Drone Rules for Juazeiro do Norte Airport - Orlando Bezerra de Menezes
Critical No-Fly Zone covering Juazeiro do Norte Airport (SBJU) and its active commercial approach paths. All unauthorized drone flights are strictly prohibited within this airspace to eliminate the risk of mid-air collisions with passenger jets serving the Cariri region.
Juazeiro do Norte Airport – Orlando Bezerra de Menezes (SBJU), managed by Aena Brasil, is located directly along Avenida Governador Virgílio Távora in the Aeroporto district. It serves as a vital economic and tourism gateway for the heavily populated Cariri metropolitan area, handling regular commercial flights from major airlines connecting the interior of Ceará to major national hubs like São Paulo, Recife, and Fortaleza.
Because the airport infrastructure sits immediately adjacent to expanding urban neighborhoods, commercial aircraft operate at very low altitudes over residential sectors and local avenues during their takeoff and landing phases. Due to the high density of passenger traffic and the lack of obstacle clearance buffers in urban settings, uncoordinated drone operations create a direct hazard. Spontaneous, recreational, or standard commercial drone flights are completely banned inside the airport's grid and its active approach funnels. Violating this airspace is a federal crime under Article 261 of the Brazilian Penal Code (exposing an aircraft to danger).
Regulatory Authorities: DECEA (Department of Airspace Control), ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency), and Aena Brasil.
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 overlays, active safety grids, and mandatory geofencing zones are managed via DECEA's official SARPAS NG and Aisweb portals.