View source for Santa Maria Air Force Base

{{short description|Air base of the Brazilian Air Force}}
{{For|the civilian use of this facility and airport information|Santa Maria Airport (Rio Grande do Sul)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Santa Maria Air Force Base 
| ensign = 
| ensign_size =
| native_name = {{lang|pt|Base Aérea de Santa Maria|italic=yes}} 
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = [[Santa Maria (Rio Grande do Sul)|Santa Maria]], [[Rio Grande do Sul]] 
| country = Brazil 
| image = Pórtico da Base Aérea de Santa Maria. Camobi.JPG 
| alt = 
| caption = Entry of Santa Maria Air Force in 2013  
| image2 = <!--secondary image, major command emblems for airfields -->
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = Air Force Base
| coordinates = {{coord|29|42|39|S|053|41|32|W|region:BR|display=inline,title}}
| gridref = 
| image_map = 
| image_mapsize = 
| image_map_alt = 
| image_map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = Brazil Rio Grande do Sul#Brazil
| pushpin_mapsize = 
| pushpin_map_alt = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Brazil 
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_image = 
| pushpin_label = SBSM 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_mark = 
| pushpin_marksize = 
| ownership = [[Brazilian Air Force]]
| operator = <!-- where different from ownership such as the RAF or the USAF -->
| controlledby = {{air force|BR}}
| open_to_public = No
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->  
| site_area = 
| code = ALA4
| built = {{Start date|1945}}
| used = 1970-present
| builder = 
| materials = 
| height = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition = 
| battles = 
| events = 
| current_commander = [[Colonel|Cel. Av.]] Wilson Paulo Corrêa Marques
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = <!-- such as the 25th Bombardment Group -->
| occupants =
* 1st Squadron of the 10th Aviation Group 
* 3rd Squadron of the 10th Aviation Group
* 5th Squadron of the 8th Aviation Group
* 1st Squadron of the 12th Aviation Group 
* 4th Squadron of the 1st Communications and Control Group 
| designations = 
| website = {{URL|https://www.fab.mil.br/organizacoes/mostra/449}} 
| IATA = RIA  
| ICAO = SBSM 
| FAA = 
| TC = 
| LID = RS0003
| GPS = 
| WMO =
| elevation = {{Convert|88|m|0}}
| r1-number = 11/29
| r1-length  = {{Convert|2,694|m|0}} 
| r1-surface = [[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 02/20
| r2-length = {{Convert|1,505|m|0}}  
| r2-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| footnotes = Sources: [[Department of Airspace Control|DECEA]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aisweb.decea.mil.br/?i=aerodromos&codigo=SBSM&amdt=2161|title=Santa Maria (SBSM)|website=DECEA|access-date=27 September 2023|language=pt}}</ref> 
}}

'''Santa Maria Air Force Base – ALA4''' {{Airport codes|RIA|SBSM}} is a [[Military base|base]] of the [[Brazilian Air Force]], located in [[Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul|Santa Maria]], Brazil.

It shares some facilities with [[Santa Maria Airport (Rio Grande do Sul)|Santa Maria Airport]].

==History==
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 was commissioned on 15 October 1971 and since then it has an active presence in the region.

Between 1971 and 2015, civil and military facilities were shared. However, in 2015 an agreement between the [[Brazilian Air Force]] and the Municipality of Santa Maria, transferred part of the facilities to the latter. The civil portion of the aerodrome is administered by the Municipality and the military portion by the Brazilian Air Force.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/36502/ | title=Obras de revitalização do aeródromo de Santa Maria (RS) são concluídas | website=Força Aérea Brasileira | date=7 November 2020 | access-date=17 February 2021 | language=pt}}</ref>

