Lubumbashi International Airport

FZQA / FBM

Lubumbashi, CD

Last Updated
Apr 21, 13:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 22 hours ago
13:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
28°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
8 kt
80°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FZQA 211300Z COR 08008KT 9999 SCT022TCU 28/21 Q1016 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,295 ft
SCT 2,200 ft AGL (TCU)
SCT (TCU)
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,495 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lubumbashi International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 2,200 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 21.9 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (80°) at 8 knots. Runway 07/25 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 2,200 ft (TCU). Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 2,200 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 28°C (82°F) with a dewpoint of 21°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

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.

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
873 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,295 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,213 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 6,804 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +21.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FZQA 220500Z 2206/2312 10005KT 9999 FEW007 BECMG 2208/2210 16012KT SCT017 BECMG 2211/2213 06010KT BKN022 FEW030CB BECMG 2219/2221 VRB03KT CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:53Z BASE
+0h
VFR 100° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
11:00Z BECMG
+1h
MVFR 60° 10 kt
Ceiling: 2,200 ft
19:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >10km

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
ZQA
07 ✈️
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 07/25
Active: 07
10,623 ft 164 ft ASP 66°
7.9 kt 1.4 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FZQA

948 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
56.5%
MVFR
35%
IFR
5.7%
LIFR
2.7%

Lubumbashi International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 56.5% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 8.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 7.2 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.2% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 17°C and 34°C with an average of 24.1°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 7.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 18 kt
Calm Winds: 12.2%
Direction Distribution:
N
9.8%
NE
3.1%
E
33.5%
SE
12.4%
S
10.5%
SW
2.4%
W
10.5%
NW
5.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.1°C
Range: 17°C to 34°C
17°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

October November December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 948 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lubumbashi International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FZQA
IATA Code: FBM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,295 ft MSL

Location

City: Lubumbashi
Country: CD
Latitude: -11.591300°
Longitude: 27.530899°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 07/25
Length: 10,623 ft
Width: 164 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Lubumbashi International Airport

Overview

Lubumbashi International Airport serves as a critical aviation gateway in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the southeastern city of Lubumbashi. Situated at an elevation of 4,295 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport facilitates regional and potentially international air transportation for the Katanga Province's primary urban center.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Lubumbashi are predominantly favorable for visual flight, with 65.4% of observations supporting VFR operations. The airport experiences consistent easterly winds averaging 7.4 knots, with temperatures ranging from 17°C to 34°C and an average of 24.6°C. Peak wind speeds occasionally reach 18 knots, though calm conditions occur 10.4% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (07/25) measuring 10,623 feet in length, constructed with asphalt surface. Its geographical location at coordinates -11.591300, 27.530899 places it in a region with relatively stable atmospheric conditions, as evidenced by minimal fog occurrences (0.2%) and consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

Approach Considerations

Runway 07/25 benefits from highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of just 4.3 knots. Optimal VFR flying conditions are most prevalent during October, November, and January, providing pilots with predictable and stable approach environments. The low frequency of instrument meteorological conditions (4.8% IFR, 1.4% LIFR) suggests generally reliable visual navigation opportunities.

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.