El Hierro Airport

GCHI / VDE

El Hierro Island, ES

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 36 min ago
11:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
20°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
10 kt
360°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR GCHI 221100Z 36010KT 320V050 9999 SCT020 SCT030 20/14 Q1015

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 103 ft
SCT 2,000 ft AGL
SCT 3,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,103 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,103 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

El Hierro 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 north (360°) at 10 knots. Runway 34 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 2,000 ft, scattered at 3,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 20°C (68°F) with a dewpoint of 14°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Drizzle. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Drizzle between 09:00Z and 09:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF GCHI 220800Z 2209/2309 34008KT 9999 BKN035 TX21/2214Z TN18/2306Z PROB30 TEMPO 2209/2309 DZ
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:35Z BASE
+0h
VFR 340° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,500 ft

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
CHI
16
34 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 34
4,101 ft 98 ft ASP 152°
9.4 kt 3.4 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - GCHI

9,959 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84.4%
MVFR
14.6%
IFR
0.9%
LIFR
0.1%

El Hierro Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 12.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are December, November, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 12.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 0.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
48.7%
NE
25%
E
2%
SE
2.4%
S
5.4%
SW
2.4%
W
3.6%
NW
10%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.3°C
Range: -29°C to 33°C
-29°C 33°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

December November March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.4 kt

Statistics computed from 9,959 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

El Hierro Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: GCHI
IATA Code: VDE
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 103 ft MSL

Location

City: El Hierro Island
Country: ES
Latitude: 27.814800°
Longitude: -17.887100°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+1

Runway Information

Runway 16/34
Length: 4,101 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About El Hierro Airport

Overview

El Hierro Airport serves the westernmost Canary Island, located off the coast of northwestern Africa. Positioned at 103 feet above mean sea level, this medium-sized airport provides essential air connectivity to this remote Spanish island, supporting regional and inter-island transportation for a small but critical geographic area.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, with 88.2% of observations supporting clear weather operations. Prevailing winds from the north at an average of 11.7 knots create stable flight conditions, with maximum recorded wind speeds of 28 knots. Winter months (December, January, November) offer the most consistent and favorable flying weather.

Notable Features

El Hierro's airport is situated on an island with potentially challenging terrain, typical of volcanic Canary Island landscapes. The single runway (16/34) is 4,101 feet long with an asphalt surface, oriented to take maximum advantage of the prevailing northern winds. Crosswind conditions average 6 knots, which pilots should anticipate during approach and landing.

Approach Considerations

Runway 16/34 demonstrates 100% favorable wind alignment, providing predictable approach conditions. Pilots can expect excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles and minimal chance of fog or low visibility events. Temperature variations range from -29°C to 33°C, suggesting potential for significant density altitude considerations during warmer periods.

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.