Rand Airport

FAGM / QRA

Johannesburg, ZA

Last Updated
Apr 25, 10:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
10:00Z

☀️ Day
LIFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
5 kt
330°
--
Visibility
100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAGM 251000Z 33005KT BKN0016 15/12 Q1025

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,483 ft
BKN 100 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,583 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

LIFR

Rand Airport is currently reporting low IFR (LIFR) conditions with broken clouds at 100 feet. Note: This observation is 2 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots. Runway 35 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

The ceiling is very low at 100 feet AGL (broken), well below circling minimums at most airports.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Pilot Recommendations

Current conditions require an instrument rating, IFR-equipped aircraft, and an IFR clearance. Check approach minimums carefully as conditions may be below CAT I ILS minimums. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
AGM
11
29
17
35 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
11/29 5,617 ft 50 ft ASP 89°
2.4 kt 4.4 kt
119° angle
✈️ 17/35
Active: 35
4,898 ft 50 ft ASP 158°
4.7 kt 1.7 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 - FAGM

275 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
62.9%
MVFR
28.7%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
2.5%

Rand Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 62.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 9.3 knots. Temperatures typically range between 11°C and 28°C with an average of 19.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, February, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 9.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 20 kt
Calm Winds: 0%
Direction Distribution:
N
36.6%
NE
14.3%
E
15.2%
SE
4%
S
3.6%
SW
6.3%
W
7.1%
NW
12.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.9°C
Range: 11°C to 28°C
11°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.5%

Best Months for VFR

October February December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 275 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Rand Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAGM
IATA Code: QRA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,483 ft MSL

Location

City: Johannesburg
Country: ZA
Latitude: -26.242500°
Longitude: 28.151199°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 11/29
Length: 5,617 ft
Width: 50 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 4,898 ft
Width: 50 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Rand Airport

Overview

Rand Airport serves the Johannesburg metropolitan area as a medium-sized airport located at an elevation of 5,483 feet above mean sea level. Situated in Gauteng Province, the airport primarily supports general aviation, training, and light commercial operations in the region's busy aviation infrastructure.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Rand Airport are predominantly favorable for visual flight, with 65.2% of observations supporting VFR operations. The airport experiences consistent northerly winds averaging 9.3 knots, with temperatures ranging from 11°C to 28°C and an average of 19.8°C. October, September, and December represent the most consistently good flying months, offering optimal meteorological conditions.

Notable Features

Both runways (11/29 and 17/35) are asphalted and provide substantial landing surfaces at 5,617 feet and 4,898 feet respectively. The airport's high elevation at 5,483 feet MSL means pilots must consider density altitude effects, particularly during warmer months when performance capabilities can be significantly impacted.

Approach Considerations

Wind conditions strongly favor both runways, with 100% favorable wind alignments and relatively low average crosswind components of 6.8 knots for runway 11/29 and 4.4 knots for runway 17/35. Pilots can expect consistent wind patterns from the north, which should facilitate predictable approach and landing strategies.

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.