Bram Fischer International Airport

FABL / BFN

Bloemfontain, ZA

Last Updated
Apr 23, 07:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
07:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
7 kt
50°
10+ km
Visibility
1,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1028 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FABL 230700Z 05007KT 9999 BKN015 12/09 Q1028 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,457 ft
BKN 1,500 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,957 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Bram Fischer International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 1,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (50°) at 7 knots. Runway 02/20 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 9°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 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions between 06:00Z and 08:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 00:00Z and 06:00Z.

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. 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.

QNH
1028 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
879 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,457 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,015 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,725 ft
ISA Deviation: +5.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FABL 230400Z 2306/2406 09010KT 9999 BKN020 TX19/2313Z TN07/2402Z PROB30 TEMPO 2306/2308 BKN015 BECMG 2308/2310 01010KT TEMPO 2400/2406 5000 TSRA BKN010 FEW030CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:23Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 90° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
08:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 10° 10 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
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
ABL
02 ✈️
20
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 02
8,396 ft 151 ft ASP 360°
6.1 kt 3.5 kt
30° angle
12/30 7,202 ft 151 ft ASP 102°
4.3 kt 5.5 kt
52° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FABL

5,668 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
91.8%
MVFR
6.1%
IFR
1.8%
LIFR
0.3%

Bram Fischer International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 91.8% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 7.2 knots. Temperature extremes range from 1°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, October, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 7.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 3.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
24.6%
NE
18.7%
E
8%
SE
5.7%
S
9.7%
SW
6.8%
W
10.3%
NW
13.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.2°C
Range: 1°C to 36°C
1°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

January October December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 5,668 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Bram Fischer International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FABL
IATA Code: BFN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,457 ft MSL

Location

City: Bloemfontain
Country: ZA
Latitude: -29.092699°
Longitude: 26.302401°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 8,396 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 7,202 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Bram Fischer International Airport

Overview

Bram Fischer International Airport serves the Bloemfontein metropolitan area in South Africa, situated at a high elevation of 4,457 feet above mean sea level. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Free State province, supporting both commercial and general aviation operations. The airport's geographical coordinates at -29.092699, 26.302401 place it in a strategic location for regional transportation.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly excellent visual flight conditions, with 93.5% of observations recording VFR weather. Wind patterns are consistent, predominantly from the north at an average of 7.6 knots, with occasional gusts up to 30 knots. Temperature ranges from 1°C to 35°C, with an average of 20.1°C, suggesting pilots should be prepared for significant temperature variations throughout the year.

Notable Features

Both runways (02/20 and 12/30) are paved with asphalt and offer substantial length for most aircraft operations. The high elevation at 4,457 feet MSL will impact aircraft performance, particularly during warmer months. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components of 4.1 and 5.3 knots respectively.

Approach Considerations

January, October, and December represent the best months for visual flight operations, with consistently favorable weather conditions. Pilots can expect excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with virtually no instances of restricted visibility or fog. The balanced runway orientation provides flexibility for landing and takeoff, with minimal wind-related approach challenges.

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.