SDU-Spot2
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on December 6, 2023
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (IATA: SDU, ICAO: SBRJ) is the 7th biggest airport of Brazil. In 2019, the airport welcomed 9.1 million passengers. The airport is nicely situated near the city centre of Rio de Janeiro and close to some of the tourist attractions and landmarks. From the south side of the airport you have a view of the spectacular Sugar Loaf and further away: Cristo Redentor.
The airport is dominated by four airlines: LATAM, GOL and Azul. The biggest aircraft you will see here are Airbus A319 or Boeing 737-800. Besides the commercial traffic you will see lots of private aircraft and occasionally some military aircraft.
You won’t have any problems here taking pictures. The police and security are used to people come and watch the aircraft.
Written by Ediney Ribeiro. Last Update July 2021.
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 02R/20L | 1.320 m (4,331 ft) |
| 02L/20R | 1.260 m (4,134 ft) |
| Terminals | One Terminal for all flights |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not needed. Spots are within walking distance from the terminal except 6 and 7. |
| Restrooms | Inside theTerminal but public restrooms offered at 6 and 7 as well. |
| Drinks/Food | Snacks and Drinks are offered directly at every location. |
| Hotels | Ibis and Novotell nearby the Terminal (via the skybridge). |
| Season | No special season. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 02R/20L | Main runway. |
| 02L/20R | No Info (Rarely used). |
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Spot #1 – Av. Alm. Silvio de Noronha |
|---|---|
| WHERE | When coming from the terminal, go south towards Av. Alm. Silvio de Noronha. Just stay near the end of the fence at the checkpoint and you’ll be all right. There is a fence but you can easily put your camera in between the top of the mesh and the barbed wire or step on some stones next to the water where the fence is lower (see link below). |
| WHAT | All operations are visible from this spot. For 02R operations, this spot is ideal. When runway 20L is in use, the smaller arriving aircraft tend to leave the runway early. All the bigger aircraft will exit on the other end of the runway. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good from late noon until sunset. |
| MISC. | There is nothing to eat, there is no restrooms and there is no shade! Spotters are a known sight here and you should have no trouble with the security guard. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-100mm |
Photo of the location.
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Spot #2 – Stone pier |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This location is very close to location 01, but has a little different views with the sea in the background, making the photo very beautiful. It is a pier about 300 meters long, well frequented by people who go hiking. |
| WHAT | Best for landings on runway 02, but it is also possible to take off on runway 20, the photos are beautiful for the landscape in the background, the sea and the mountains, but it is possible to take close-up photos. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good from late noon until sunset. |
| MISC. | very frequented place, especially on weekends, has some shadows and you are very close to a mall at the airport. Security here must also be observed, as in any other place in Rio, always stay alert and if possible go accompanied. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Here you can use up to 500mm in close-up photos, but when the aircraft is closer, from 150 to 200mm, executive jets are always more. |
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Spot #3 – Observation Hall |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This is a new spotting location at this airport. It is a glassed observation area inside the airport on the top floor next to some restaurants. To get here after entering the terminal, use the escalators to the top floor, where there are some restaurants you will immediatly see the place. It is also possible to take pictures at the restaurants. |
| WHAT | Aircraft landings, take-offs and taxiing. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good from late noon until sunset. |
| MISC. | You are inside the terminal, so everything you need is here, enjoy! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | It will depend on the aircraft, executives up to 250-300mm, A320/737 around 110 to 180mm |
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Spot #4 – Terminal Arrivals Hall |
|---|---|
| WHERE | On the arrival hall of the terminal is a public area (landside) with a glass facade near the information counter. It is possible to take some pictures, however the view is partially obstructed by the gates. |
| WHAT | All operations are visible from this spot. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good from late noon until sunset. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is in the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Taxiing aircraft: 50-150mm. Aircraft on the runway: 200-300mm |
