Istres-Le Tubé Air Base

LFMI

Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, FR

Last Updated
Apr 22, 12:00Z

Military Airport

Restricted

Base aérienne militaire. L'accès civil est restreint sauf autorisation spéciale.

Access Notes:

Bases Aériennes closed to civil traffic; consult SIA France for details

Consult official AIP (SIA France ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 10 min ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
3 kt
20°
10+ km
Visibility
2,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LFMI 221200Z AUTO 02003KT 330V090 9999 FEW016 BKN021 BKN029 18/15 Q1015 TEMPO 3800 -SHRA SCT025TCU

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 82 ft
FEW 1,600 ft AGL
BKN 2,100 ft AGL
SCT 2,500 ft AGL (TCU)
BKN 2,900 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,682 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,182 ft AMSL
SCT (TCU)
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,582 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,982 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Istres-Le Tubé Air Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,100 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (20°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2100 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category. Caution: towering cumulus clouds reported at 2,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 15°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Light Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 09:00Z and 15:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Rain between 15:00Z and 20:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1012 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (82 ft)
Pressure Alt
30 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 410 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LFMI 220800Z 2209/2309 VRB04KT CAVOK TX21/2211Z TN14/2305Z TEMPO 2209/2215 34010KT 3800 -SHRA SCT025TCU TEMPO 2215/2220 4000 -RA BKN015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:10Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 4 kt
Visibility: >10km
15:00Z TEMPO
+3h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
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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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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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
FMI
15
33 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
12,303 ft 197 ft ASP 153°
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 - LFMI

10,156 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
82.4%
MVFR
10.9%
IFR
5.7%
LIFR
1%

Istres-Le Tubé Air Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 82.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 10.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 43 knots. Temperature extremes range from -3°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 10.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 43 kt
Calm Winds: 0.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
25.4%
NE
13%
E
21.5%
SE
7%
S
5.6%
SW
2.6%
W
8%
NW
16.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 12.4°C
Range: -3°C to 29°C
-3°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 3.4%

Best Months for VFR

April October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.9 kt

Statistics computed from 10,156 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Istres-Le Tubé Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LFMI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 82 ft MSL

Location

City: Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône
Country: FR
Latitude: 43.522701°
Longitude: 4.923840°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 12,303 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Istres-Le Tubé Air Base

Istres-Le Tubé Air Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the FR AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Istres-Le Tubé Air Base is a medium-sized airport located in southeastern France, situated in the Bouches-du-Rhône department near Marseille. The base sits at 82 feet above mean sea level and serves military and potentially civilian aviation operations. Its strategic location provides critical infrastructure for regional air activities.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 83.3% of the time, with excellent overall weather predictability. Wind patterns are notably consistent, with a northern prevailing direction at an average speed of 9.6 knots and maximum gusts reaching 37 knots. Temperature variations range from -3°C to 29°C, with an average of 12.7°C, suggesting pilots should be prepared for moderate climate fluctuations.

Notable Features

The airport features a substantial runway 15/33 measuring 12,303 feet with an asphalt surface, capable of accommodating various aircraft types. Geographically positioned near the Mediterranean coast, the airport likely experiences maritime atmospheric influences. Wind data indicates minimal calm periods (0.7%), suggesting consistent air movement that can impact flight operations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 15/33 demonstrates highly favorable wind conditions, with 100% wind compatibility and a modest average crosswind of 4.8 knots. October, November, and January represent the most consistent VFR months for approaches and departures. Pilots can expect good visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with rare instances of reduced visibility or fog (1.8% occurrence).

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.