Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Presidente Médici International Airport

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Airport type
  
Public/Military

Serves
  
Rio Branco

Presidente Médici International Airport

Presidente Médici International Airport, formerly (IATA: RBR), was the airport that served Rio Branco, Brazil until 1999, when Plácido de Castro International Airport was opened. On that very occasion the airport was closed.

Contents

History

Pres. Médici International Airport was the first airport of Rio Branco, Brazil. Because of its proximity to the urban center and a legal dispute concerning ownership of the land where it was located, the airport was closed on November 22, 1999, when Plácido de Castro International Airport was opened at a different location.

Today the former runway is used as an avenue and at one of its ends is located the main football stadium of Rio Branco, called Arena da Floresta. The former passenger terminal and control tower still exist, albeit abandoned.

The following airlines once served the airport: Cruzeiro do Sul, Panair do Brasil, Varig, VASP

Accidents and incidents

  • September 28, 1971: a Cruzeiro do Sul Douglas DC-3 A-414A registration PP-CBV crashed after take-off from Sena Madureira bound to Rio Branco. The aircraft suffered an engine failure at climb-out. The pilot tried to return to the airport but because the turn was done at very low altitude, the right wing struck trees causing the aircraft to crash. All 32 passengers and crew died.

    • Access

    The airport was located 2 km (1 mi) south of downtown Rio Branco.

    References

    Presidente Médici International Airport Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA