Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad

ORBD

Al Bakr, IQ

Last Updated
Apr 18, 07:00Z

No METAR Available for ORBD

Showing weather from nearby airport with METAR data.

Currently using: ORBI
Weather Source: Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (ORBI)
Distance: 41nm / 76km from ORBD

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a military aerodrome. Civil aircraft access may be restricted or require prior authorization. Consult the applicable AIP for current access procedures.

Consult the applicable national AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 41 min ago
07:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
16 kt
100°
10+ km
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ORBI 180700Z 10016KT 9999 SCT040 BKN100 21/12 Q1008 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 161 ft
SCT 4,000 ft AGL
BKN 10,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,161 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,161 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 10,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (100°) at 16 knots. Runway 12/30 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain MVFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Rain between 12:00Z and 22:00Z.

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
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (161 ft)
Pressure Alt
319 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,078 ft
ISA Deviation: +6.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF ORBI 180500Z 1806/1906 16012KT 6000 SCT030 SCT045 TEMPO 1812/1822 -TS RA FEW025CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
07:41Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 160° 12 kt
Visibility: 6 km
12:00Z TEMPO
+5h
MVFR
Rain

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
RBD
12 ✈️
30
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 12
11,495 ft 149 ft PEM 125°
15.0 kt 5.5 kt
20° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
11,490 ft 197 ft CON 145°
12.3 kt 10.3 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ORBD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 161 ft MSL

Location

City: Al Bakr
Country: IQ
Latitude: 33.940201°
Longitude: 44.361599°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-3

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 11,495 ft
Width: 149 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 11,490 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad

Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the IQ AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Balad Southeast Airport, located in Al Bakr, Iraq, serves as a strategically important Joint Base with significant military aviation capabilities. Positioned at 33.940201°N, 44.361599°E and elevated at 161 feet MSL, the airport provides a critical aviation infrastructure in the region. The facility features two substantial runways capable of supporting medium-sized aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport's elevated position at 161 feet above mean sea level suggests a relatively stable terrain environment with potentially moderate atmospheric conditions. Given its geographic location in Iraq, pilots should anticipate potential thermal variations and potential dust/sand atmospheric conditions that could impact visibility and aircraft performance. The substantial runway lengths (12/30 at 11,495 ft and 14/32 at 11,490 ft) provide extensive operational flexibility across different meteorological scenarios.

Notable Features

Balad Southeast Airport offers two primary runways with different orientations, which provides operational flexibility based on wind conditions. The runways are constructed with different surface materials - runway 12/30 is PEM (likely concrete or asphalt pavement), while runway 14/32 is CON (potentially concrete). The extended runway lengths indicate the airport's capability to handle larger aircraft and support complex aviation operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots approaching Balad Southeast Airport should be prepared to utilize either runway 12/30 or 14/32 depending on prevailing wind conditions and air traffic control instructions. The substantial runway lengths of over 11,000 feet provide significant margin for approach and landing variations. Careful attention to local wind patterns and potential atmospheric particulate conditions is recommended during approach and departure phases.

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.