Airports / Madagascar / SMS
Sainte Marie Airport.
Vohilava, Madagascar · 7 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FMMS
IATA SMS
0
Operators based
7
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
56 nm
To the nearest alternate
Mananara Nord Airport (WMR).
Overview
Sainte Marie Airport, listed as FMMS / SMS, is a mid-sized airport in Vohilava, Madagascar. The airport sits 7 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into SMS for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Mananara Nord Airport (WMR, 56 nm), Toamasina Ambalamanasy Airport (TMM, 66 nm), and Maroantsetra Airport (WMN, 100 nm). With a single 3,451-foot paved runway, SMS can typically accommodate aircraft as large as turboprops.
Charter pricing from SMS depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Vohilava.
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Field capability
ICAO
FMMS
IATA
SMS
FAA / Local
FMMS
Elevation
7 ft
Coordinates
17.0939° S · 49.8158° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Madagascar fields
state range 7–4,198 ft
At 7 ft, SMS sits lower than 96% of the 23 Madagascar fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,451 ft
- 01/193,451 ft × 98 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,451 ft
SMS's 3,451 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 56nmWMRMananara Nord AirportMananara Nord
- 66nmTMMToamasina Ambalamanasy AirportToamasina
- 100nmWMNMaroantsetra AirportMaroantsetra
- 129nmANMAntsirabe AirportAntsirabe
- 147nmZWAAndapa Airport
- 168nmTNRIvato International AirportAntananarivo
Location
Open the full mapFMMS · Sainte Marie Airport · Vohilava, Madagascar
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SMS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 7,460 nm | 17h 45m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,597 nm | 18h 4m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,770 nm | 18h 28m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,976 nm | 18h 57m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,987 nm | 18h 58m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 8,028 nm | 19h 4m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 8,180 nm | 19h 25m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 8,235 nm | 19h 33m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SMS?
- Sainte Marie Airport's longest paved runway is 3,451 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at SMS?
- Sainte Marie Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,451 ft on a paved surface.
- What is the nearest major airport to SMS?
- The closest alternate is Mananara Nord Airport (WMR), about 56 nm away, followed by Toamasina Ambalamanasy Airport (TMM) at 66 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SMS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 17h 45m (7,460 nm), New York about 18h 4m (7,597 nm), Washington DC about 18h 28m (7,770 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.