El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport

SAWC / FTE

El Calafate, AR

Last Updated
Jun 24, 11:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 59 min ago
11:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
-3°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -5°C
6 kt
90°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SAWC 241100Z 09006KT 9999 FEW030 SCT100 M03/M05 Q1011

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 669 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL
SCT 10,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,669 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,669 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 10,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (90°) at 6 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,000 ft, scattered at 10,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is -3°C (27°F) with a dewpoint of -5°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely. Temperatures are at or below freezing. Check for icing conditions and ensure aircraft anti-ice/de-ice systems are operational if required.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SAWC 240500Z 2406/2506 16005KT 9000 RA FEW020 SCT030 BKN060 TX06/2418Z TNM01/2410Z BECMG 2409/2410 VRB03KT 9999 SCT030 BECMG 2413/2415 CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:59Z BASE
+0h
VFR 160° 5 kt
Visibility: 9 km
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
Rain
13:00Z BECMG
+2h
VFR
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
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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
AWC
7 ✈️
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 7/25
Active: 7
8,366 ft 148 ft CON 84°
5.6 kt 2.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SAWC

6,736 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
96%
MVFR
1.9%
IFR
0.6%
LIFR
1.4%

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 96% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 11.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 41 knots. Temperature extremes range from -7°C to 60°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are January, December, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 11.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 41 kt
Calm Winds: 0.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
14.4%
N
3.1%
S
2.6%
W
42.6%
NE
2.3%
NW
6%
SE
4.8%
SW
23.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.7°C
Range: -7°C to 60°C
-7°C 60°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

January December April

Statistics computed from 6,736 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SAWC
IATA Code: FTE
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 669 ft MSL

Location

City: El Calafate
Country: AR
Latitude: -50.280300°
Longitude: -72.053101°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 7/25
Length: 8,366 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport

Overview

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport serves the southern Patagonian region of Argentina, located near the city of El Calafate in Santa Cruz Province. The airport supports regional and international air traffic at an elevation of 669 feet above mean sea level, providing critical aviation infrastructure in this remote part of South America.

Flying Conditions

Patagonian weather can be characterized by strong and variable winds, which are significant considerations for pilots operating at this airport. The single runway (7/25) measuring 8,366 feet long with a concrete surface provides substantial operational flexibility for aircraft handling challenging regional meteorological conditions.

Notable Features

The airport is situated in a geographical context of dramatic terrain, with proximity to the Andes Mountains and Patagonian plains influencing local atmospheric dynamics. Its coordinates at -50.280300, -72.053101 place it in a region known for rapidly changing weather patterns and potential wind shear conditions that demand heightened pilot situational awareness.

Approach Considerations

Runway 7/25 offers a substantial landing surface suitable for medium-sized aircraft operations, with its orientation potentially providing some wind alignment benefits. Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind components and be prepared for rapid meteorological changes typical of the Patagonian landscape when planning approaches to this airport.

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.