Runway 15 at SBGL
Runway 15/33 at Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (SBGL) in Rio De Janeiro is a 10,433 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 125°/305°. The runway is 154 ft wide, with a 612 ft displaced threshold on the 15 end. SkyMeter has observed 262 landings and 1 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.4% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (1 events). Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 3.6°, touchdowns averaging 11,330 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 184 kt, a 2.4 kt average crosswind component.
Runway 15/33 at Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (SBGL) in Rio De Janeiro is a 10,433 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 125°/305°. The runway is 154 ft wide, with a 612 ft displaced threshold on the 15 end. SkyMeter has observed 262 landings and 1 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.4% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (1 events). Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 3.6°, touchdowns averaging 11,330 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 184 kt, a 2.4 kt average crosswind component.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
262 landings observed on Runway 15 in the last 30 days, alongside 1 departures.
Low Go-Around Rate
0.4% of arrivals at Runway 15 result in a go-around (1 in the last 30 days).
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 22:00 with 8 arrivals on the recent sample.
Average Touchdown Zone
Aircraft touch down on average 11,330 ft from the threshold on Runway 15.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at SBGL have prevailed from the east-southeast (120°), accounting for roughly 19% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 5.3 kt with peak gusts to 57 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Light Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 2.4 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 15 alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 3.6° on Runway 15, steeper than the standard 3°.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 15 over the last 30 days. Each value is shown only when at least 10 valid samples were available; sparse cells are hidden rather than estimated.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 15 grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Go-Around Analysis
A go-around occurs when a pilot aborts a landing attempt and initiates a climb to return for another approach. While go-arounds are a normal safety procedure, their frequency and causes provide insight into operational challenges at specific runways. Runway 15 experienced go-arounds in 0.4% of arrivals over the last 30 days (1 events of 263 attempts).
Recent Go-Around Events
These events represent normal safety procedures and do not indicate operational deficiencies.
Go-Around Causes Distribution
Environmental factors dominate go-around causes, indicating that operational procedures remain sound.
Approach Types and Categories
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 15 benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.