Fernando de Noronha Airport

Gov. Carlos Wilson Airport (IATA: FEN, ICAO: SBFN) is the airport serving the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. It is the easternmost airport of Brazil and the only one that is located in the Brazilian oceanic islands.

Governador Carlos Wilson Airport

Aeroporto Governador Carlos Wilson
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorDix
ServesFernando de Noronha
Elevation AMSL58 m / 190 ft
Coordinates03°51′17″S 032°25′42″W
WebsiteDix FEN
Map
FEN
Location off the Atlantic coast of Brazil
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 1,845 6,053 Asphalt
Sources: World Aero Data,[1] ANAC[2]

It is operated by Dix Empreendimentos.

History

Fernando de Noronha is the biggest island of the archipelago with the same name, located in Brazilian territorial waters, 545 km (339 mi) away from Recife and 360 km (224 mi) away from Natal.

The first runway was built in 1934. In 1942, during World War II, the runway was extended and a passenger terminal was built by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command under the Airport Development Program. It provided technical support for the Natal-Dakar air route, which provided a transoceanic link between Brazil and French West Africa for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel.

The airport was transferred to the jurisdiction of the United States Navy on 5 September 1944.[3] After the end of the war, the administration of the airport was transferred back to the Brazilian Government.

In 1975 another extension of the runway was made, allowing the operations of aircraft up to the class of a Boeing 737. In March 1999, the present passenger terminal was opened for service.

Following the disappearance of Air France Flight 447 on June 1, 2009, the airport became a base for search and rescue operations. The flight was en route from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão to Paris-Charles de Gaulle when it disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 550 km (342 mi) northeast of Fernando de Noronha.[4]

Airlines and destinations
Apron airside
AirlinesDestinations
Azul Brazilian Airlines Recife

Accidents and incidents
  • 14 December 1987: a Brazilian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules registration FAB-2468 flying from Recife to Fernando de Noronha crashed into the sea shortly before landing. All 29 crew and passengers died.[5]
  • 20 September 1990: an Embraer EMB110P1 Bandeirante registration PT-PAW belonging to the Government of Pernambuco flying from Fernando de Noronha to Recife crashed into the sea shortly after take-off. All 12 crew and passengers died.[6]

Access

The airport is located 4 km (2 mi) from Vila dos Remédios, the administrative center of the island.

See also

References
  1. "Fernando de Noronha Airport Information". World Aero Data.
  2. "Lista de aeródromos públicos" (in Portuguese). ANAC.
  3. "Document Detail for IRISNUM 00001957". Air Force History Index. 18 May 1982. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  4. "Buscas às vítimas do voo 447 serão ampliadas em águas do Senegal" (in Portuguese). Valor Econômico. June 10, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  5. "Accident description FAB-2468". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  6. "Accident description PT-FAW". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
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