Drone Rules for Picos Airport
Critical No-Fly Zone covering Picos Airport (SNPC). All unauthorized drone flights are strictly prohibited within this airspace to eliminate collision risks with regional executive aircraft, medical evacuation flights, and scheduled regional operations.
Senador Helvídio Nunes Airport (SNPC) is a key regional airfield located in Picos, a commercially strategic city in the central-southern region of Piauí. The airport plays an essential role as a logistical and emergency hub for the municipality and surrounding trading towns, handling regular private corporate flights, government transport, and urgent aeromedical evacuation missions. It also accommodates scheduled regional commercial turboprop flights connecting the interior to major state hubs.
The airfield is situated near major federal transit highways (such as the BR-316) and expanding urban zones. Because arriving and departing aircraft operate at low altitudes under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and local instrument corridors directly over the surrounding valley terrain, uncoordinated drone activity poses an immediate and severe threat to flight safety. Spontaneous or recreational drone flights within the airfield perimeter or its active traffic patterns are completely banned under federal law (Brazilian Penal Code, Art. 261).
Regulatory Authorities: DECEA, ANAC, and the Government of the State of Piauí.
Primary Framework: ICA 100-40 (DECEA) and Article 261 of the Brazilian Penal Code.
Flight Planning Portal: Operational safety grids and airspace restrictions are managed via SARPAS NG and Aisweb.