Sunshine Coast Airport

YBSU / MCY

Maroochydore, AU

Last Updated
Mar 4, 21:30Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 30 min ago
21:30Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
14 kt
120°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YBSU 042130Z AUTO 12014KT 9999 // FEW024 SCT063 26/21 Q1011

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
FEW 2,400 ft AGL
SCT 6,300 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,415 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
6,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,315 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF YBSU 041710Z 0418/0518 23005KT 9999 -SHRA SCT025 FM042200 13013KT 9999 -SHRA SCT030 FM050900 12009KT 9999 -SHRA SCT015 FM051400 12006KT 9999 -SHRA BKN015 INTER 0418/0506 4000 SHRA BKN012 INTER 0506/0518 3000 SHRA BKN010 SCT025TCU
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:00Z BASE
+0h
VFR 230° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain
09:00Z FM050900
+11h
VFR 120° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Light Showers Rain

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
BSU
13 ✈️
31
18
36

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
9,186 ft 148 ft ASPH 142°
13.8 kt 2.4 kt
10° angle
18/36 5,896 ft 98 ft ASP 194°
3.9 kt 13.5 kt
74° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YBSU

8,986 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.3%
MVFR
20%
IFR
3.2%
LIFR
0.5%

Sunshine Coast Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 76.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 3.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 9.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 45 knots. Temperatures typically range between 8°C and 38°C with an average of 23.3°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 45 kt
Calm Winds: 1.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.6%
NE
11.2%
E
15.6%
SE
18%
S
12.1%
SW
6.9%
W
10%
NW
11.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.3°C
Range: 8°C to 38°C
8°C 38°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

March September December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt

Statistics computed from 8,986 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sunshine Coast Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBSU
IATA Code: MCY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 15 ft MSL

Location

City: Maroochydore
Country: AU
Latitude: -26.593324°
Longitude: 153.083190°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 9,186 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 5,896 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Sunshine Coast Airport

Overview

Sunshine Coast Airport serves the coastal region of Queensland, Australia, located near Maroochydore. As a medium-sized airport at 15 feet mean sea level, it provides essential aviation services to the Sunshine Coast metropolitan area and supports regional and commercial air traffic.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 78.8% of the time, with MVFR conditions occurring 18% of observations. Wind patterns are consistently from the north, averaging 9 knots with occasional gusts up to 45 knots. Temperature ranges from 8°C to 38°C, with an average of 22.8°C, creating generally stable flying conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two paved runways: a longer 13/31 runway at 9,186 feet and a secondary 18/36 runway at 5,896 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and modest average crosswinds around 5.5 knots. The coastal location suggests potential for sea breezes and thermal variations.

Approach Considerations

September, November, and December represent the best VFR months for operations. Pilots can expect consistent visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility or fog. The dual runway configuration provides flexibility for approaches, with both runways offering favorable wind characteristics and minimal crosswind challenges.

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.