AIRPORT (SBCF/CNF)

Spotting Info
It has a crescent shaped terminal with an observation level at the top with good views out. There is only one long runway. GOL have hangars in the far corner, visible when you exit the airport by road and between that and the terminal is the cargo terminal. Past the other end of the terminal is the fire station, which has an all white B737 parked outside of it, ex Vasp, no markings at all.

BELO HORIZONTE-PAMPULHA AIRPORT (SBBH/PLU)

Spotting Info
It has an observation deck upstairs which, although has a glass window, is still great for pictures. Total are based here with their ATRs, most of which depart during the morning rush. Air Minas (E120) and Trip (ATR) also serve the airport but it is quite quiet for airliner traffic. However, GA and military traffic more than make up for the airliner gaps. Across the other side of the airport are 4 or 5 hangars, 1 of which is Totals, 1 is a Police hangar, the rest are GA hangars. Terminal side, to the left is the military area. There are also another 5/6 hangars to the right of the terminal for GA aircraft, mainly biz jets. These are not visible from the terminal - request access to Chamone's hangar on the other side of the field, which should be granted, and you can then look back across.

BRASILIA AIRPORT (SBBR/BSB)

General Info
Evenings seem to be the busiest time with quite a few cargo flights. 2 parallel runways with the terminal in between. Some of the FAB transport fleet is based here too, you can see the hangars behind the trees.

Spotting Info
Good views from the observation area on the top floor of the terminal. The top floor has a view on 3 sides with plenty of seating, toilets etc. Movements are quite frequent, you have to be quick to read those small numbers sometimes. The 3 ex Transbrasil B767s are stored here, easily seen and read off from the terminal and there are 3 Vasp B737s nearby too, though only 2 are visible from the terminal. It is only a 10 min walk to go get them and you can get pictures too. There is quite a bit of cargo and GA as well - walk out of the terminal, turn right, follow the fence and you'll get all the cargo and most of the GA.

PORTO ALEGRE AIRPORT (SBPA/POA)

Spotting Info
Good views from the top level of the terminal. Most of the GA hangars are behind trees.

RIO de JANEIRO-GALEAO-ANTONIO C JOBIM AIRPORT (SBGL/GIG)

Spotting Info
The cafe and observation deck on level 6 of the terminal has good views of the apron. There is another viewing deck up past the Luxor Hotel, which is useful for parked aircraft that don't move all day. There are some stored 727s and C130s here.

Planespotting Hotels
The Rio Aeroporto Hotel at Terminal 1 is not cheap and has no airport views.
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RIO de JANEIRO-SANTOS DUMONT AIRPORT (SBRJ/SDU)

Spotting Info
Spotting is best from the hall of the main building. There is a massive glass window from which you can watch all the action. The old observation terrace, which is still signposted, has now lost its view to the new gate development. Some of the biz might be too nose-on to read in which case, if you really need to, you can try reading off from the Niteroi ferry. As you leave the terminal building and turn right there is a biz ramp where the contents should all be readable. Cross the road and go onto the footbridge over the highway for good views. Walking further down the road you pass the mil ramp. Most things parked here should be readable by eye, there are a lot of military personnel about so be careful when using bins. Its not busy with airliners but there are a lot of executive movements. Ask at the biz hangar for access, they are friendly.

Planespotting Hotels
The Windsor Guanabara Hotel has a roof top swimming pool area and you can see the aircraft touching down on the runway. Here they have a viewing area where you can watch the action and also a cafe area. It is only about 5-10 mins max from the airport and from the hotel roof you can see them landing, in fact they fly overhead before banking sharply round and can be read off under the wings. You can also see the end of the runway and aircraft taxiing out are readable too. It's worth nipping down to the airport each morning to log the new biz jets that have arrived. After dark, stay at your hotel, as the area isn't safe and only book taxis through the hotel, and pay the hotel for your journey. You will get a receipt from the hotel, which you give to the driver and its pre paid. Never flag one down as this can be dangerous. Other than that, it's very cheap, well worth going and well worth the trip down to Coco Cabana Beach area.
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Transfer to Galeao
There are 2 shuttle buses to Galeao - an express bus at £2, or £1 for the bus that stops a few times. The cheaper bus takes around 30 minutes. Just after going past Santos Dumont's hangars on the bus, you'll see the ferry terminal and dockyards. A Navy Sikorsky 61 is preserved on the right hand side and easily readable - N-3018. Keep an eye out as you turn in to Galeao for the FAB HS748 in the trees on display - 2502.
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SALVADOR AIRPORT (SBSV/SSA)

