Bacacheri Airport (BFH – SBBI) is an airport for executive aircraft, military and general aviation in the city of Curitiba, in southern Brazil. For the spotter who likes executive and general aviation, the airport is an excellent place to see these aircraft, as it has aviation schools and many workshops, which promotes good traffic of these aircraft every day. In addition the airport has excellent observation points and is a safe and friendly place.

This airport also houses the operational base of the Federal Highway Police, Military Police of the State of Parana and Civil Police. These forces operate with Bell, Eurocopter and Leonardo helicopters so it will be easy for you to see them here throughout the day. As there is a military base there is always the possibility of arriving a small aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force, such as the Cessna Caravan or helicopters

The airport is the headquarters of the Air clube of the State of Parana (Aeroclube do Paraná) founded on January 9, 1932 by aviation enthusiasts, being the second oldest aeroclub in Brazil.

Official Airport Website

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
18/36	1.390 mts (4.560 ft)
Terminals	A small terminal that only operates executive flights, since the airport does not hosts schedule pax flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	A 1-2 step ladder or stool is required at all spot but you can photograph through the gaps in the fence easily.
Car/Public Transport	You will need a car to reach the airport. But from one spot to another you can walk easily.
Restrooms	The only public place with bathrooms will be the restaurant of the Parana air club. But there are some restaurants nearby that you can use as well.
Drinks/Food	There is a restaurant in the air club that serves meals and is open to the general public. Students and teachers and aviation professionals take their meals here.
Hotels	You are in a well located neighborhood in the city of Curitiba, it is not difficult to find hotels and inns very close to the airport
Season	In the places listed in this guide, it is possible to photograph the entire area with favorable light, with the months of December and January being the rainiest and from July to September the driest.
Runway Usage
18/36	The most used runway is the 18, which is better for the spotter, as it is the closest and favors the best angles, eventually the 36 can also be used in parts of the day.

	Spot #1 – EPA aviation school, end of the road
WHERE	After passing through the main entrance of the airport, turn right and at the first corner turn left. You will pass the EPA aviation school and after a few more meters you will reach the end of the street. This is where you can stay and photograph. There is plenty of parking space free of charge. A small ladder or a stool is required (see last photo). Shooting through the mesh is possible but limited.
WHAT	Excellent location for photos of arrivals and departures and taxi of aircraft, mainly landings on lane 18.
TIME	For runway movements the best time is in the morning until noon. Taxiway pictures is possible almost the whole day all year long.
MISC.	There are no bathrooms here, not even shade. There will always be people arriving and leaving. It is a parking place, and you can leave your car here too, you will see many students and instructors from the nearby aviation schools.
FOCAL LENGTH	100mm for the plane taxiing, and between 140 to 270mm if it is on the runway, taking off or landing.

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	Spot #2 – Aeroclube do Paraná Aviation School
WHERE	This is a location within the courtyard of the Paraná airclub but anyone can enter here. It is a large lawn with some benches and an overview of the taxiways, runway and hangars. To get here is simple. From the main entrance turn left and take the first road right. Drive up to the air club and park there (free of charge). You will see a gate on the right, which is always open. Go through it and walk to the lawn and you will see a very wide open place in front of you. On the left is the restaurant and the bathrooms. A small ladder or a stool is required. Shooting through the mesh is possible but limited.
WHAT	Best for taxiway and major ramp movements. The runway is a bit too far.
TIME	Taxiway is possible almost the whole day all year long. Main ramp is backlit in the morning only.
MISC.	You are inside the air club, there is a restaurant, and a snack bar, bathrooms and some shade. You are likely to find some spotters here, and some people, students, instructors or just curious as it is very easy to come here.
FOCAL LENGTH	For aircraft that are moving you can use from 50mm -100mm and 200 to 400mm to photograph the landings/take-off

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	Spot #3 – Terminal
WHERE	This location is very close to the small passenger terminal for executive flights. It gives a great view from the parking lot or from the courtyard. From the main entrance turn left and take the second road up to the terminal. There are plenty of parking spaces here, free of charge. A small ladder or a stool is required. Shooting through the mesh is possible but limited.
WHAT	Movements of aircraft that go to or leave the hangars, and also those that will take off on runway 36. Mandatorily all landings made on runway 18 will pass by here too. The runway itself is too far for appropriate photos.
TIME	For the ramp the best time is during the morning hours.
MISC.	The terminal very close, where you find bathrooms and a small cafeteria. There are also many trees, ensuring a little shade.
FOCAL LENGTH	Aircraft taxi around the patio, around 100mm, it is possible to take off for this purpose, above 300mm is desirable.

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	Spot #4 – Street Dr. Luis Fernando Van Der Brocke 40
WHERE	To get there you have to leave the airport areal and take a drive around it. It is far from the previous spots and you need a car to get there. The location is on a dead-end street named “Dr. Luis Fernando Van Der Brocke 40”. As soon as you arrive at the place you will see a big wall, you will need a ladder to be able to photograph here.
WHAT	Very good for landings on runway 36, where you can see the planes curving in, and when they line up on the runway.
TIME	Best in the morning until afternoon. But in some months of the year in the evening you have backlit.
MISC.	There are no bathrooms or shade here. You are in a residential neighborhood, be nice to the residents. It is not a dangerous place, some resident may have you, out of curiosity.
FOCAL LENGTH	100mm for aircraft in taxi, and up to 300mm for aircraft on landing.