Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport

FAHS / HDS

Hoedspruit, ZA

Last Updated
May 15, 04:00Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a military aerodrome. Civil aircraft access may be restricted or require prior authorization. Consult the applicable AIP for current access procedures.

Consult the applicable national AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
04:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
--
--°
--
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAHS 150400Z AUTO /////KT //// // ////// 17/16 Q1024

Weather Briefing

VFR

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies.

Wind Analysis

Wind data is not available.

Visibility & Ceiling

Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 11 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Mist. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Mist between 04:00Z and 06:00Z.

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 FAHS 150300Z 1504/1515 17008KT CAVOK TX27/1512Z TN15/1504Z PROB30 TEMPO 1504/1506 5000 BR BKN008 BECMG 1507/1509 BKN015 FM150900 VRB03KT 9999 BKN025 FM151400 VRB03KT 9999 SCT030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:51Z BASE
+0h
VFR 170° 8 kt
Visibility: >10km
07:00Z BECMG
+3h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
09:00Z FM150900
+5h
MVFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
14:00Z FM151400
+10h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
AHS
09
27
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading
09/27 6,939 ft 88 ft ASP 76°
18/36 13,095 ft 151 ft ASP 164°

Weather Statistics - FAHS

2,857 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
100%
MVFR
0%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0%

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 100% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 95 knots. Calm conditions occur 26.4% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 11°C and 38°C with an average of 23.5°C. The best months for VFR flying are January, February, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 95 kt
Calm Winds: 26.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.5%
NE
5.7%
E
6%
SE
13.7%
S
26.6%
SW
3.4%
W
2.7%
NW
3.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.5°C
Range: 11°C to 38°C
11°C 38°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

January February March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.5 kt

Statistics computed from 2,857 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAHS
IATA Code: HDS
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,743 ft MSL

Location

City: Hoedspruit
Country: ZA
Latitude: -24.368601°
Longitude: 31.048700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 6,939 ft
Width: 88 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 13,095 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the ZA AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport (FAHS/HDS) is located in Hoedspruit, ZA at an elevation of 1,743 feet MSL. The airport has 2 runways (09/27, 18/36), with the longest at 13,095 feet.

Weather Profile

Based on 2,857 weather observations, FAHS experiences excellent VFR conditions 100% of the time, making it one of the more weather-reliable airports in its region.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at FAHS come from the S (180°) with an average speed of 7 knots and recorded gusts up to 95 knots. Calm wind conditions are common (26.4% of observations), allowing flexible runway selection. Runway 18/36 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 2.5 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are January, February, March, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from 11°C (52°F) to 38°C (100°F), averaging 23.5°C (74°F). High temperatures can significantly impact aircraft performance through increased density altitude. Altimeter settings typically range from 10.13 to 10.22 inHg (343-346 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 2,857 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

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.