Natal Air Force Base

SBNT

Natal, BR

Last Updated
May 14, 23:00Z

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
Recent 31 min ago
23:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
3 kt
170°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBNT 142300Z 17003KT 9999 FEW020 25/23 Q1014

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 171 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,171 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Natal Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°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 MVFR conditions are forecast between 03:00Z and 06:00Z.

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. 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 SBNT 141623Z 1418/1506 17012KT 4000 RA BR BKN015 FEW025TCU TX27/1418Z TN23/1505Z BECMG 1418/1421 16007KT 7000 NSW SCT020 TEMPO 1503/1506 24005KT 6000 BKN016 RMK PHC
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:30Z BASE
+0h
IFR 170° 12 kt
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
Rain, Mist
03:00Z TEMPO
+4h
MVFR 240° 5 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Ceiling: 1,600 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°
1.9 kt 2.3 kt
50° angle
✈️ 16L/34R
Active: 16L
8,530 ft 148 ft ASP 141°
3.0 kt 0.5 kt
10° angle
✈️ 16R/34L
Active: 16R
5,905 ft 148 ft ASP 141°
3.0 kt 0.5 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBNT

5,587 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.8%
MVFR
17.2%
IFR
1.8%
LIFR
0.1%

Natal Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.8% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 9.3 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 27°C (range: 21°C to 35°C). The best months for VFR flying are September, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 0.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
0.2%
NE
1.1%
E
37.1%
SE
36.7%
S
20.9%
SW
2.8%
W
0.5%
NW
0.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 27°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: 3.2 kt
Runway 16L/34R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 16R/34L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 5,587 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.