Senador Nilo Coelho Airport

SBPL / PNZ

Petrolina, BR

Last Updated
May 15, 16:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 52 min ago
16:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 16°C
9 kt
120°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SBPL 151600Z 12009KT 9999 FEW030 32/16 Q1015

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,263 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,263 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Senador Nilo Coelho Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 3,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-southeast (120°) at 9 knots. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 32°C (90°F) with a dewpoint of 16°C, indicating very dry 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 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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 SBPL 150825Z 1512/1612 12010KT 9999 SCT025 TX33/1518Z TN23/1608Z RMK PFV
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:51Z BASE
+0h
VFR 120° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
BPL
13
31 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 31
9,055 ft 148 ft ASP
8.9 kt 1.6 kt
170° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SBPL

5,637 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
86.1%
MVFR
13.7%
IFR
0.2%
LIFR
0.1%

Senador Nilo Coelho Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 86.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 7.1 knots. Temperatures typically range between 18°C and 38°C with an average of 28.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are December, November, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 7.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 21 kt
Calm Winds: 1.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
2.4%
NE
6.9%
E
38.6%
SE
40.1%
S
3.5%
SW
1.6%
W
2.7%
NW
2.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 28.2°C
Range: 18°C to 38°C
18°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

December November March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.7 kt

Statistics computed from 5,637 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Senador Nilo Coelho Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SBPL
IATA Code: PNZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,263 ft MSL

Location

City: Petrolina
Country: BR
Latitude: -9.362422°
Longitude: -40.569098°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+3

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 9,055 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Senador Nilo Coelho Airport

Overview

Senador Nilo Coelho Airport serves the Petrolina region in northeastern Brazil, positioned at an elevation of 1263 ft MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical aviation infrastructure for the São Francisco Valley, supporting regional transportation and economic connectivity in this semi-arid landscape.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly excellent visual flying conditions, with 87.6% of observations reporting VFR weather. Southeast winds averaging 8 knots dominate, with maximum recorded speeds of 19 knots. Temperature variability is significant, ranging from 18°C to 38°C with an average of 28.7°C, potentially impacting aircraft performance.

Notable Features

Located at coordinates -9.362422, -40.569098, the airport features a substantial 9055-foot asphaltic runway (13/31) capable of handling medium-sized aircraft. The region's geographical position in Brazil's interior suggests potential for thermal variations and localized wind patterns that pilots should anticipate during approach and departure.

Approach Considerations

Runway 13/31 enjoys highly favorable wind conditions, with 100% wind alignment and minimal average crosswind at 2.9 knots. December, November, and January represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions for pilots operating in this region. Careful attention to temperature and wind parameters is recommended for safe operations.

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.