Santa Maria Airport – RIA
The Santa Maria Airport is a public/military airport that is located in and serves Santa Maria, Brazil. It is owned by the local government and is operated by the Brazilian Air Force. Working under the IATA code RIA and the ICAO code SBSM, the airport sits at an elevation of 289 feet above mean sea level. Its coordinates are 29°42′39″S 053°41′32″W. There are two runways. Runway 1 is 8,858 feet long and has a concrete surface. Runway 2 is 4,593 feet long and has an asphalt surface. In addition to being a commercial airport, Santa Maria Airport is also a military airport and its facilities are shared with the Santa Maria Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.
Best Time to Visit
The airport was planned and constructed in the 1940s. Construction was done in collaboration with the United States Army. Santa Maria Airport opened in 1945. When the Santa Maria Air Force Base began operations at RIA, both civilian and military air traffic shared the airports facilities. The main civilian airline that operates in Santa Maria Airport is the Azul Brazilian Airlines. Its destination is Porto Alegre. Cities, towns, villages, and suburbs found near the airport include Santa Maria, Sao Pedro Do Sul, Sao Sepe, and Julio De Castilhos.
What to Do & Area Attractions
There are a number of great hotels in the area served by the Santa Maria Airport. These include the Solaire In & Suites and the Town & Country Inn, which features excellent amenities and services. Alternate hotel located a bit farther from the airport is the 3-star rated Bangalo Motel – Adults Only.
An alternate airport for the Santa Maria Public Airport is the Santa Rosa Airport, located in Rosa, Brazil.