Senador Nilo Coelho Airport

SBPL / PNZ

Petrolina, BR

Last Updated
Feb 7, 16:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
16:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
34°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
5 kt
20°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBPL 071600Z 02005KT 9999 SCT025 34/18 Q1014

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,263 ft
SCT 2,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,763 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SBPL 070947Z 0712/0812 07007KT 9999 SCT023 TX33/0719Z TN25/0808Z BECMG 0712/0714 12007KT PROB40 0717/0721 17007KT FEW030TCU BECMG 0721/0723 15005KT FEW035 TEMPO 0800/0806 32007KT TS SCT020 FEW025CB BECMG 0806/0809 8000 SCT017 RMK PGA
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:11Z BASE
+0h
VFR 70° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
17:00Z PROB40
+1h
MVFR 170° 7 kt
21:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 150° 5 kt
00:00Z TEMPO
+8h
MVFR 320° 7 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
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
BPL
13 ✈️
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
9,055 ft 148 ft ASP
1.7 kt 4.7 kt
110° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBPL

3,348 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
88.1%
MVFR
11.8%
IFR
0.1%
LIFR
0%

Senador Nilo Coelho Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 88.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.9 knots. Temperatures typically range between 18°C and 38°C with an average of 28.8°C. The best months for VFR flying are February, December, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 19 kt
Calm Winds: 1%
Direction Distribution:
N
1.7%
NE
6.3%
E
42.2%
SE
40.7%
S
2.7%
SW
1.3%
W
2.3%
NW
1.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 28.8°C
Range: 18°C to 38°C
18°C 38°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

February December November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.9 kt

Statistics computed from 3,348 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Senador Nilo Coelho Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SBPL
IATA Code: PNZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,263 ft MSL

Location

City: Petrolina
Country: BR
Latitude: -9.362422°
Longitude: -40.569098°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+3

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 9,055 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Senador Nilo Coelho Airport

Overview

Senador Nilo Coelho Airport serves the Petrolina region in northeastern Brazil, positioned at an elevation of 1263 ft MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the São Francisco Valley, supporting regional transportation and economic connectivity in this semi-arid landscape.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly excellent visual flying conditions, with 87.6% of observations reporting VFR weather. Southeast winds averaging 8 knots dominate, with maximum recorded speeds of 19 knots. Temperature variability is significant, ranging from 18°C to 38°C with an average of 28.7°C, potentially impacting aircraft performance.

Notable Features

Located at coordinates -9.362422, -40.569098, the airport features a substantial 9055-foot asphaltic runway (13/31) capable of handling medium-sized aircraft. The region's geographical position in Brazil's interior suggests potential for thermal variations and localized wind patterns that pilots should anticipate during approach and departure.

Approach Considerations

Runway 13/31 enjoys highly favorable wind conditions, with 100% wind alignment and minimal average crosswind at 2.9 knots. December, November, and January represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions for pilots operating in this region. Careful attention to temperature and wind parameters is recommended for safe operations.

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.