โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
30
minutes
Domestic โ International
60
minutes
Interline Connections
90
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Presidente Josรฉ Sarney Airport (PDR), designated by the ICAO as SJKE, is a domestic aviation facility serving the municipality of Presidente Dutra in the central-western state of Maranhรฃo, Brazil. The airport functions primarily as a basic regional landing ground and does not feature a formal commercial passenger terminal building. It acts as a vital infrastructure link for the surrounding agricultural community and local government, providing essential connectivity for private pilots, air taxis, and medical transport.
Facilities at the airstrip are extremely minimal and reflect its status as an uncontrolled regional airfield. There are no on-site commercial amenities such as retail shops, full-service restaurants, or passenger lounges, and the environment typically consists of a modest administrative structure used for essential flight coordination. Travelers and pilots are advised to be completely self-sufficient and to coordinate all logistical needs, including food and water, in the nearby Presidente Dutra town center prior to arrival.
The airfield features a single 2,592-foot (790m) asphalt runway and operates strictly during daylight hours under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), as it is not equipped with modern instrument landing systems or nighttime lighting. Ground transportation to central Presidente Dutra, located approximately 1.8 miles (3 km) from the airstrip, is informal and typically managed via local taxi services or private vehicle arrangements. Most commercial travelers to the region utilize larger hubs like Imperatriz (IMP) or Sรฃo Luรญs (SLZ) and complete their journey via the regional highway network.
๐ Connection Tips
Presidente Josรฉ Sarney Airport (PDR) serves the city of Presidente Dutra in Maranhรฃo, Brazil. It is a small public facility primarily used for general aviation, private pilots, and occasional domestic charters serving the regional agricultural sector. There is currently NO regular scheduled commercial airline passenger service.
For most travelers, the standard 'connection' is to fly into Teresina (THE) or Sรฃo Luรญs (SLZ) and complete the journey by road (approx. 3-4 hours via BR-135). If you are arriving at PDR via a private flight, ground transport into the town center (approx. 3km away) must be pre-arranged with a local taxi service or hotel.
The facility is utilitarian with basic waiting facilities and zero passenger terminal amenities. Ensure you have confirmed your ground transport before departure That means the best arrival is the one that already has a road pickup from Teresina or So Lus waiting, because the airport itself is a utility stop, not a place to search for transport. A road pickup from Teresina or So Lus should already be waiting, because the utility stop only works when the last leg is fixed and the town transfer is not something to improvise after landing on this side of Maranhรฃo there.
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 Presidente Josรฉ Sarney Airport