Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport

FAHS / HDS

Hoedspruit, ZA

Last Updated
Mar 4, 20:00Z

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
Aging 1 hour ago
20:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
2 kt
180°
--
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAHS 042000Z AUTO 18002KT //// // ////// 23/22 Q1019

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
AHS
09
27
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
09/27 6,939 ft 88 ft ASP 76°
0.5 kt 1.9 kt
104° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
13,095 ft 151 ft ASP 164°
2.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FAHS

1,582 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
100%
MVFR
0%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0%

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 100% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 6.5 knots. Calm conditions occur 19.5% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 13°C and 38°C with an average of 24.1°C. The best months for VFR flying are January, February, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 6.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 22 kt
Calm Winds: 19.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.9%
NE
5.9%
E
6.6%
SE
18.3%
S
29.4%
SW
2%
W
2.4%
NW
3.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.1°C
Range: 13°C to 38°C
13°C 38°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

January February March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.5 kt

Statistics computed from 1,582 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAHS
IATA Code: HDS
Type: small airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,743 ft MSL

Location

City: Hoedspruit
Country: ZA
Latitude: -24.368601°
Longitude: 31.048700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 6,939 ft
Width: 88 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 13,095 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the ZA AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport (FAHS/HDS) is located in Hoedspruit, ZA at an elevation of 1,743 feet MSL. The airport has 2 runways (09/27, 18/36), with the longest at 13,095 feet.

Weather Profile

Based on 1,582 weather observations, FAHS experiences excellent VFR conditions 100% of the time, making it one of the more weather-reliable airports in its region.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at FAHS come from the S (180°) with an average speed of 6.5 knots. Calm wind conditions are common (19.5% of observations), allowing flexible runway selection. Runway 18/36 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 2.5 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are January, February, March, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from 13°C (55°F) to 38°C (100°F), averaging 24.1°C (75°F). High temperatures can significantly impact aircraft performance through increased density altitude. Altimeter settings typically range from 29 to 31 inHg (982-1050 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 1,582 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

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.