Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport

HBBA / BJM

Bujumbura, BI

Last Updated
Jul 4, 16:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 4 hours ago
16:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
10 kt
180°
8 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR HBBA 041600Z 18010KT 8000 SCT030 27/19 Q1013 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,582 ft
SCT 3,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,582 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 3,000 feet and 8 km visibility. Note: This observation is 3.8 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 10 knots. Runway 17/35 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 3,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 19°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

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

QNH
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
927 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,582 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,590 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,650 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +17.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF HBBA 041700Z 0418/0524 18008KT 9999 FEW030 BECMG 0420/0422 36005KT BECMG 0509/0511 18008G20KT 9999 FEW027
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:45Z BASE
+0h
VFR 180° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
20:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 360° 5 kt

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
BBA
02
20 ✈️
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
0 ft 0 ft UNK
9.4 kt 3.4 kt
20° angle
17/35 11,811 ft 148 ft ASP 172°
9.9 kt 1.4 kt
8° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - HBBA

2,628 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.8%
MVFR
19%
IFR
0.2%
LIFR
0%

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.8% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 904 knots. Calm conditions occur 25% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 17°C to 66°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 904 kt
Calm Winds: 25%
Direction Distribution:
E
9.8%
N
10.5%
S
45.2%
W
6%
NE
1.9%
NW
0.3%
SE
0.9%
SW
0.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.2°C
Range: 17°C to 66°C
17°C 66°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

May April November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.2 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.4 kt

Statistics computed from 2,628 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: HBBA
IATA Code: BJM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,582 ft MSL

Location

City: Bujumbura
Country: BI
Latitude: -3.324020°
Longitude: 29.318501°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 0 ft
Width: 0 ft
Surface: UNK
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 11,811 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport

Overview

Bujumbura Melchior Ndadaye International Airport serves Bujumbura, the largest city in Burundi, located in the central-eastern African region. As a medium-sized international airport situated at an elevation of 2,582 feet mean sea level, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the country's transportation needs. The airport is positioned at coordinates -3.324020, 29.318501, serving both commercial and potentially regional aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 69.7% of observed weather periods offering clear flying conditions and 30.3% of times presenting marginal VFR scenarios. Wind patterns are consistently from the south (180°), averaging 7.6 knots with occasional gusts up to 35 knots. Temperature ranges between 18°C and 34°C, with an average of 26.2°C, providing generally stable thermal conditions for aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport features a primary runway (17/35) measuring 11,811 feet in length with an asphalted surface. Both runways (02/20 and 17/35) demonstrate highly favorable wind alignments, with 100% wind compatibility. Calm wind conditions are observed in 26.9% of meteorological reports, indicating relatively steady atmospheric conditions at the airport's elevation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR flying conditions during November, December, and January, with consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles. The runways offer minimal crosswind challenges, with average crosswind components of 3.1 knots for runway 02/20 and 2.1 knots for runway 17/35. The consistent southern wind pattern provides predictable approach and departure conditions for most aircraft operations.

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.