Chileka International Airport

FWCL / BLZ

Blantyre, MW

Last Updated
Apr 22, 15:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 7 hours ago
15:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
9 kt
100°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FWCL 221500Z 10009KT 9999 FEW030CB 29/16 Q1016 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,555 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL (CB)
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,555 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chileka International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 3,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 6.9 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (100°) at 9 knots. Runway 10/28 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,000 ft (CB). Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 3,000 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Rain. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions between 03:00Z and 04:00Z. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Light Rain between 07:00Z and 09:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
931 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,555 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,473 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,766 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +19.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FWCL 220900Z 2212/2318 07010KT 9999 BKN030 BECMG 2213/2215 12004KT NSC PROB30 2303/2304 12004KT 8000 FEW008 PROB30 2307/2309 10004KT 9999 -RA SCT008
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:53Z BASE
+0h
VFR 70° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
03:00Z PROB30
+6h
MVFR 120° 4 kt
Visibility: 8 km
07:00Z PROB30
+10h
VFR 100° 4 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light 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
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°
9.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
4,501 ft 98 ft ASP 141°
5.8 kt 6.9 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

2,348 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
63%
MVFR
34.1%
IFR
2%
LIFR
0.9%

Chileka International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 63% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 2.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 90 knots. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 37°C with an average of 25.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 90 kt
Calm Winds: 0.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.2%
NE
16.8%
E
19.6%
SE
12.9%
S
10.9%
SW
11.6%
W
16.5%
NW
3.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 25.9°C
Range: 17°C to 37°C
17°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.8%

Best Months for VFR

October September January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt

Statistics computed from 2,348 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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

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.