Modibo Keita International Airport

GABS / BKO

Bamako, ML

Last Updated
Apr 29, 20:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 25 min ago
20:30Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
7 kt
130°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR GABS 292030Z 13007KT 100V170 9999 FEW023 31/18 Q1011 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,247 ft
FEW 2,300 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,547 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Modibo Keita International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,300 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 7 knots. Runway 06/24 is favored with a 2-knot headwind and 7-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,300 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 31°C (88°F) with a dewpoint of 18°C, indicating relatively dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 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, Blowing Dust. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Blowing Dust between 20:00Z and 00:00Z.

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
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
969 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,247 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,315 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,534 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +18.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF GABS 291700Z 2918/3024 VRB08KT 9999 FEW025 PROB30 TEMPO 2920/2924 VRB15G30KT 4000 TSRA BLDU SCT025 FEW033CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:54Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 8 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
ABS
06 ✈️
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 06
10,498 ft 148 ft ASP 57°
2.4 kt 6.6 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 - GABS

10,231 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
55.5%
MVFR
41.3%
IFR
2.9%
LIFR
0.2%

Modibo Keita International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 55.5% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 3.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 6.3 knots. Temperatures typically range between 14°C and 42°C with an average of 28.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 5%
Direction Distribution:
N
17.7%
NE
38.1%
E
16%
SE
3.5%
S
6.1%
SW
8.3%
W
3%
NW
2.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 28.2°C
Range: 14°C to 42°C
14°C 42°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

October September April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.4 kt

Statistics computed from 10,231 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Modibo Keita International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: GABS
IATA Code: BKO
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,247 ft MSL

Location

City: Bamako
Country: ML
Latitude: 12.533500°
Longitude: -7.949940°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+1

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 10,498 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Modibo Keita International Airport

Overview

Modibo Keita International Airport serves as the primary international gateway for Bamako, Mali's capital city. Located at 12.533500, -7.949940, this large airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region, situated at an elevation of 1247 ft mean sea level (MSL).

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect standard tropical Sahelian climate conditions characteristic of Mali's geographic region. The airport's significant runway length of 10,498 feet (ASP surface) provides substantial operational flexibility for various aircraft types and meteorological scenarios.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway (06/24) offers substantial operational capacity with its extended asphalt surface. Its geographical position at 1247 ft MSL suggests moderate terrain interaction, which pilots should consider during approach and departure planning.

Approach Considerations

Runway 06/24's extended length accommodates diverse aircraft requirements and provides operational resilience across different wind conditions. Pilots should carefully review current wind data and perform standard terrain and approach calculations specific to the airport's 1247 ft elevation.

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.