Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

FAPE / PLZ

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), ZA

Last Updated
Jun 24, 21:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
21:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
0 kt
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1026 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAPE 242100Z 00000KT 9999 FEW020 11/11 Q1026 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 226 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,226 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 11°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 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 IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 06:00Z and 12:00Z.

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.

QNH
1026 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1018 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (226 ft)
Pressure Alt
-157 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -583 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FAPE 241600Z 2418/2518 VRB03KT 9999 FEW020 TX18/2512Z TN13/2500Z BECMG 2418/2420 08012KT PROB30 TEMPO 2506/2512 4000 TSRA BKN010 SCT060CB BECMG 2509/2511 34005KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:03Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
06:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+8h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain
09:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 340° 5 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
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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
APE
08
26
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
08/26 7,087 ft 151 ft ASP 58°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
58° angle
17/35 5,502 ft 151 ft ASP 146°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
146° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FAPE

8,239 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.4%
MVFR
12.6%
IFR
8.7%
LIFR
4.3%

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 10.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperatures typically range between 6°C and 36°C with an average of 19.4°C. The best months for VFR flying are April, March, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 10.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 0.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
20.3%
N
4.3%
S
8.1%
W
22.5%
NE
6.8%
NW
3.3%
SE
5.1%
SW
28.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.4°C
Range: 6°C to 36°C
6°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.7%

Best Months for VFR

April March June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.3 kt

Statistics computed from 8,239 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAPE
IATA Code: PLZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 226 ft MSL

Location

City: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Country: ZA
Latitude: -33.984901°
Longitude: 25.617300°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 7,087 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 5,502 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

Overview

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport serves the metropolitan area of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. Located at an elevation of 226 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Eastern Cape region. The airport supports both commercial and general aviation operations with its two asphalt runways.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Chief Dawid Stuurman are predominantly VFR, with 75.4% of observations showing visual flight conditions. The airport experiences a consistent southwesterly wind pattern at 225 degrees, averaging 11.8 knots with occasional gusts up to 37 knots. Temperature ranges from 8°C to 35°C, with an average of 19.6°C, providing generally stable flying conditions throughout the year.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways: 08/26 at 7,087 feet and 17/35 at 5,502 feet, both constructed with asphalt surfaces. Runway 08/26 shows an exceptionally favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and a low average crosswind of 4.5 knots. Runway 17/35 experiences slightly more challenging crosswind conditions, with an average crosswind of 10.2 knots.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during January, September, and November. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility (fog occurs in only 0.8% of observations). The consistent southwesterly winds make runway selection predictable, with both runways demonstrating excellent wind alignment for most approach scenarios.

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.