Diego Aracena Airport

SCDA / IQQ

Iquique, CL

Last Updated
Jun 10, 00:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 21 min ago
00:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
7 kt
210°
10+ km
Visibility
3,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SCDA 100000Z 21007KT 9999 OVC031 19/13 Q1019

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 155 ft
OVC 3,100 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
3,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,255 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Diego Aracena Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 3,100 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 3100 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

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 SCDA 092238Z 1000/1024 21014KT 9999 OVC030 TN18/1010Z TX20/1018Z BECMG 1002/1004 21004KT BECMG 1016/1018 21014KT BECMG 1023/1024 21004KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
00:20Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 14 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
02:00Z BECMG
+2h
VFR 210° 4 kt

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
CDA
01
19 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
10,991 ft 148 ft ASP
6.6 kt 2.4 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 - SCDA

5,569 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79.8%
MVFR
20.1%
IFR
0%
LIFR
0%

Diego Aracena Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 0% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 8.9 knots. Temperatures typically range between 14°C and 30°C with an average of 20.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are January, February, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 8.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 3.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
5%
N
2.8%
S
24%
W
11.1%
NE
1.2%
NW
3.3%
SE
6.4%
SW
42.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 20.2°C
Range: 14°C to 30°C
14°C 30°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

January February March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 5,569 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Diego Aracena Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SCDA
IATA Code: IQQ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 155 ft MSL

Location

City: Iquique
Country: CL
Latitude: -20.535200°
Longitude: -70.181297°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 10,991 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Diego Aracena Airport

Overview

Diego Aracena Airport serves Iquique, Chile, located at coordinates -20.535200, -70.181297 with an elevation of 155 ft MSL. As a medium-sized airport, it handles regional and domestic aviation operations in northern Chile's coastal region. The airport features a substantial 10,991 ft asphalt runway oriented 01/19.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions are predominantly favorable for visual flight, with 77.9% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Winds predominantly blow from the southwest (225°) at an average of 8.8 knots, with maximum gusts reaching 27 knots. Temperature variations are moderate, averaging 19.2°C with a range between 14°C and 27°C, creating stable flying environments.

Notable Features

The airport's coastal location in the Atacama Desert region presents unique geographic characteristics with minimal precipitation and consistent atmospheric conditions. Runway 01/19 demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind component of only 4.8 knots. The terrain surrounding the airport is characteristic of Chile's northern coastal landscape.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility. The best visual flying months are November, December, and January. Runway 01/19's extensive length and wind characteristics provide flexible approach options with minimal wind-related constraints.

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.