Christchurch International Airport

NZCH / CHC

Christchurch, NZ

Last Updated
Jul 4, 21:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
21:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
5 kt
350°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR NZCH 042100Z AUTO 35005KT 330V040 9999 NCD 11/04 Q1001

Weather Briefing

VFR

Christchurch 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 north (350°) at 5 knots. Runway 01/19 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 4°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 27 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: RADZ. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with RADZ between 20:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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 NZCH 042055Z 0421/0524 34008KT CAVOK BECMG 0507/0509 24012KT TEMPO 0520/0524 4000 RADZ BKN007
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:12Z BASE
+0h
VFR 340° 8 kt
Visibility: >10km
07:00Z BECMG
+10h
VFR 240° 12 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
ZCH
01
19
02
20
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 1,690 ft 229 ft GRS 37°
3.4 kt 3.7 kt
47° angle
02/20 10,787 ft 148 ft ASP 41°
3.1 kt 3.9 kt
51° angle
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
5,587 ft 148 ft BIT 131°
2.5 kt 4.3 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - NZCH

13,351 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.6%
MVFR
14.1%
IFR
5.5%
LIFR
4.8%

Christchurch International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 75.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 8.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 35 knots. Temperature extremes range from -2°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, December, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 35 kt
Calm Winds: 1.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
16.4%
N
10.2%
S
11.5%
W
11.4%
NE
23.3%
NW
9.6%
SE
1.4%
SW
14.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 13.1°C
Range: -2°C to 32°C
-2°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 3.9%

Best Months for VFR

September December October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.7 kt
Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.9 kt

Statistics computed from 13,351 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Christchurch International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: NZCH
IATA Code: CHC
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 123 ft MSL

Location

City: Christchurch
Country: NZ
Latitude: -43.489029°
Longitude: 172.532065°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-12

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 1,690 ft
Width: 229 ft
Surface: GRS
ILS: No
Runway 02/20
Length: 10,787 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 11/29
Length: 5,587 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: BIT
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Christchurch International Airport

Overview

Christchurch International Airport serves as a critical aviation hub in New Zealand's South Island, positioned near the city of Christchurch at an elevation of 123 feet mean sea level. The airport supports international and domestic operations with three distinct runways, offering significant operational flexibility for various aircraft types and configurations.

Flying Conditions

Located at coordinates -43.489029, 172.532065, the airport experiences variable weather conditions typical of New Zealand's temperate maritime climate. The multiple runway orientations (01/19, 02/20, and 11/29) provide options for managing crosswind and directional challenges, with runway lengths ranging from 1,690 feet to 10,787 feet to accommodate different aircraft requirements.

Notable Features

Christchurch International Airport features three runways with diverse surface compositions: grass (GRS), asphalt (ASP), and bitumen (BIT). The longest runway (02/20) at 10,787 feet provides substantial landing and takeoff capacity, suitable for large commercial and international aircraft operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should be prepared to utilize different runways based on wind direction, with runway 02/20 offering the most substantial operational capacity. The varied runway lengths and surface types provide strategic options for approach and landing, with the longest asphalt runway offering the most comprehensive operational capabilities for larger aircraft.

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.