Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

YBTL / TSV

Townsville, AU

Last Updated
Feb 14, 10:00Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base. Civil access requires prior authorization.

Access Notes:

RAAF bases generally restricted

Consult official AIP (Australia AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 20 min ago
10:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 25°C
5 kt
360°
10+ km
Visibility
2,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YBTL 141000Z AUTO 36005KT 350V050 9999 -SHRA BKN021 27/25 Q1007

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 18 ft
BKN 2,100 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,118 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD YBTL 140533Z 1405/1506 05014KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 FM141100 09006KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 BKN020 FM141700 13006KT 9999 -SHRA SCT010 BKN020 FM150000 06014KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 INTER 1407/1506 2000 SHRA BKN012 SCT025TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1412/1500 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN008 SCT020CB PROB30 TEMPO 1500/1506 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN010 SCT025CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:20Z BASE
+0h
VFR 50° 14 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain
11:00Z FM141100
+1h
MVFR 90° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
17:00Z FM141700
+7h
MVFR 130° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
12:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+2h
LIFR VRB 20 kt
Visibility: 1 km
Ceiling: 800 ft
Thunderstorm Rain

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
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
BTL
01 ✈️
19
07
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 01
7,999 ft 148 ft ASP 24°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
07/25 3,609 ft 98 ft ASP 74°
1.4 kt 4.8 kt
74° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YBTL

7,729 observations | Sep 2025 - Feb 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81.4%
MVFR
14.8%
IFR
2.8%
LIFR
1%

Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 9.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperatures typically range between 16°C and 36°C with an average of 26.8°C. The best months for VFR flying are November, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 9.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 4.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.8%
NE
19.3%
E
25.1%
SE
21.3%
S
7.6%
SW
3.2%
W
3.1%
NW
2.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.8°C
Range: 16°C to 36°C
16°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

November September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.4 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 7,729 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Feb 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBTL
IATA Code: TSV
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 18 ft MSL

Location

City: Townsville
Country: AU
Latitude: -19.252904°
Longitude: 146.766512°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 7,999 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 3,609 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

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

Overview

Townsville Airport serves as a critical dual-use facility for civilian and military aviation in northeastern Queensland, Australia. Located at 18 feet elevation near the coast, the airport supports both commercial passenger operations and RAAF base activities. Its strategic positioning makes it an important transportation hub for the North Queensland region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Townsville are predominantly favorable for flying, with VFR conditions present 82.1% of the time. The airport experiences consistent easterly winds averaging 9.3 knots, with temperatures ranging from 16°C to 36°C and an average of 26.7°C. Visibility remains excellent, typically around 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility or fog.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: the primary 01/19 runway at 7,999 feet and a secondary 07/25 runway of 3,609 feet. Both runways demonstrate highly favorable wind alignments, with 100% wind compatibility. The terrain surrounding Townsville is relatively flat, facilitating straightforward approach and departure paths.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistent wind conditions favoring both runways, with average crosswinds of 6.5 knots on runway 01/19 and 4.8 knots on runway 07/25. The best visual flying months are September, October, and November, offering optimal meteorological conditions for arrivals and departures. The easterly prevailing winds provide predictable approach characteristics for most 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.