Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport

SCFA / ANF

Antofagasta, CL

Last Updated
Jul 4, 14:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 53 min ago
14:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
16°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
16 kt
210°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SCFA 041400Z 21016KT 9999 SCT014 16/12 Q1018 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 455 ft
SCT 1,400 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,855 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 1,400 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 16 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 1,400 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 16°C (61°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 8 to 20 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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.

QNH
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (455 ft)
Pressure Alt
313 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 542 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SCFA 041022Z 0412/0512 20008KT 9999 BKN015 TX17/0418Z TN13/0510Z BECMG 0413/0415 20020KT FEW013 BECMG 0421/0423 BKN007 BECMG 0502/0504 20010KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:53Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 200° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
21:00Z BECMG
+7h
IFR
Ceiling: 700 ft
02:00Z BECMG
+12h
VFR 200° 10 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
CFA
01
19 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
9,186 ft 164 ft ASP
15.0 kt 5.5 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 - SCFA

6,127 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
62.3%
MVFR
36%
IFR
1.6%
LIFR
0.1%

Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 62.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 1.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.2 knots. The climate is relatively stable with temperatures averaging 17.7°C (range: 12°C to 27°C). The best months for VFR flying are March, February, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 22 kt
Calm Winds: 0.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.7%
N
4.6%
S
63.1%
W
2.4%
NE
2.7%
NW
2.3%
SE
4%
SW
17.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 17.7°C
Range: 12°C to 27°C
12°C 27°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

March February January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 1.8 kt

Statistics computed from 6,127 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SCFA
IATA Code: ANF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 455 ft MSL

Location

City: Antofagasta
Country: CL
Latitude: -23.444501°
Longitude: -70.445099°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 9,186 ft
Width: 164 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport

Overview

Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport serves the coastal city of Antofagasta in northern Chile, functioning as a critical transportation hub for the Atacama region. Located at an elevation of 455 feet MSL, the airport provides essential air connectivity in this strategically important industrial and mining area.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly favorable VFR conditions, with 62.6% of observations showing clear weather and an additional 36.3% of marginal VFR conditions. Wind patterns are consistently from the south (180°) at an average of 8.7 knots, with temperatures ranging between 12°C and 24°C, creating generally stable flying environments.

Notable Features

Situated in the arid Atacama Desert, the airport's single runway (01/19) spans 9,186 feet and is constructed of asphalt. The geographic location presents minimal terrain challenges, with consistent wind patterns that offer predictable flight conditions and excellent runway wind alignment, showing 100% favorable wind coverage for the primary runway.

Approach Considerations

With an extremely low percentage of IFR conditions (1.1%) and no reported fog, pilots can expect reliable visual approaches. The runway's extended length and minimal crosswind (average 1.9 knots) provide comfortable landing and takeoff parameters, with January, November, and December offering the most consistently favorable flying conditions.

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.