Santa Maria Airport

LPAZ / SMA

Vila do Porto, PT

Last Updated
May 14, 15:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 19 min ago
15:30Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
13 kt
30°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LPAZ 141530Z 03013KT 350V070 9999 SCT022 18/11 Q1029

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 308 ft
SCT 2,200 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,508 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Santa Maria Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 2,200 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (30°) at 13 knots. Runway 04/22 is favored with a 13-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 2,200 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 11°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. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 12:00Z and 18:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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 LPAZ 141100Z 1412/1518 03012KT 9999 SCT025 TEMPO 1412/1518 FEW015 BKN030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:48Z BASE
+0h
VFR 30° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
PAZ
04 ✈️
22
15
33
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 04
334 ft 148 ft ASP 28°
12.8 kt 2.3 kt
10° angle
15/33 1,004 ft 148 ft ASP 136°
3.6 kt 12.5 kt
106° angle
18/36 10,000 ft 197 ft CON 171°
10.1 kt 8.2 kt
141° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LPAZ

10,829 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.6%
MVFR
21%
IFR
3.4%
LIFR
3%

Santa Maria Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 72.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 12.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Temperatures typically range between 7°C and 26°C with an average of 16.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are May, September, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 12.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 0.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.4%
NE
12.9%
E
7.8%
SE
5.1%
S
12.2%
SW
14.2%
W
18.4%
NW
16.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.7°C
Range: 7°C to 26°C
7°C 26°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

May September December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.7 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.1 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.2 kt

Statistics computed from 10,829 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Santa Maria Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LPAZ
IATA Code: SMA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 308 ft MSL

Location

City: Vila do Porto
Country: PT
Latitude: 36.971401°
Longitude: -25.170601°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 334 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 1,004 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Santa Maria Airport

Overview

Santa Maria Airport serves Vila do Porto on the Azores archipelago, located in the mid-Atlantic region of Portugal. As a medium-sized airport with significant infrastructure, including a 10,000 ft concrete runway, it provides critical aviation services for the region. The airport operates at an elevation of 308 ft mean sea level, situated at coordinates 36.971401, -25.170601.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Santa Maria Airport are predominantly favorable for flight operations, with 77% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Temperatures range from 9°C to 26°C, averaging 18.1°C, which provides stable atmospheric conditions. Wind patterns are consistent, with a prevailing northwest direction at an average speed of 11.8 kt, rarely experiencing calm conditions with only 0.4% of observations showing no wind movement.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways with varying lengths and surfaces: a 334 ft asphalt runway (04/22), a 1,004 ft asphalt runway (15/33), and a substantial 10,000 ft concrete runway (18/36). Each runway demonstrates 100% favorable wind coverage, with consistent average crosswind conditions around 7-7.7 kt. The most favorable VFR flying months are September, January, and December.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect excellent visibility conditions, with an average visibility of 10 statute miles and no recorded instances of visibility below 3 SM or fog. All three runways offer consistently favorable wind alignments, providing flexible approach options. The longest runway (18/36) at 10,000 ft offers the most substantial landing and takeoff capabilities for various aircraft types.

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.