Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport

SCFA / ANF

Antofagasta, CL

Last Updated
Mar 4, 19:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 23 min ago
19:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
12 kt
200°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SCFA 041900Z 20012KT 9999 FEW027 SCT250 23/17 Q1012 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 455 ft
FEW 2,700 ft AGL
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,155 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,455 ft AMSL
QNH
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
997 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (455 ft)
Pressure Alt
493 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,562 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SCFA 041605Z 0418/0518 20014KT 9999 FEW025 TX23/0418Z TN19/0510Z BECMG 0500/0502 20004KT BECMG 0502/0504 04004KT BKN018 BECMG 0512/0514 FEW020 BECMG 0515/0517 20014KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
19:23Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 14 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
00:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 200° 4 kt
02:00Z BECMG
+7h
MVFR 40° 4 kt
Ceiling: 1,800 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
CFA
01
19 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
9,186 ft 164 ft ASP
11.8 kt 2.1 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SCFA

3,311 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67.1%
MVFR
31.8%
IFR
1.1%
LIFR
0%

Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 1.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.6 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 18.2°C (range: 12°C to 27°C). The best months for VFR flying are March, February, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 20 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
4.7%
NE
1.7%
E
2.4%
SE
2.8%
S
63.1%
SW
19.7%
W
2.7%
NW
2.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 18.2°C
Range: 12°C to 27°C
12°C 27°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

March February January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 1.9 kt

Statistics computed from 3,311 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SCFA
IATA Code: ANF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 455 ft MSL

Location

City: Antofagasta
Country: CL
Latitude: -23.444501°
Longitude: -70.445099°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 9,186 ft
Width: 164 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport

Overview

Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport serves the coastal city of Antofagasta in northern Chile, functioning as a critical transportation hub for the Atacama region. Located at an elevation of 455 feet MSL, the airport provides essential air connectivity in this strategically important industrial and mining area.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly favorable VFR conditions, with 62.6% of observations showing clear weather and an additional 36.3% of marginal VFR conditions. Wind patterns are consistently from the south (180°) at an average of 8.7 knots, with temperatures ranging between 12°C and 24°C, creating generally stable flying environments.

Notable Features

Situated in the arid Atacama Desert, the airport's single runway (01/19) spans 9,186 feet and is constructed of asphalt. The geographic location presents minimal terrain challenges, with consistent wind patterns that offer predictable flight conditions and excellent runway wind alignment, showing 100% favorable wind coverage for the primary runway.

Approach Considerations

With an extremely low percentage of IFR conditions (1.1%) and no reported fog, pilots can expect reliable visual approaches. The runway's extended length and minimal crosswind (average 1.9 knots) provide comfortable landing and takeoff parameters, with January, November, and December offering the most consistently favorable flying conditions.

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.