Good news for anyone arriving commercial from the USA

After struggling for 50 years, Brasilia is finally becoming a capital with a few international flights! TAP began the first direct flight to Europe a couple of years ago, and direct flights to the USA will come into operation with Delta Airlines, three times a week, as from mid-December. By May, of course, they might have put on a daily flight, who knows? For those coming from the States who take this option, it will avoid flying on to Rio or São Paulo and then changing flights to turn back north again to Brasilia.

And especially good news for pilots arriving in their own aircraft.

Life has suddenly become simpler! A new airport for light aircraft has become available on the outskirts of the city and can by used by those arriving in Brasilia in their own planes. SIQE (Botelho) is situated on a perfect plateau, as you can see in the satellite image below (taken here from Google Earth, but the image is not recent).

The runway is 1,700 metres long (n.b. metres), of which 700 metres are asphalt (in the middle) and construction of hangars is to begin shortly. The huge advantage is easy access to the runway, coming and going to and from your aircraft, compared to the infernal restrictions and security checks at a huge international airport. However, it means that pilots who opt to land at Botelho's should clear Customs and Immigration at some other Airport of Entry on the way.

Coordinates are: 15 ° 5' 30" South // 47° 42' 13" West

Altitude: 1,036 metres, 3,399 feet

We will meet-&-greet all those flying into this airport - there isn't exactly a taxi-rank there, but don't worry, there will be security.