Natal Air Force Base

SBNT

Natal, BR

Last Updated
Jul 5, 01:00Z

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
Fresh 12 min ago
01:00Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
5 kt
100°
4 km
Visibility
900 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBNT 050100Z 10005KT 4000 -RA BR BKN009 BKN015 FEW025TCU 24/23 Q1016

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 171 ft
BKN 900 ft AGL
BKN 1,500 ft AGL
FEW 2,500 ft AGL (TCU)
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,071 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,671 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW (TCU)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,671 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Natal Air Force Base is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with broken clouds at 900 feet and 4 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (100°) at 5 knots. Runway 12/30 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is reduced to 4 km. IFR conditions prevail and an instrument clearance is required for operations in controlled airspace. The ceiling is 900 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums. Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 2,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 23°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 12 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Rain, Mist between 00:00Z and 10:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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 SBNT 042025Z 0500/0512 15010KT 8000 BKN020 TN23/0509Z TX25/0512Z TEMPO 0500/0510 19007KT 4000 RA BR BKN008 BKN016 RMK PHC
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:11Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 150° 10 kt
Visibility: 8 km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft

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
BNT
12 ✈️
30
16L ✈️
34R
16R ✈️
34L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 12
5,987 ft 148 ft ASP 99°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
✈️ 16L/34R
Active: 16L
8,530 ft 148 ft ASP 141°
2.5 kt 4.3 kt
60° angle
✈️ 16R/34L
Active: 16R
5,905 ft 148 ft ASP 141°
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 - SBNT

6,763 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.2%
MVFR
17.2%
IFR
2.5%
LIFR
0.2%

Natal Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 9.2 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 26.8°C (range: 21°C to 35°C). The best months for VFR flying are September, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 0.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
31%
N
0.2%
S
27.1%
W
0.5%
NE
0.9%
NW
0.2%
SE
37.1%
SW
2.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.8°C
Range: 21°C to 35°C
21°C 35°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

September November December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt
Runway 16L/34R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 16R/34L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 6,763 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Natal Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SBNT
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 171 ft MSL

Location

City: Natal
Country: BR
Latitude: -5.911420°
Longitude: -35.247700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 5,987 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16L/34R
Length: 8,530 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16R/34L
Length: 5,905 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Natal Air Force Base

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

Overview

Natal Air Force Base (SBNT) is a medium-sized airport located in Natal, Brazil, serving both military and potential civilian aviation operations. Positioned at 171 feet above mean sea level, the base features three asphalt runways that provide multiple approach and departure options. Its strategic location in northeastern Brazil offers significant operational flexibility for regional aviation activities.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 83.7% of observations showing clear weather and only 0.5% reporting IFR conditions. Consistent southeastern winds averaging 10.8 knots create stable atmospheric conditions, with temperatures ranging from 21°C to 32°C. September, November, and December represent the most favorable months for visual flight operations, characterized by optimal weather patterns.

Notable Features

Natal Air Force Base offers three substantial runways, with the longest at 8,530 feet (16L/34R) providing ample length for most aircraft types. All runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, minimizing crosswind challenges for pilots. The geographic positioning near the Atlantic coast likely contributes to the stable wind patterns and consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect minimal crosswind challenges when utilizing any of the three runways, with average crosswind components ranging between 3.2 and 6.5 knots. The prevailing southeastern wind at 135 degrees consistently supports smooth approaches, particularly on runways 16L/34R and 16R/34L. Temperature and visibility conditions generally remain stable, facilitating predictable flight operations throughout the year.

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.