Drone Rules for Maceió–Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport
Critical No-Fly Zone covering Maceió International Airport (SBMO) and its low-altitude commercial flight paths. All unauthorized drone flights are strictly prohibited within this airspace to eliminate the risk of mid-air collisions with commercial aircraft.
Maceió International Airport – Zumbi dos Palmares (SBMO), located in the municipality of Rio Largo just outside the capital, is the primary aviation gateway for the state of Alagoas. It handles a steady flow of domestic commercial flights, tourist charters, and regional aircraft connecting the northeast coast.
Because passenger jets fly at low altitudes during their approach and departure paths over Rio Largo and the upper districts of Maceió (such as Tabuleiro do Pinto), a drone collision in this area would be catastrophic. To ensure the safety of hundreds of daily passengers, this airspace is heavily protected under federal law. Spontaneous, recreational, or standard commercial drone operations are completely banned within the airport's perimeter and its active approach corridors. Violating this airspace carries severe criminal penalties under the Brazilian Penal Code (Article 261 - exposing an aircraft to danger).
Regulatory Authorities: DECEA (Department of Airspace Control) and ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency).
Primary Framework: Brazilian Air Force Command Instruction ICA 100-40 (Access to Airspace by Unmanned Aircraft Systems) and the Brazilian Penal Code (Art. 261).
Flight Planning Portal: Real-time restriction parameters, official airport coordinates, and specialized NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) filings are managed via DECEA's SARPAS NG and Aisweb portals.