Balmaceda Airport

SCBA / BBA

Balmaceda, CL

Last Updated
May 14, 13:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 23 min ago
13:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
2°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 1°C
3 kt
190°
10+ km
Visibility
1,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SCBA 141300Z 19003KT 170V240 9999 OVC015 02/01 Q1018

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,722 ft
OVC 1,500 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,222 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Balmaceda Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1500 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 2°C (36°F) with a dewpoint of 1°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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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 SCBA 141055Z 1412/1512 22005KT 9999 OVC010 TN03/1412Z TX09/1418Z BECMG 1417/1419 30015KT SCT030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:22Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 220° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
17:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR 300° 15 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
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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
CBA
09
27 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
8,205 ft 148 ft ASP 99°
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
80° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SCBA

7,805 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
95.1%
MVFR
3.2%
IFR
1.1%
LIFR
0.7%

Balmaceda Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 95.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 19.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 48 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, December, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 19.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 48 kt
Calm Winds: 1.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
1%
NE
0.5%
E
2.4%
SE
2.7%
S
1.8%
SW
2.4%
W
41.3%
NW
46.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.5°C
Range: -8°C to 33°C
-8°C 33°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.7%

Best Months for VFR

November December January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.4 kt

Statistics computed from 7,805 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Balmaceda Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SCBA
IATA Code: BBA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,722 ft MSL

Location

City: Balmaceda
Country: CL
Latitude: -45.915968°
Longitude: -71.689499°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 8,205 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Balmaceda Airport

Overview

Balmaceda Airport serves the Aysén Region in southern Chile, providing critical aviation infrastructure for a remote and geographically challenging area. Located at 1722 ft MSL with coordinates -45.915968, -71.689499, the airport supports regional transportation and connectivity in Patagonia. The medium-sized airport features a single asphalt runway (09/27) spanning 8205 feet.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Balmaceda are predominantly VFR, with 96.1% of observations supporting visual flight rules. Prevailing westerly winds average 21.2 knots, with occasional gusts up to 48 knots. Temperature ranges from -7°C to 33°C, with an average of 9.9°C, creating generally stable flying conditions. November, December, and January represent the best VFR months for operations.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical location in Patagonia suggests potential for challenging terrain and dynamic wind patterns. Runway 09/27 experiences favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of 8.7 knots. The surrounding landscape likely includes mountainous and potentially turbulent air currents typical of southern Chilean topography.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate consistent westerly winds when planning approaches to Balmaceda Airport. The long 8205-foot runway provides substantial landing margin, and the low frequency of IFR conditions (0.8%) suggests generally clear approach environments. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with extremely rare instances of restricted visibility or fog.

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.