Desierto de Atacama Airport

SCAT / CPO

Copiapo, CL

Last Updated
Feb 17, 02:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 4 hours ago
02:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
6 kt
280°
--
Visibility
1,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SCAT 170200Z AUTO 28006KT //// R17/P2000N OVC010/// 17/14 Q1013

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 670 ft
OVC 1,000 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,670 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SCAT 162210Z 1700/1724 25010KT CAVOK TN18/1713Z TX24/1718Z BECMG 1701/1703 36004KT OVC007 BECMG 1704/1706 34014KT BECMG 1712/1714 BKN012 BECMG 1716/1718 30014KT CAVOK BECMG 1722/1724 24010KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:30Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 10 kt
Visibility: >10km
12:00Z BECMG
+7h
MVFR
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
16:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 300° 14 kt
Visibility: >10km

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
CAT
17
35 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 17/35
Active: 35
7,218 ft 148 ft ASP 175°
2.1 kt 5.6 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 - SCAT

1,945 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
39.2%
MVFR
46.5%
IFR
11.4%
LIFR
2.9%

Desierto de Atacama Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 39.2% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 14.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.7 knots. Temperatures typically range between 7°C and 27°C with an average of 15.5°C. The best months for VFR flying are December, February, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 1.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
18.4%
NE
3.1%
E
3.5%
SE
3.3%
S
7.6%
SW
29.2%
W
21.9%
NW
12%

Temperature Range

Average: 15.5°C
Range: 7°C to 27°C
7°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.7%

Best Months for VFR

December February January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 1,945 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Desierto de Atacama Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SCAT
IATA Code: CPO
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 670 ft MSL

Location

City: Copiapo
Country: CL
Latitude: -27.261200°
Longitude: -70.779198°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 17/35
Length: 7,218 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Desierto de Atacama Airport

Overview

Desierto de Atacama Airport serves the Copiapo region in Chile, situated at an elevation of 670 feet MSL. The medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure in the Atacama Desert region, connecting local transportation networks. Its single runway 17/35 spans 7,218 feet with an asphalt surface, supporting regional and potentially commercial aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Desierto de Atacama Airport are predominantly visual (VFR 39%) and marginal visual (MVFR 46.2%), offering generally favorable flying conditions. Prevailing southwest winds at an average of 7.7 knots create stable atmospheric conditions, with temperatures ranging from 7°C to 24°C. The airport experiences minimal low instrument flight conditions, with only 11.8% IFR and 2.9% LIFR occurrences.

Notable Features

Located in the Atacama Desert, the airport's environment presents unique geographical characteristics with potentially challenging desert terrain. The surrounding landscape likely features arid conditions and minimal vegetation, which can impact local wind patterns and visibility. Pilots should anticipate potential thermal variations typical of desert environments, particularly during daytime operations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 17/35 demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with favorable wind conditions 100% of the time and an average crosswind of just 5.1 knots. December, January, and November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal approach conditions. Pilots should plan approaches considering the prevailing southwest wind and the airport's moderate elevation of 670 feet MSL.

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.