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Spot #5 – Marechal Âncora Square |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From the terminal walk/drive approximate thousand meters northwards until you see on the right side a square/park with trees and restaurants by the sea. It is a pleasant place with an excellent view of the approaches and takeoffs. |
| WHAT | Best for shooting 20 landings, but it’s also possible to photograph 02 takeoffs. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good from late noon until sunset. |
| MISC. | Always keep in mind that the city of Rio de Janeiro requires safety precautions, but nothing exaggerated, keep a calm profile, keep your camera whenever you finish a photo and if possible don’t go alone, I was there alone and nothing happened to me, but it’s good to keep your guard up at all times. There are many trees and a restaurant nearby, where you can buy food and restrooms. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Over 250mm for 737/320 and 400 for executives. |
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Spot #6 – Flamenco Beach – 02 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This place is a well-known beach in Rio, called Praia do Flamengo and it is even in walking distance form the terminal by walking down along the marina. Find you prefered postion, either on direclty on the beach or in the nearby parks under the trees. |
| WHAT | Landings on runway 02 are the best to see here. The view is very interesting, from the curves that the aircraft make near the sugar loaf for landing on runway 02, as well as the landings, and also takeoffs are always a show by themselves, with the beautiful Guanabara bay and the Sugarloaf Mountain in the background. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good from late noon until sunset. |
| MISC. | You will be in a very busy place, especially on weekends, find a place to stay with lots of shade and places to put a chair, and enjoy the wonderful view and the sun, always present here. There are few restrooms, plenty of shade and things to buy to drink and eat. Security here is quiet, but always pay attention to your equipment. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Airplanes tend to turn in front of the sugar loaf, so you need 400 to 500mm for an A320, and when the plane is closer 200mm is enough. |
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Spot #7 – Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf) |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This place is on top of the sugar loaf, one of the most popular tourist spots in Rio. You have to take the cable car to go up there and there is a square from which you can see a good part of the city of Rio de Janeiro and the airport of course. If runway 02 is active for landings, the views are always spectacular with the planes turning to land at the airport. |
| WHAT | Spectacular 02 landings and overlook of the airport. |
| TIME | The best times here are in the summer morning before noon, after that the sun is usually contrary. |
| MISC. | You will be at one of the biggest attractions in Rio, so everything you need is here, shade, food and drinks. A safe place. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 250-500mm |
In 3rd floor of arrival terminal, now have a large terrace.
Is it landside or airside? Can you provide some photos from there?
Thanks, Julian
Visão para o pátio de aeronaves…
Landside
Bossa Nova Mall don’t have a good view to the terminal and app in 02 runway.
In the Spot 2 have a large fence and a checkpoint. Only authorized personel can pass the fence and checkpoint.
Hi all,
I am wondering what happended now – is spot 1/2 accessible again? Would be really sad, as it was in my opinion one of the best spots in Brazil. Some comment would be welcome
Best regards,
Olav
Hi Olav, we just received the info from local spotters that this location is history and no longer accessable. It is very very sad!
-Julian
I’ve been told that the Naval Academy spotpoint is closed forever. I don’t know if this is true, but if it really is, it’s really sad 🙁
Thats very sad to hear that this unique spot has been closed! Indeed not the best times for spotters 🙁
-Julian
Is spot #2 accessible or are you being stopped at the checkpoint on Av. Alm. Silvio de Noronha?
Are you still allowed to walk to the edge of the high fence?
Bas
Have been there again @ end of July 2016, military personnel told me that its not allowed to go behind their checkpoint. Another spotter told me that this is only for the duration of the Olympics. Hopefully it will be opened again after Rio 2016.
-Max
2 updates:
#1 Naval Academy is closed acess due the Olympics, but since a “spotter” literally laid down on the tarmac, lot of people have been told that this location will be closed for spotters forever since Police got this pic months ago.
But that wasn’t only bad news, now have a mall with rooftop acess (get zoom in the map and you will see Bossa Nova Mall), have panoramic views of the runway and probably a 300mm will be fit for this location. Just watch-out for mall hours, they use to close the mall before the sun goes down. Also have a hotel annexed to this mall, Prodigy Hotel Santos Dumont Airport.
Is spot 1 & 2 officially shut down by the authorities or can you still “try” it? Would be a shame if this unique location will be lost.
Do you have some pictures from the Mall for us?
Thanks
-Julian