==Units==
The following units are based at Santa Maria Air Force Base:
* 1st Squadron of the 10th Aviation Group (1º/10ºGAv) ''Poker'', using the [[AMX International AMX|AMX A-1M]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.spotter.com.br/esquadroes/centauro_poker_01.htm | title=1º/10ºGAv – Esquadrão Poker | website=Spotter | access-date=5 May 2021 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 3rd Squadron of the 10th Aviation Group (3º/10ºGAv) ''Centauro'', using the [[AMX International AMX|AMX A-1M]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.spotter.com.br/esquadroes/centauro_poker_01.htm | title=3º/10ºGAv – Esquadrão Centauro | website=Spotter | access-date=5 May 2021 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 5th Squadron of the 8th Aviation Group (5º/8ºGAv) ''Pantera'', using the [[UH-60 Black Hawk|H-60L Black Hawk]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.spotter.com.br/esquadroes/pantera_01.htm | title=5º/8ºGAv – Esquadrão Pantera | website=Spotter | access-date=3 May 2021 | language=pt}}</ref>
* 1st Squadron of the 12th Aviation Group (1º/12ºGAv) ''Hórus'', using the [[Elbit Hermes 450|Elbit RQ-450 Hermes]], [[Elbit Hermes 900|Elbit RQ-900 Hermes]], and Elbit RQ-1150 Heron.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.spotter.com.br/esquadroes/horus_01.htm | title=1º/12º GAv – Esquadrão Hórus | website=Spotter | access-date=5 May 2021 | language=pt}}</ref> 
* 4th Squadron of the 1st Communications and Control Group (4º/1ºGCC) ''Mangrulho'', using radars and equipment for air defense.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/33097/CRUZEX%20%E2%80%93%20Esquadr%C3%B5es%20de%20comunica%C3%A7%C3%B5es%20e%20controle%20de%20todo%20o%20pa%C3%ADs%20mobilizam%20pessoal%20e%20equipamentos | title=Esquadrões de comunicações e controle de todo o país mobilizam pessoal e equipamentos | website=Força Aérea Brasileira | date=9 November 2018 | access-date=5 May 2021 | language=pt}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
*24 June 1985: [[Brazilian Air Force]], a [[C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C-130E Hercules]] registration FAB-2457 flew into the side of a hill while on approach to land at Santa Maria Air Force Base under fog. All 7 occupants died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19850624-0 | title=Accident description FAB-2457 | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref>

==Access==
The base is located 11&nbsp;km east of downtown Santa Maria.

==Gallery==
This gallery displays aircraft that are or have been based at Santa Maria. The gallery is not comprehensive.

===Present aircraft===
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Brazilian Air Force AMX air-to-air refuelling.jpg|AMX A-1M 
File:UH-60 Brazil (cropped).jpg|Sikorsky H-60L Black Hawk 
File:Vant Hermes 450 da FAB no aeroporto de Cáceres (MT) (8101398607).jpg|Elbit RQ-450 Hermes 
</gallery>

===Retired aircraft===
<gallery mode="packed">
File:L-19 (8141380799).jpg|Cessna L-19A Bird Dog
File:Aeronave T6 da Força Aérea Brasileira – FAB.tif|North American T-6G Texan
Neiva N-591 Regente C-42 2238 FAB SDU 08.05.72 edited-3.jpg|Neiva L-42 Regente
File:Iroquois (4892089037).jpg|Bell H-1H Iroquois
File:Brazilian Air Force Embraer AT-26 Xavante (EMB-326GC) RSC.jpg|Embraer AT-26 Xavante
File:Neiva T-25... Universal (621), Brazil - Air Force AN1132356.jpg|Neiva T-25A Universal
File:Emb810 Brazil (16559291830).jpg|Embraer U-7 Seneca
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation|Brazil}}
*[[List of Brazilian military bases]]
*[[Santa Maria Airport (Rio Grande do Sul)|Santa Maria Airport]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{GCM|SBSM|source=[[DAFIF]]}}
*{{NWS-current|SBSM}}
*{{ASN|RIA}}

{{List of airports}}
{{Brazil topics}}
{{Military of Brazil}}

[[Category:Rio Grande do Sul]]
[[Category:Brazilian Air Force]]
[[Category:Brazilian Air Force bases]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Rio Grande do Sul]]
[[Category:Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Brazil]]