Bram Fischer International Airport

FABL / BFN

Bloemfontain, ZA

Last Updated
May 14, 20:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 45 min ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
8°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 5°C
3 kt
180°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FABL 142000Z AUTO 18003KT 9999 // ///////// 08/05 Q1027

Weather Briefing

VFR

Bram Fischer International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 8°C (46°F) with a dewpoint of 5°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Mist. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Mist between 02:00Z and 04:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FABL 141600Z 1418/1518 VRB03KT CAVOK TX20/1512Z TN03/1503Z PROB30 TEMPO 1502/1504 5000 BR NSC
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:45Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >10km
02:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+6h
MVFR
Visibility: 5 km
Mist

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
ABL
02
20 ✈️
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
8,396 ft 151 ft ASP 360°
2.8 kt 1.0 kt
20° angle
12/30 7,202 ft 151 ft ASP 102°
0.6 kt 2.9 kt
78° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FABL

6,184 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
90.2%
MVFR
7.3%
IFR
2.1%
LIFR
0.4%

Bram Fischer International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 90.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 7.2 knots. Temperature extremes range from -1°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, October, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 7.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 3.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
24.1%
NE
18.1%
E
7.6%
SE
5.5%
S
9.6%
SW
7%
W
11.3%
NW
13.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.5°C
Range: -1°C to 36°C
-1°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

January October December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt

Statistics computed from 6,184 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Bram Fischer International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FABL
IATA Code: BFN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,457 ft MSL

Location

City: Bloemfontain
Country: ZA
Latitude: -29.092699°
Longitude: 26.302401°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 8,396 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 7,202 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Bram Fischer International Airport

Overview

Bram Fischer International Airport serves the Bloemfontein metropolitan area in South Africa, situated at a high elevation of 4,457 feet above mean sea level. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Free State province, supporting both commercial and general aviation operations. The airport's geographical coordinates at -29.092699, 26.302401 place it in a strategic location for regional transportation.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly excellent visual flight conditions, with 93.5% of observations recording VFR weather. Wind patterns are consistent, predominantly from the north at an average of 7.6 knots, with occasional gusts up to 30 knots. Temperature ranges from 1°C to 35°C, with an average of 20.1°C, suggesting pilots should be prepared for significant temperature variations throughout the year.

Notable Features

Both runways (02/20 and 12/30) are paved with asphalt and offer substantial length for most aircraft operations. The high elevation at 4,457 feet MSL will impact aircraft performance, particularly during warmer months. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 4.1 and 5.3 knots respectively.

Approach Considerations

January, October, and December represent the best months for visual flight operations, with consistently favorable weather conditions. Pilots can expect excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with virtually no instances of restricted visibility or fog. The balanced runway orientation provides flexibility for landing and takeoff, with minimal wind-related approach challenges.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.