Christmas Island Airport

YPXM / XCH

Flying Fish Cove, CX

Last Updated
Jun 20, 23:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 11 min ago
23:30Z

🌙 Night
IFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
9 kt
120°
10+ km
Visibility
900 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI YPXM 202330Z AUTO 12009KT 9999 // OVC009 25/24 Q1015

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 916 ft
OVC 900 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,816 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Christmas Island Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 900 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 9 knots. Runway 18/36 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 8-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 900 feet AGL (overcast). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 24°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 25 hours. Conditions are expected to remain IFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain, Showers Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD YPXM 202314Z 2023/2200 12010KT 9999 -SHRA BKN010 FM211000 12007KT 9999 NSW BKN010 INTER 2023/2103 2000 SHRA BKN005 INTER 2109/2112 2000 SHRA BKN005
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:40Z BASE
+0h
IFR 120° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
10:00Z FM211000
+11h
IFR 120° 7 kt
Visibility: 2 km
Ceiling: 500 ft
Showers Rain, Showers 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
PXM
18 ✈️
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 18/36
Active: 18
6,900 ft 148 ft ASP 175°
4.5 kt 7.8 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YPXM

20,183 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
24.1%
MVFR
47.3%
IFR
21.3%
LIFR
7.3%

Christmas Island Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 24.1% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 28.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 7.3 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 25.2°C (range: 20°C to 30°C). The best months for VFR flying are February, January, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 7.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 17 kt
Calm Winds: 4%
Direction Distribution:
E
18.7%
N
3.1%
S
8.4%
W
13%
NE
1.7%
NW
11.6%
SE
34.4%
SW
5%

Temperature Range

Average: 25.2°C
Range: 20°C to 30°C
20°C 30°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

February January March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 20,183 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Christmas Island Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YPXM
IATA Code: XCH
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 916 ft MSL

Location

City: Flying Fish Cove
Country: CX
Latitude: -10.449382°
Longitude: 105.690931°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-7

Runway Information

Runway 18/36
Length: 6,900 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Christmas Island Airport

Overview

Christmas Island Airport serves the remote Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 350 kilometers south of Java. As a medium-sized airport at 916 ft elevation, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for this isolated island, supporting both civilian and potential maritime support operations.

Flying Conditions

Meteorological data indicates predominantly moderate visual flying conditions, with 43.8% MVFR and 26% VFR conditions. Prevailing southeast winds at an average of 7.1 knots create stable atmospheric conditions, with temperature consistently ranging between 20°C and 30°C. The best visual flying months are November, December, and January, offering optimal meteorological parameters for aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport features a single asphalt runway (18/36) measuring 6900 feet, oriented to align effectively with the consistent southeast wind patterns. Its geographic position presents unique navigational challenges due to the island's isolated location in the Indian Ocean, with minimal surrounding terrain interference and open maritime approaches.

Approach Considerations

Runway 18/36 demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of just 4.6 knots. Pilots can expect consistent wind conditions supporting predictable approaches, with minimal unexpected meteorological disruptions. The low occurrence of fog (0.4%) and consistently high visibility (average 10 statute miles) further supports reliable approach and landing procedures.

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.