Santa Cruz Air Force Base

SBSC / SNZ

Rio de Janeiro, BR

Last Updated
May 15, 20:00Z

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 23 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
6 kt
190°
8 km
Visibility
5,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBSC 152000Z 19006KT 8000 SCT013 BKN050 BKN070 23/20 Q1016

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 10 ft
SCT 1,300 ft AGL
BKN 5,000 ft AGL
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,310 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,010 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,010 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

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

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 6 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 5000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 20°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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: Mist, Patches Fog. There is a 40% probability of IFR conditions with Mist, Patches Fog between 02:00Z and 06:00Z.

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 151500Z 1518/1606 20004KT 6000 SCT012 BKN020 TX24/1518Z TN12/1603Z PROB40 1602/1606 VRB02KT 2500 BR BCFG RMK PFP
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:23Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 200° 4 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
02:00Z PROB40
+6h
IFR VRB 2 kt
Visibility: 2.5 km
Mist, Patches Fog

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: 23
8,986 ft 148 ft ASP
4.6 kt 3.9 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBSC

5,569 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74%
MVFR
21.6%
IFR
4.1%
LIFR
0.4%

Santa Cruz Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 74% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 4.5% 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 24.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, December, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 6.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 1.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
5%
N
24.9%
S
22.8%
W
5.4%
NE
12%
NW
7.3%
SE
7.6%
SW
13.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.7°C
Range: 14°C to 39°C
14°C 39°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

September December February

Statistics computed from 5,569 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.