Lubumbashi International Airport

FZQA / FBM

Lubumbashi, CD

Last Updated
Feb 7, 05:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 11 hours ago
05:00Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
0 kt
4 km
Visibility
8,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1020 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FZQA 070500Z 00000KT 4000 BR SCT003 BKN080 19/18 Q1020 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,295 ft
SCT 300 ft AGL
BKN 8,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,595 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
8,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,295 ft AMSL
QNH
1020 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
877 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,295 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,093 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 5,604 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FZQA 070500Z 0706/0812 07008KT 4000 BR SCT012 FM 070800 34012KT 9999 NSW SCT015 BECMG 0710/0712 BKN020 FEW030CB TEMPO 0713/0716 28020KT 5000 -TSRA BECMG 0718/0720 12005KT SCT008 BECMG 0805/0807 05008KT SCT010
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:29Z BASE
+0h
VFR 340° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
18:00Z BECMG
+2h
VFR 120° 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
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
ZQA
07
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
07/25 10,623 ft 164 ft ASP 66°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
66° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FZQA

663 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
63.2%
MVFR
29.9%
IFR
5%
LIFR
2%

Lubumbashi International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 63.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.4 knots. Calm conditions occur 11.9% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 34°C with an average of 24.5°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 18 kt
Calm Winds: 11.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.9%
NE
2.6%
E
30.5%
SE
13.6%
S
11.9%
SW
2.6%
W
11.4%
NW
6.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.5°C
Range: 17°C to 34°C
17°C 34°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

October November December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 663 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lubumbashi International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FZQA
IATA Code: FBM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,295 ft MSL

Location

City: Lubumbashi
Country: CD
Latitude: -11.591300°
Longitude: 27.530899°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 10,623 ft
Width: 164 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Lubumbashi International Airport

Overview

Lubumbashi International Airport serves as a critical aviation gateway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the southeastern city of Lubumbashi. Situated at an elevation of 4,295 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport facilitates regional and potentially international air transportation for the Katanga Province's primary urban center.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Lubumbashi are predominantly favorable for visual flight, with 65.4% of observations supporting VFR operations. The airport experiences consistent easterly winds averaging 7.4 knots, with temperatures ranging from 17°C to 34°C and an average of 24.6°C. Peak wind speeds occasionally reach 18 knots, though calm conditions occur 10.4% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (07/25) measuring 10,623 feet in length, constructed with asphalt surface. Its geographical location at coordinates -11.591300, 27.530899 places it in a region with relatively stable atmospheric conditions, as evidenced by minimal fog occurrences (0.2%) and consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

Approach Considerations

Runway 07/25 benefits from highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of just 4.3 knots. Optimal VFR flying conditions are most prevalent during October, November, and January, providing pilots with predictable and stable approach environments. The low frequency of instrument meteorological conditions (4.8% IFR, 1.4% LIFR) suggests generally reliable visual navigation opportunities.

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.