Zona da Mata Airport has made progress in an important process to promote even greater reliability in landing and take-off procedures carried out at the facility, which are now also carried out with greater precision and in less time.
Following an aeronautical study, Presidente Itamar Franco Airport received authorization from the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA) last April to operate, without restrictions, landings and takeoffs at runway 26 (located in the direction of Rio Novo), in addition to instrument operations (IFR) at the opposite runway, runway 08 (at the end of Goianá). The new features, which ensure greater safety for operations, have also reduced the time spent on approach procedures and aircraft taxiing at the facility, since they eliminate a restriction that, until now, extended flight times, causing aircraft to have to position themselves for landing at the opposite runway, extending the usual route for operations coming from other airports.
The study, which led to the implementation of the airport's Basic Aerodrome Protection Zone Plan (PZBPA), was essential for the airport to obtain the annulment of this restriction. The PZBPA is responsible for ensuring the delimitation of a safety area for maneuvers carried out by aircraft approaching the airport site.
According to a Flávio Santos, superintendent of the Zona da Mata Airport, a natural element near runway 08, previously considered an obstacle, is no longer classified as a limiter. “With the study carried out, we increased operational efficiency and obtained a favorable opinion for instrument landings at runway 08, previously limited. This allows flights from São Paulo to make direct landings in the direction of Goianá, without needing to extend the route to use the opposite runway. The result is greater safety, reduced flight time and fuel savings”, he highlights.
The process, which included extensive mapping of natural and artificial obstacles (such as trees and buildings, respectively) within an approximate radius of 32km from the Landing and Takeoff Runway (PPD), allowed a complete assessment of the risks existing in the surroundings of Zona da Mata Airport – in addition to preventing new human interventions from violating the virtual security perimeter of PBZPA.
“We mapped around 420 natural and artificial obstacles in a radius that encomes 14 cities in the region, such as Goianá, Rio Novo and Juiz de Fora. Based on this, the PBZPA was developed, which increases operational safety by establishing criteria for the approval of new architectural projects in these areas. From now on, the city governments in the region will only be able to approve new projects after the owners present a process called Designed Object in Airspace (OPEA), in which DECEA performs a prior analysis of the impact of the construction on air operations,” explains Flávio Santos.
The superintendent explains that it is as if the airport perimeter were 'shielded' from new artificial constructions that could violate the security space delimited for air operations at Zona da Mata Airport. "With the mapping of the existing situation in the surroundings of the airport site, the restrictions that existed until then could be removed after proving that we are strictly following the regulations in force in the sector", assesses Flávio.
Alexander Cerqueira, airport director at Socicam, points out that the operational achievement demonstrates the concessionaire's commitment to continually investing in improvements aimed at safety and efficiency in operations. “The Zona da Mata Airport was implemented at a time when the current legislation, now outdated, did not require the preparation of a PZBPA for new aerodromes. Although this study is not mandatory for airports already in operation, we chose to move forward with this process, precisely to further raise the reliability standards of our operations and expand landing possibilities, making the airport more attractive to airlines,” he highlights.
ASOCEA Award
Last April, Zona da Mata Airport also had the honor of being awarded, for the second time, the ASOCEA Award, granted to organizations that stand out for their excellence in providing services in the Brazilian Airspace Control System.
In practice, the award recognizes the excellence of the Telecommunications and Air Traffic Service Provider Station (EPTA) of the enterprise, known as the “airport radio”, among more than 100 airports of the same category in the country. This is the second time that the Airport has received this award, having previously won it in 2017.
The airport currently serves regular Azul flights to Viracopos (SP) and GOL flights to Congonhas Airport (SP). Tickets can be purchased directly on the airlines' websites.
