Natal Air Force Base

SBNT

Natal, BR

Last Updated
Jul 4, 16:00Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a military aerodrome. Civil aircraft access may be restricted or require prior authorization. Consult the applicable AIP for current access procedures.

Consult the applicable national AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 29 min ago
16:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
28°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 22°C
13 kt
140°
10+ km
Visibility
2,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBNT 041600Z 14013KT 9999 BKN020 BKN060 28/22 Q1014

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 171 ft
BKN 2,000 ft AGL
BKN 6,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,171 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,171 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Natal Air Force Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 13 knots. Runway 12/30 is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2000 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 28°C (82°F) with a dewpoint of 22°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 12 hours. Conditions are expected to remain IFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Rain, Mist.

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 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SBNT 040825Z 0412/0424 17012KT 3000 RA BR SCT005 BKN010 TX27/0415Z TN24/0423Z RMK PFV
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:28Z BASE
+0h
IFR 170° 12 kt
Visibility: 3 km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
Rain, Mist

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
BNT
12 ✈️
30
16L ✈️
34R
16R ✈️
34L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 12
5,987 ft 148 ft ASP 99°
12.2 kt 4.4 kt
20° angle
✈️ 16L/34R
Active: 16L
8,530 ft 148 ft ASP 141°
12.2 kt 4.4 kt
20° angle
✈️ 16R/34L
Active: 16R
5,905 ft 148 ft ASP 141°
12.2 kt 4.4 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 - SBNT

6,763 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.2%
MVFR
17.2%
IFR
2.5%
LIFR
0.2%

Natal Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 9.2 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 26.8°C (range: 21°C to 35°C). The best months for VFR flying are September, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 0.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
31%
N
0.2%
S
27.1%
W
0.5%
NE
0.9%
NW
0.2%
SE
37.1%
SW
2.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.8°C
Range: 21°C to 35°C
21°C 35°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

September November December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt
Runway 16L/34R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 16R/34L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 6,763 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Natal Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SBNT
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 171 ft MSL

Location

City: Natal
Country: BR
Latitude: -5.911420°
Longitude: -35.247700°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 5,987 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16L/34R
Length: 8,530 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16R/34L
Length: 5,905 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Natal Air Force Base

Natal Air Force Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the BR AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Natal Air Force Base (SBNT) is a medium-sized airport located in Natal, Brazil, serving both military and potential civilian aviation operations. Positioned at 171 feet above mean sea level, the base features three asphalt runways that provide multiple approach and departure options. Its strategic location in northeastern Brazil offers significant operational flexibility for regional aviation activities.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 83.7% of observations showing clear weather and only 0.5% reporting IFR conditions. Consistent southeastern winds averaging 10.8 knots create stable atmospheric conditions, with temperatures ranging from 21°C to 32°C. September, November, and December represent the most favorable months for visual flight operations, characterized by optimal weather patterns.

Notable Features

Natal Air Force Base offers three substantial runways, with the longest at 8,530 feet (16L/34R) providing ample length for most aircraft types. All runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, minimizing crosswind challenges for pilots. The geographic positioning near the Atlantic coast likely contributes to the stable wind patterns and consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect minimal crosswind challenges when utilizing any of the three runways, with average crosswind components ranging between 3.2 and 6.5 knots. The prevailing southeastern wind at 135 degrees consistently supports smooth approaches, particularly on runways 16L/34R and 16R/34L. Temperature and visibility conditions generally remain stable, facilitating predictable flight operations throughout the year.

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.