Chileka International Airport

FWCL / BLZ

Blantyre, MW

Last Updated
Mar 4, 04:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
04:00Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
3 kt
100°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FWCL 040400Z 10003KT 9999 FEW007 SCT070 23/19 Q1018 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,555 ft
FEW 700 ft AGL
SCT 7,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,255 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,555 ft AMSL
QNH
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
933 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,555 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,413 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,986 ft
ISA Deviation: +13.1°C

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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Airport Runway Layout

N
WCL
10 ✈️
28
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 10/28
Active: 10
7,628 ft 98 ft ASP 97°
3.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
4,501 ft 98 ft ASP 141°
1.9 kt 2.3 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FWCL

1,842 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.7%
MVFR
30.7%
IFR
1.9%
LIFR
0.8%

Chileka International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 2.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 8 knots. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 37°C with an average of 26.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 20 kt
Calm Winds: 0.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.9%
NE
17.9%
E
17.9%
SE
13%
S
12%
SW
9.9%
W
16.6%
NW
3.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.2°C
Range: 17°C to 37°C
17°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

October September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt

Statistics computed from 1,842 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chileka International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FWCL
IATA Code: BLZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,555 ft MSL

Location

City: Blantyre
Country: MW
Latitude: -15.679100°
Longitude: 34.973999°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 7,628 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 4,501 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Chileka International Airport

Overview

Chileka International Airport serves the Blantyre metropolitan area in Malawi as a medium-sized airport located at 2555 feet above mean sea level. Positioned at coordinates -15.679100, 34.973999, the airport provides essential aviation infrastructure for regional transportation and commercial operations in southern Malawi.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 66.1% of observations showing clear flying conditions and an additional 31.4% in marginal VFR status. Wind patterns are consistently easterly at 90 degrees, averaging 8.1 knots with occasional gusts up to 20 knots. Temperature ranges from 17°C to 37°C, with an average of 26.4°C, creating stable atmospheric conditions for most of the year.

Notable Features

Chileka International Airport features two asphalted runways: 10/28 measuring 7,628 feet and 15/33 measuring 4,501 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage and minimal average crosswind components of 5 to 5.7 knots. The airport's elevation and geographic positioning contribute to consistently good visibility, with an average of 10 statute miles and rare instances of reduced visibility.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal approach conditions during September, October, and November, which represent the best VFR months. The dual runway configuration provides operational flexibility, with both runways having favorable wind characteristics. Minimal fog occurrence (2.1% of observations) and consistently good visibility make Chileka International Airport a reliable destination for visual and instrument approaches.

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.