Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin

YPDN / DRW

Darwin, AU

Last Updated
Jul 3, 23:30Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base. Civil access requires prior authorization.

Access Notes:

RAAF bases generally restricted

Consult official AIP (Australia AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 11 min ago
23:30Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
7 kt
140°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YPDN 032330Z AUTO 14007KT 9999 // NCD 25/22 Q1017

Weather Briefing

VFR

Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 7 knots. Runway 11/29 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 22°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 27 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Smoke, Smoke.

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.

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 YPDN 032001Z 0321/0500 12005KT 9999 -SHRA FU SCT015 FM040000 10012KT 9999 NSW NSC FM040500 03010KT CAVOK FM041500 16005KT 9999 FU SCT015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:40Z BASE
+0h
VFR 120° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain, Smoke
00:00Z FM040000
+1h
VFR 100° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
05:00Z FM040500
+6h
VFR 30° 10 kt
Visibility: >10km

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
PDN
11 ✈️
29
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 11/29
Active: 11
11,004 ft 197 ft ASP 109°
6.1 kt 3.5 kt
30° angle
18/36 5,000 ft 98 ft ASP 180°
5.4 kt 4.5 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YPDN

14,846 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
82.7%
MVFR
13.5%
IFR
2.8%
LIFR
1%

Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 82.7% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 7.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 40 knots. Temperatures typically range between 18°C and 36°C with an average of 27.6°C. The best months for VFR flying are May, October, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 7.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 40 kt
Calm Winds: 2.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
13.7%
N
12.4%
S
7.7%
W
20.1%
NE
6.7%
NW
19.5%
SE
12%
SW
5.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 27.6°C
Range: 18°C to 36°C
18°C 36°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

May October June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt

Statistics computed from 14,846 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YPDN
IATA Code: DRW
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 103 ft MSL

Location

City: Darwin
Country: AU
Latitude: -12.414970°
Longitude: 130.881850°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-9

Runway Information

Runway 11/29
Length: 11,004 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin

Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the AU AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Darwin International Airport serves as a critical aviation hub in Australia's Northern Territory, strategically located in tropical northern Australia. The airport supports both civilian and military operations, with RAAF Darwin integrated into the airport's infrastructure. Its dual-runway configuration enables flexible operations across 11/29 (11,004 ft) and 18/36 (5,000 ft) asphalted runways.

Flying Conditions

Darwin's tropical climate presents significant meteorological variations with pronounced wet and dry seasons affecting flight operations. Pilots should anticipate potential thunderstorm activity, particularly during the wet season (October-April), which can generate rapid atmospheric changes. The airport's relatively low elevation of 103 ft MSL provides stable approach conditions with minimal terrain-induced turbulence.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position at -12.414970, 130.881850 places it near Australia's northern coastline, exposing operations to potential tropical maritime weather patterns. Its substantial primary runway (11/29 at 11,004 ft) accommodates large aircraft and provides significant operational flexibility for commercial, military, and potential emergency diversionary scenarios.

Approach Considerations

Runway 11/29, being the longer and primary runway, will likely be the preferred approach vector for most aircraft operations. Prevailing winds and seasonal meteorological conditions will influence specific approach strategies, with pilots advised to monitor current local wind and weather reporting. The dual-runway configuration allows crosswind alternatives and operational redundancy.

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.