Lubumbashi International Airport

FZQA / FBM

Lubumbashi, CD

Last Updated
Mar 4, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
6 kt
360°
7 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FZQA 041200Z 36006KT 7000 SCT022 31/19 Q1013 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,295 ft
SCT 2,200 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,495 ft AMSL
QNH
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
870 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,295 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,303 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 7,254 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +24.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FZQA 041100Z 0412/0518 09005KT 9999 FEW010 BECMG 0413/0415 BKN015 FEW028CB TEMPO 0416/0420 26015KT 6000 TSRA BECMG 0421/0423 VRB03KT FEW012 BECMG 0502/0504 4000 BR SCT006
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:25Z BASE
+0h
VFR 90° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
16:00Z TEMPO
+3h
MVFR 260° 15 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Thunderstorm Rain
21:00Z BECMG
+8h
VFR VRB 3 kt

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
ZQA
07 ✈️
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 07
10,623 ft 164 ft ASP 66°
2.1 kt 5.6 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FZQA

759 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
61.1%
MVFR
31%
IFR
5.1%
LIFR
2.8%

Lubumbashi International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 61.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.3 knots. Calm conditions occur 13% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 34°C with an average of 24.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 18 kt
Calm Winds: 13%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.7%
NE
2.8%
E
30.1%
SE
12.1%
S
10.8%
SW
2.4%
W
11.3%
NW
6.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.2°C
Range: 17°C to 34°C
17°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

October November December

Runway Wind Analysis

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

Statistics computed from 759 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 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.

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.