WxDecoder

FABL/BFN METAR & TAF Bram Fischer International Airport

Bloemfontein, Free StateElevation 4,457 ftLarge airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFRMore than 1 hour old
No ceiling, visibility 10 SM, towering cumulus.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
360@5
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
None
no BKN/OVC layer
DENSITY ALT
6,137 ft
+1,680 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 1800Z (8:00 PM local) · More than 1 hour old

FABL is currently VFR. Winds are from the north at 5 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling. Main concerns: Towering cumulus reported (FEW035TCU).

WIND
360° at 5 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
FEW030 FEW035TCU
FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
22°C / 10°C
72°F / 50°F. 12°C spread.
ALTIMETER
30.12 inHg
1020 hPa, above standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
TCU
Towering cumulus reported (FEW035TCU).

Codes in this report: 9999 FEW

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 2200Z (12:00 AM local) · valid to 0000Z (2:00 AM local)

FABL forecast starts VFR at 00Z. Worst period is 14Z to 15Z with MVFR possible (GUST, TS, CB). Best period is 00Z to 04Z (VFR). Conditions are roughly steady over the period. Thunderstorms are a probability during part of the period.

  • Maximum temperature 32°C expected at 1200Z on day 26.
  • Minimum temperature 15°C expected at 0300Z on day 26.
VFR
VFR
VFR
VFR
MVFR
MVFR
VFR
0000Z2:00 AM0448Z6:48 AM0936Z11:36 AM1424Z4:24 PM1912Z9:12 PM0000Z2:00 AM

Codes in this report: 9999 SCT PROB30 TEMPO FEW

Tap any group to decode it.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: High

›Towering cumulus reported (FEW035TCU).
›METAR is stale (260 minutes old).
›PROB30 forecast: light thunderstorm with rain (-TSRA).

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Pilot weather notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 360° at 5 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. This report is older than usual, so treat it with caution. No extended National Weather Service forecast is available for this location. Key risks: high density altitude.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES
High density altitudeMETAR
Density altitude about 6,137 ft (field elevation 4,457 ft). Expect reduced climb performance and a longer takeoff roll.

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RUNWAYS & WIND
2 runways · crosswind ranking
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW02201230 360°360°5 kt360°360° 5360°
READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →
Calm
5 kt
10 kt
15 kt
20 kt
25 kt
30 kt
35 kt
40 kt
45 kt
50 kt
65 kt
75 kt
100 kt
105 kt
Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.
WIND USED
360° at 5 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 025 kt headwind · no crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
02
HEAD
5 kt
CROSS
calm
BEST
30
HEAD
1 kt
CROSS
5 kt R
OK
12
HEAD
1 kt tail
CROSS
5 kt L
OK
20
HEAD
5 kt tail
CROSS
calm
OK
Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
RUNWAYS

Runway detail

02/20
Dimensions
8,396 x 151 ft
Surface
ASP
Lighting
Lighted
12/30
Dimensions
7,202 x 151 ft
Surface
ASP
Lighting
Lighted
FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude
6,137 ft
Pressure altitude
4,257 ft
Field elevation
4,457 ft MSL
Temperature
22°C (72°F)
Dewpoint
10°C (50°F)
Altimeter
30.12 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset
1630Z 6:30 PM
Sunrise
0327Z 5:27 AM
Loggable night
1654Z (6:54 PM local) → 0302Z (5:02 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
1630Z (6:30 PM local) → 0327Z (5:27 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
1730Z (7:30 PM local) → 0227Z (4:27 AM local)
1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

Bram Fischer International Airport is in Bloemfontein, Free State. Field elevation 4,457 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
UseScheduled service
TypeLarge airport
Airline serviceYes
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAFABL / BFN
RegionFree State
CountrySouth Africa
Coordinates-29.0927, 26.3024
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Control towerTowered
FREQUENCIES

Communications

119.4
APP WEST
APP
124.3
APP EAST
APP
126.45
ATIS
ATIS
120.8
TWR
TWR

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

Traffic patterns

Aircraft activity data is not available for this airport yet.

NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

FXMM Moshoeshoe I International Airport
69 NM E
VFR
FAKM Kimberley Airport
83 NM W
UNKNOWN
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Official airport website
↗Wikipedia
↗FABL on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does FABL have a METAR?
Yes. FABL has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does FABL have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for FABL; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at FABL?
FABL sits at 4,457 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for FABL?
No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.
This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.