Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

FAPE / PLZ

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), ZA

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF FAPE 030400Z 0306/0406 VRB03KT CAVOK TX28/0311Z TN15/0403Z BECMG 0307/0309 08010KT BECMG 0318/0320 25017KT TEMPO 0321/0404 25020G30KT BKN006 FM040500 22010KT 9999 BKN025

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Mon
15:00Z
+-1h
Mon
16:00Z
+0h
Mon
17:00Z
+1h
Mon
18:00Z
+2h
Mon
19:00Z
+3h
Mon
20:00Z
+4h
Mon
21:00Z
+5h
Mon
22:00Z
+6h
Mon
23:00Z
+7h
Tue
00:00Z
+8h
Tue
01:00Z
+9h
Tue
02:00Z
+10h
Tue
03:00Z
+11h
Tue
04:00Z
+12h
Wind Dir
VRB
VRB
VRB
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
250°
W
Wind Speed
3kt
3kt
3kt
17kt
17kt
17kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
20kt
G30kt
17kt
Visibility
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
>10km
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
☀️ CLR
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
BKN006
☀️ CLR
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
600ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR IFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44
☀️
Day
🌇 18:44
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:44
🌙
Night
🌇 18:44
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:14
🌙
Night
🌅 05:14
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
VRB° at 3 kt
Visibility
>10km
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds will be variable in direction at 3kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 10km. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-12-03 07:00:00 - 2025-12-03 09:00:00
VFR
Wind
80° at 10 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the East (80°) at 10kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

BECMG 2025-11-03 18:00:00 - 2025-11-03 20:00:00
VFR
Wind
250° at 17 kt
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Conditions will gradually change to become: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 17kt. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

TEMPO 2025-11-03 21:00:00 - 2025-11-04 04:00:00
IFR
Wind
250° at 20 kt
Gusts: 30 kt
Clouds
BKN006
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Temporary conditions (lasting less than an hour at a time) may include: Winds from the West-Southwest (250°) at 20kt. Gusts up to 30kt are expected. Broken clouds at 600 feet. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions - instrument flying required.

FM040500 2025-11-04 05:00:00 - 2025-11-04 11:00:00
MVFR
Wind
220° at 10 kt
Visibility
10+ km
Clouds
BKN025
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the Southwest (220°) at 10kt. Visibility will be excellent at 10+ km. Broken clouds at 2500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.