โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
30
minutes
Domestic โ International
45
minutes
Interline Connections
75
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Forquilhinha - Criciรบma Airport (CCM), also known as Diomรญcio Freitas Airport and identified by its ICAO code SSIM, serves the city of Criciรบma in Santa Catarina, Brazil. This regional airport plays a vital role in supporting private aviation, aeroclubs, flight schools, air medical services, and organ transport for transplants. While it has not operated scheduled commercial flights since late 2016, it remains an essential facility for general aviation and critical services in the southern region of Santa Catarina.
The airport's passenger terminal, with a total area of 529.54 square meters, is compact but thoughtfully designed to cater to its current operational needs. It includes a boarding room, a disembarkation area, and a check-in queue area, alongside a spacious public lounge. These facilities are maintained to provide a functional and comfortable environment for pilots and passengers using the airport for private and specialized flights. The terminal's simplicity reflects its focus on efficiency for non-commercial operations.
Operational infrastructure at CCM includes an aircraft fueling station and four existing aircraft hangars, with provisions for future expansion. The airport is strategically located approximately 6 kilometers from downtown Criciรบma and 8 kilometers from downtown Forquilhinha, with easy access via major highways. This accessibility, combined with its robust general aviation support, ensures its continued importance for regional connectivity and emergency services, even without scheduled commercial traffic.
๐ Connection Tips
Forquilhinha - Criciรบma Airport (CCM), also known as Aeroporto Diomรญcio Freitas, is primarily a general aviation and executive flight hub serving the southern region of Santa Catarina. Because major commercial carriers have transitioned their operations to the newer Humberto Ghizzo Bortoluzzi Regional Airport (JJG) in Jaguaruna, "connecting" here often involves a ground transfer. JJG is located approximately 40 kilometers to the east, about a 45-minute drive via the BR-101 highway.
If your itinerary involves a commercial arrival in Jaguaruna and a private or charter departure from Forquilhinha, you should allow at least 2 to 3 hours between flights to account for luggage retrieval, ground transport, and potential regional traffic. There is currently no official shuttle service connecting the two airports directly. The most reliable options for transfer are rideshare apps like Uber or 99, or pre-arranged private car services from local Criciรบma providers.
For those who prefer to drive, major car rental agencies like Localiza and Movida have presences in the region, allowing for a vehicle pickup at one airport and drop-off at the other, though it is wise to confirm one-way rental fees in advance. Additionally, for travelers connecting to the state capital, Florianรณpolis International Airport (FLN) is located about 200 kilometers to the north, roughly a 3-hour drive. Always verify your departure airport twice, as many travelers confuse the regional facility in Forquilhinha with the commercial hub in Jaguaruna.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Deputado Joaquim d'Abreu Coelho Airport (AAI), serving the municipality of Arraias in the southeastern region of Tocantins, Brazil, functions primarily as a general aviation airfield with no scheduled commercial airline services. The airport's infrastructure is modern, having been completed in 2013, and the terminal building is small and functional, designed to accommodate the low volume of traffic from private planes, air taxis, and government aircraft. It includes a basic lounge area and parking facilities, providing essential services for those operating private flights into this remote part of the country.
The layout of the airport is very simple, consisting of a single runway and a small apron for aircraft parking. As there are no commercial flights, the usual passenger processing facilities such as check-in desks, security screening areas, and baggage claim carousels are not present. Operations are managed on a smaller scale, typically coordinated directly between pilots and the local airport administration. The environment is exceptionally quiet, with flight activity being intermittent and generally restricted to daylight hours due to the lack of advanced lighting systems.
Despite its new infrastructure, the airport remains uncertified by the Department of Airspace Control (as of late 2023), which limits its potential for future scheduled routes. For now, it remains a critical piece of local infrastructure, providing a vital connection for business in the region's agricultural sector and for private travel, significantly reducing travel time compared to the long overland journeys from major cities like Palmas or Brasรญlia.
๐ Connection Tips
Connections at Deputado Joaquim d'Abreu Coelho Airport require careful coordination within Brazil's general aviation network, as this uncertified facility in southeastern Tocantins exclusively handles private aircraft and air taxis supporting the region's agricultural economy. Located 15 kilometers from Arraias town center, serving a municipality of 10,534 residents across 5,787 square kilometers of agricultural land, the airport completed its infrastructure in August 2013 but remains uncertified by the Department of Airspace Control as of 2023, limiting operations to visual flight rules during daylight hours. This certification status requires all operators to verify current operational permissions with DECEA before planning any flights to or from the facility.
Transfers to Brazil's commercial aviation network necessitate ground transportation over considerable distances, with Palmas Airport 320 kilometers north via TO-110 highway requiring approximately four hours of driving through rural Tocantins terrain. Brasรญlia International Airport, 435 kilometers southwest, offers more extensive domestic and international connections but demands five to six hours of road travel across state boundaries. Alternative regional airports include Araguaรญna in northern Tocantins for connections to Belรฉm and Sรฃo Paulo, though this involves an even longer 600-kilometer journey. Agricultural aviation operators familiar with Brazil's 2,539-strong agricultural aircraft fleet may coordinate fuel stops at certified airstrips in nearby municipalities, as Arraias lacks refueling infrastructure.
Weather patterns significantly impact connection reliability, particularly during the October to March wet season when afternoon thunderstorms frequently develop across Tocantins plateau, potentially closing VFR operations without warning. The airport's role in supporting regional agriculture, particularly soybean and cattle operations characteristic of this cerrado region, means private aircraft movements often coincide with planting and harvest seasons, creating potential congestion despite the lack of scheduled services. Travelers must pre-arrange all ground transportation through local contacts or agricultural cooperatives, as the remote location offers no taxi services, rental cars, or public transit options, with most visitors relying on farm vehicles or pre-booked transfers from Arraias town.
โ Back to Forquilhinha - Criciรบma Airport