Santa Maria Air Force Base

Santa Maria Air Force Base Base Aérea de Santa Maria
IATA: RIA ICAO: SBSM
Summary
Airport type	Military: Air Force Base
Operator	Brazilian Air Force
Serves	Santa Maria
Built	1945
In use	1970–present
Commander	Cel. Av. Roberto Ferreira Pitrez
Elevation AMSL	88 m / 289 ft
Coordinates	29°42′39″S 053°41′32″W / 29.71083°S 53.69222°W / -29.71083; -53.69222Coordinates: 29°42′39″S 053°41′32″W / 29.71083°S 53.69222°W / -29.71083; -53.69222
Website	http://www.basm.aer.mil.br/
Map
SBSM Location in Brazil
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 11/29 2,700 8,858 Concrete 02/20 1,400 4,593 Asphalt
Sources: Air Force Base Website, Brazilian Air Force

Santa Maria Air Base – BASM is a base of the Brazilian Air Force, located in the city of Santa Maria, Brazil.

It shares some facilities with Santa Maria Airport.

In 1944 the then President of Brazil Getúlio Vargas allocated an area of 4 million square meters near Santa Maria with the purpose of building an aerodrome. The works were conducted on an urgent basis, with the collaboration of the United States Army and it was finally opened in April 1945.

Santa Maria Air Force Base was created on 18 December 1970 and inaugurated on 15 October 1971 and since then it has an active presence in the region.

The following units are based at Santa Maria Air Force Base:

Subordinated to the command of the 2nd Air Force (II FAe), which is dedicated to Search and Rescue, Rotorary Wings, and Maritime Patrol:

Subordinated to the command of the 3rd Air Force (III FAe), which is dedicated to Reconnaissance, Attack, and Combat:

Subordinated to the command of the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA), which is dedicated to the control of the Brazilian Airspace:

The base has one Cessna C-98 Grand Caravan G1000 for administrative functions.

The base is located 11 km east of downtown Santa Maria.