Three Incidents Prompt Sao Paulo Airport to Impose Restrictions on Executive Jet Operations

Sao Paulo’s Congonhas Airport has placed restrictions on its main runway for the operations of executive jets, announced today by airport management entity AENA, the Spanish state-owned company overseeing the airport’s operations.

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The decision follows closely on the heels of three consecutive incidents involving executive aircraft that led to nearly five hours of cumulative airport closures and substantial operational disruption, including canceled and diverted flights.

On October 29, a Cirrus Jet went off-course after a tire burst, followed by a medical turboprop’s landing gear collapse on November 1, and most recently, a Cessna Citation skidding during a stormy landing on November 3.

According to AENA’s report to the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC), the aforementioned incidents led to the cancellation of 85 flights, and 14 additional flights had to be redirected to alternate airports.

The flight restriction, effective immediately until February 2, 2024, as per NOTAM F4160/23, applies to takeoffs and landings on runways 17R and 35L, affecting all general or executive aviation aircraft with a wingspan under 21 meters, except during meteorological conditions categorized as CAT I.

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AENA explains that the risk matrix for general aviation incidents at an airport like Congonhas must be reassessed, citing the need to manage infrastructure usage more effectively to ensure operational safety and efficiency.

Exemptions and Operations

The NOTAM, however, allows for exceptions during CAT I weather conditions, where visibility is at a minimum of 800 meters, essential for the instrument landing system (ILS) equipped on the main runway, which supports safer and more accurate landings and minimizes the need for go-arounds.

In practical terms, jets like the Cessna Citation X, Bombardier Challenger 350, Dassault Falcon 2000LX, and Embraer Praetor 500 will still be permitted to land, while visibility conditions allow.

Conversely, this NOTAM rules out many popular models from landing on the main runway, including all Bombardier Learjet variants, the Embraer Phenom and Legacy series, and several Cessna Citation models, except under specific visibility conditions.

With the need for obtaining a landing slot in advance for specific runways at Congonhas, the restriction may complicate scheduling, as last-minute slot acquisitions are challenging, except during off-peak hours.