Mmabatho International Airport

FAMM / MBD

Mafeking, ZA

Last Updated
Apr 23, 05:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 50 min ago
05:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
9 kt
40°
10+ km
Visibility
2,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1024 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAMM 230500Z 04009KT 9999 OVC020 17/15 Q1024 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,181 ft
OVC 2,000 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,181 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Mmabatho International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (40°) at 9 knots. Runway 04/22 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2000 feet AGL (overcast), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 15°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1024 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
885 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,181 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,859 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 5,102 ft
ISA Deviation: +10.4°C

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
AMM
04 ✈️
22

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 04
15,157 ft 148 ft ASP 23°
9.0 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 - FAMM

4,766 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
94.1%
MVFR
5.5%
IFR
0.1%
LIFR
0.3%

Mmabatho International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 94.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 6.6 knots. Temperatures typically range between 6°C and 35°C with an average of 21.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, February, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 1.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
19.4%
NE
35.8%
E
13.4%
SE
6.5%
S
5.6%
SW
4.5%
W
6.5%
NW
7.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.9°C
Range: 6°C to 35°C
6°C 35°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

September February October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.9 kt

Statistics computed from 4,766 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Mmabatho International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAMM
IATA Code: MBD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,181 ft MSL

Location

City: Mafeking
Country: ZA
Latitude: -25.798401°
Longitude: 25.548000°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 15,157 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Mmabatho International Airport

Overview

Mmabatho International Airport serves the Mafeking region in South Africa, positioned at an elevation of 4,181 feet above mean sea level. As a medium-sized airport with a substantial 15,157-foot asphalt runway, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the surrounding area. Its geographical coordinates at -25.798401, 25.548000 place it in a strategically important location for regional air transportation.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly favorable Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 94.2% of observations supporting clear weather operations. Wind patterns are consistently from the northeast at an average of 7.3 knots, with maximum gusts reaching 24 knots. Temperature variations range from 6°C to 35°C, with an average of 22.3°C, suggesting pilots should be prepared for significant daily temperature fluctuations.

Notable Features

The single runway (04/22) is aligned to take maximum advantage of the prevailing wind direction, with 100% wind favorability. The high elevation of 4,181 feet means aircraft performance calculations should account for density altitude effects, particularly during warmer months. Crosswind conditions are generally mild, averaging only 3.1 knots across the runway.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal flying conditions during September, October, and January, which represent the best VFR months. The extensive 15,157-foot runway provides significant landing and takeoff flexibility. With consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles and negligible fog occurrence, approach and landing conditions are typically straightforward for most 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.