Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

FAPE / PLZ

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), ZA

Last Updated
Mar 4, 18:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 22 min ago
18:00Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
6 kt
90°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1008 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAPE 041800Z 09006KT 060V120 9999 FEW010 22/21 Q1008 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 226 ft
FEW 1,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,226 ft AMSL
QNH
1008 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1000 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (226 ft)
Pressure Alt
384 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,278 ft
ISA Deviation: +7.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FAPE 041600Z 0418/0518 09010KT CAVOK TX25/0512Z TN18/0503Z BECMG 0418/0420 25013KT BKN008 PROB30 TEMPO 0420/0503 4000 BR BKN004 TEMPO 0510/0516 4500 SHRA BKN005 SCT035TCU PROB30 TEMPO 0512/0515 5000 TSRA BKN005 FEW050CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:21Z BASE
+0h
VFR 90° 10 kt
Visibility: >10km
20:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+2h
LIFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 400 ft
Mist

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
APE
08 ✈️
26
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 08/26
Active: 08
7,087 ft 151 ft ASP 58°
5.9 kt 1.0 kt
10° angle
17/35 5,502 ft 151 ft ASP 146°
3.4 kt 5.0 kt
56° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FAPE

4,994 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
72.6%
MVFR
13.7%
IFR
9%
LIFR
4.7%

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 72.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 11.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperatures typically range between 8°C and 35°C with an average of 20.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 11.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
1.8%
NE
5.7%
E
26%
SE
5.8%
S
9.6%
SW
31.2%
W
17.7%
NW
1.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.2°C
Range: 8°C to 35°C
8°C 35°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.2%

Best Months for VFR

March September November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9.9 kt

Statistics computed from 4,994 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAPE
IATA Code: PLZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 226 ft MSL

Location

City: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Country: ZA
Latitude: -33.984901°
Longitude: 25.617300°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 7,087 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 5,502 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

Overview

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport serves the metropolitan area of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. Located at an elevation of 226 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Eastern Cape region. The airport supports both commercial and general aviation operations with its two asphalt runways.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Chief Dawid Stuurman are predominantly VFR, with 75.4% of observations showing visual flight conditions. The airport experiences a consistent southwesterly wind pattern at 225 degrees, averaging 11.8 knots with occasional gusts up to 37 knots. Temperature ranges from 8°C to 35°C, with an average of 19.6°C, providing generally stable flying conditions throughout the year.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways: 08/26 at 7,087 feet and 17/35 at 5,502 feet, both constructed with asphalt surfaces. Runway 08/26 shows an exceptionally favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and a low average crosswind of 4.5 knots. Runway 17/35 experiences slightly more challenging crosswind conditions, with an average crosswind of 10.2 knots.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during January, September, and November. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility (fog occurs in only 0.8% of observations). The consistent southwesterly winds make runway selection predictable, with both runways demonstrating excellent wind alignment for most approach scenarios.

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.