GlobalMilitary.net Open-source military intelligence Updated daily

Río Gallegos Air Base (Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport)

Río Gallegos Air Base (also Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport; ICAO SAWG) is an active joint civil-military airfield in Argentina, operated by the Argentine Air Force. It has 1 runway (3,550 m). Home to X Air Brigade.

Facility Details

Summary
Operating Country 🇦🇷 Argentina
Location🇦🇷 Argentina
Status Active
UsageDual
Year built1964
Operating OrganizationArgentine Air Force
Units & aircraft
X Air Brigade
Location & Technical Details
Coordinates-51.6089°N, -69.3126°E
Elevation20 m (66 ft)
IATA codeRGL
ICAO codeSAWG
Runways
07/25 · 3,550 m (11,647 ft) · Asphalt

Description

Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport is situated 2 kilometers west of Río Gallegos in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina. The facility occupies 1,150 hectares and is operated by Aeropuertos Argentina 2000.

Construction of the site began in 1964, and the paved runway was inaugurated in 1972. During the late 1980s, the airport served as a scheduled stop for Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeing 747-200 aircraft operating polar routes between Buenos Aires, Auckland, and Sydney. The facility contains the longest runway in Argentina.

Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources. Last updated on 13 August 2026. Suggest a change
Latest Data Updates
  1. AUG 132026 Updated Runway records reconciled against aeronautical sources
  2. APR 112026 Created Page created: Río Gallegos Air Base