El Hierro Airport

GCHI / VDE

El Hierro Island, ES

Last Updated
Mar 4, 09:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 11 min ago
09:30Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
20 kt
340°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR GCHI 040930Z 34020KT 9999 FEW030 SCT040 18/10 Q1020

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 103 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL
SCT 4,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,103 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,103 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF GCHI 040800Z 0409/0509 35015KT 9999 SCT035 TX20/0414Z TN16/0506Z TEMPO 0409/0422 35015G25KT PROB30 0421/0506 DZ
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:40Z BASE
+0h
VFR 350° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
21:00Z PROB30
+12h
VFR
Drizzle

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
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
CHI
16
34 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 16/34
Active: 34
4,101 ft 98 ft ASP 152°
20.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - GCHI

7,751 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84.5%
MVFR
14.7%
IFR
0.7%
LIFR
0.1%

El Hierro Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84.5% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 12 knots. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are December, March, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 12 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
48.6%
NE
22.7%
E
2%
SE
2.7%
S
6.1%
SW
2.6%
W
3.7%
NW
10.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.9°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 March November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.9 kt

Statistics computed from 7,751 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 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.