Chileka International Airport

FWCL / BLZ

Blantyre, MW

Last Updated
Apr 18, 07:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 45 min ago
07:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
3 kt
70°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FWCL 180700Z 07003KT 9999 FEW009 SCT020 26/19 Q1018 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,555 ft
FEW 900 ft AGL
SCT 2,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,455 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,555 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chileka International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-northeast (70°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 900 ft, scattered at 2,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 19°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
933 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,555 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,413 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,346 ft
ISA Deviation: +16.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FWCL 180500Z 1806/1912 10005KT 9999 FEW015 BECMG 1808/1810 06012KT 9999 SCT020 BECMG 1811/1813 FEW020CB SCT025 BECMG 1814/1816 11004KT 9999 FEW025 SCT070 FM181700 08009KT CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:44Z BASE
+0h
VFR 100° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
08:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 60° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
11:00Z BECMG
+4h
MVFR
14:00Z BECMG
+7h
VFR 110° 4 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
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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
WCL
10 ✈️
28
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 10/28
Active: 10
7,628 ft 98 ft ASP 97°
2.6 kt 1.5 kt
30° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
4,501 ft 98 ft ASP 141°
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
80° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FWCL

2,311 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
62.5%
MVFR
34.6%
IFR
2.1%
LIFR
0.9%

Chileka International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 62.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 90 knots. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 37°C with an average of 25.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 90 kt
Calm Winds: 0.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.3%
NE
16.6%
E
18.9%
SE
13%
S
11.1%
SW
11.8%
W
16.8%
NW
3.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 25.9°C
Range: 17°C to 37°C
17°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.9%

Best Months for VFR

October September January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.6 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt

Statistics computed from 2,311 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chileka International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FWCL
IATA Code: BLZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,555 ft MSL

Location

City: Blantyre
Country: MW
Latitude: -15.679100°
Longitude: 34.973999°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 7,628 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 4,501 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Chileka International Airport

Overview

Chileka International Airport serves the Blantyre metropolitan area in Malawi as a medium-sized airport located at 2555 feet above mean sea level. Positioned at coordinates -15.679100, 34.973999, the airport provides essential aviation infrastructure for regional transportation and commercial operations in southern Malawi.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 66.1% of observations showing clear flying conditions and an additional 31.4% in marginal VFR status. Wind patterns are consistently easterly at 90 degrees, averaging 8.1 knots with occasional gusts up to 20 knots. Temperature ranges from 17°C to 37°C, with an average of 26.4°C, creating stable atmospheric conditions for most of the year.

Notable Features

Chileka International Airport features two asphalted runways: 10/28 measuring 7,628 feet and 15/33 measuring 4,501 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage and minimal average crosswind components of 5 to 5.7 knots. The airport's elevation and geographic positioning contribute to consistently good visibility, with an average of 10 statute miles and rare instances of reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal approach conditions during September, October, and November, which represent the best VFR months. The dual runway configuration provides operational flexibility, with both runways having favorable wind characteristics. Minimal fog occurrence (2.1% of observations) and consistently good visibility make Chileka International Airport a reliable destination for visual and instrument approaches.

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.