Spotting Info
There is an inside viewing area in the terminal or you can go outside the terminal and stand on the vehicle exit ramp - all the airline traffic lands and takes off in front. There is a GA area with a separate runway, which is some distance from the terminal. Ask for access to the hangars, most of them are friendly.

SAO PAULO-CONGONHAS AIRPORT (SBSP/CGH)

General Info
Closed overnight, departures usually start around 0545 with some GA cargo leaving.

Spotting Info
Going past the terminal there are a lot more hangars, many of which used to belong to Vasp. Walking round the perimeter wall you will see the tails of the stored aircraft. A few Vasp tails but there's nowhere to get a decent view of the aircraft. Both A300 tails are visible above the wall and you can see enough of 3 B737s to count. Carrying on past Vasp and TAM hangars you come to the end of the road but look out onto to Liders hangars and helipad. There is a large helipad built on stilts at the back of the Lider hangar. After a long walk round the perimeter, you reach a garden centre (Tatuake or similar). At the very bottom corner of the garden centre is a raised mound, which overlooks the airfield and gives great views of the biz hangars. You won't see the Interbrasil Emb120s from anywhere else and you get a reasonable view of Vasp A300 PP-SNN and 737 PP-SOT. You shouldn't be bothered there, but if you are, the security guard will say you need permission and escort you to the main building. The manageress should then provide permission to spot but not to take photos, they are friendly and understand the hobby.

Planespotting Hotels

The Slaviero Slim Congonhas Hotel has rooms overlooking the runway and gates, therefore all movements can be easily read off and has plenty of executive movements. The hotel isn't signposted, doesn't have a sign on the building, and the information desk 'aren't allowed to give out such details' so - from the arrivals hall, go outside the terminal and cross the green footbridge over the highway towards the Ibis hotel. The Ibis backs onto the highway (as does the Slaviero Slim Congonhas) so go around to the front entrance. You are now on the right street, continue past the Ibis, past the Aeroporto Grill (great for dinner) and the Slaviero Slim Congonhas is about 200 yards further on, on your right. On arrival at reception ask if the receptionist speaks English - this is worth doing as they seem to be familiar with the requests of spotters. Ask for a high room with a view of the aircraft - room 1013 has a great view. The room looks down on the threshold of 17R, which is literally just across the road. You can see along the front of the terminal with about 15 stands, all easily readable, and into the biz hangars opposite. Single room costs around R$110 per night including breakfast. If you don't get a room with a view, don't panic as the lift lobby not only has a view of the threshold but has sofas to sit on and a coffee table for your beer.
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At the Ibis, rooms on the 11th floor have really good views of most of the airport. Across from the runways are 4/5 hangars and aircraft are easily readable inside (at night too if hangar lights are on). Almost below the hotel is the military terminal where the visiting transport aircraft park. Various GA aircraft and helicopters come out from out of view areas.
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SAO PAULO-GUARULHOS AIRPORT (SBGR/GRU)

Spotting Info
There are several areas from which the ramps can be viewed and all the action takes place in front of you. There are 5 ramps and only the left hand one as you look towards the runway is not readable. This ramp has two stored 707s and is where the day-stopping AA aircraft park. The right ramp has cargo and day-stopping Euro/DL/CO heavies. The best viewing area is above McDonalds in section D, approaches from either direction can be seen from here. After dark you can log the aircraft parked at the terminal though you may end up continually walking from one end to the other chasing each arrival. The few biz park on the far side of the runway and often park nose on. There is a military ramp over there and the occasional movement takes place, not much though. The bus to Congonhas is clearly signposted from the arrival level. You need to buy your ticket from the office before boarding, R$27 each way.
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