Piloto Civil N. Fernández Airport

SAWG / RGL

Rio Gallegos, AR

Last Updated
Mar 4, 17:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
17:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -1°C
35 kt
250° G45 kt
10+ km
Visibility
4,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SAWG 041700Z 25035G45KT 9999 BKN048 11/M01 Q1001

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 61 ft
BKN 4,800 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,861 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SAWG 041700Z 0418/0518 25030G50KT 9999 BKN040 TX13/0518Z TX07/0510Z BECMG 0422/0424 25020G35KT BECMG 0512/0514 BKN020 OVC040 PROB40 TEMPO 0512/0518 9000 -RA BKN020 OVC040
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:52Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 30 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
22:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 250° 20 kt

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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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
AWG
7
25 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 7/25
Active: 25
11,644 ft 148 ft CON 86°
35.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SAWG

4,186 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
97%
MVFR
1.7%
IFR
0.8%
LIFR
0.5%

Piloto Civil N. Fernández Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 97% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 16.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 48 knots. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are December, November, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 16.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 48 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
9%
NE
4.5%
E
2.7%
SE
1.1%
S
4.4%
SW
33.1%
W
36.7%
NW
8.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.8°C
Range: -5°C to 32°C
-5°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.4%

Best Months for VFR

December November February

Statistics computed from 4,186 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Piloto Civil N. Fernández Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SAWG
IATA Code: RGL
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 61 ft MSL

Location

City: Rio Gallegos
Country: AR
Latitude: -51.608900°
Longitude: -69.312600°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 7/25
Length: 11,644 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Piloto Civil N. Fernández Airport

Overview

Piloto Civil N. Fernández Airport serves Rio Gallegos in southern Argentina, functioning as a critical medium-sized airport for regional transportation. Located at coordinates -51.608900, -69.312600, the airport sits at an elevation of 61 feet above mean sea level, providing essential aviation infrastructure for Patagonian operations.

Flying Conditions

The airport's southern Patagonian location suggests challenging and variable weather conditions typical of this maritime latitude. Winds are likely to be significant given the region's geographic characteristics, with potential for rapid meteorological changes that pilots must carefully monitor. The substantial runway length of 11,644 feet provides considerable operational flexibility for aircraft handling diverse wind conditions.

Notable Features

Situated in Rio Gallegos, the airport is positioned in a coastal region characterized by open terrain and potential maritime weather influences. The single concrete runway (07/25) offers a long, robust surface capable of supporting medium-sized aircraft operations. Its significant runway length suggests the airport can accommodate various aircraft types and serve multiple aviation sectors.

Approach Considerations

The runway's orientation (07/25) indicates east-west alignment, which will influence approach and departure strategies based on prevailing wind conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential crosswind scenarios given the airport's geographic location in an open, potentially windy coastal environment. The extensive runway length provides substantial margin for safe landings and takeoffs across different aircraft performance envelopes.

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.