Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

YBTL / TSV

Townsville, AU

Last Updated
Apr 23, 04:27Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base. Civil access requires prior authorization.

Access Notes:

RAAF bases generally restricted

Consult official AIP (Australia AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
04:27Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 20°C
7 kt
150°
10+ km
Visibility
10,400 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI YBTL 230427Z 15007KT 9999 -SHRA FEW030 SCT063 BKN104 23/20 Q1016 RESHRA

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 18 ft
FEW 3,000 ft AGL
SCT 6,300 ft AGL
BKN 10,400 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,018 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
6,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,318 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
10,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,418 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 10,400 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (150°) at 7 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 10400 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 20°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 20 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Showers Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1015 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (18 ft)
Pressure Alt
-65 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 899 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD YBTL 230416Z 2304/2400 10017KT 9999 -SHRA SCT030 BKN050 FM230900 12010KT 9999 NSW SCT025 FM231400 17008KT 9999 FEW025 INTER 2304/2309 11018G28KT 3000 SHRA BKN020
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR 100° 17 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
Light Showers Rain
09:00Z FM230900
+5h
VFR 120° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
14:00Z FM231400
+10h
IFR 110° 18 kt
Visibility: 3 km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
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
BTL
01
19 ✈️
07
25

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 19
7,999 ft 148 ft ASP 24°
5.4 kt 4.5 kt
40° angle
07/25 3,609 ft 98 ft ASP 74°
1.7 kt 6.8 kt
76° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YBTL

11,265 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81.1%
MVFR
15.1%
IFR
3%
LIFR
0.9%

Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperatures typically range between 16°C and 36°C with an average of 26.8°C. The best months for VFR flying are April, November, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 3.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.3%
NE
16.1%
E
25.3%
SE
24.5%
S
9%
SW
3.4%
W
2.9%
NW
2.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 26.8°C
Range: 16°C to 36°C
16°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

April November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.4 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt

Statistics computed from 11,265 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBTL
IATA Code: TSV
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 18 ft MSL

Location

City: Townsville
Country: AU
Latitude: -19.252904°
Longitude: 146.766512°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-10

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 7,999 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 3,609 ft
Width: 98 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville

Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the AU AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Townsville Airport serves as a critical dual-use facility for civilian and military aviation in northeastern Queensland, Australia. Located at 18 feet elevation near the coast, the airport supports both commercial passenger operations and RAAF base activities. Its strategic positioning makes it an important transportation hub for the North Queensland region.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Townsville are predominantly favorable for flying, with VFR conditions present 82.1% of the time. The airport experiences consistent easterly winds averaging 9.3 knots, with temperatures ranging from 16°C to 36°C and an average of 26.7°C. Visibility remains excellent, typically around 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility or fog.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: the primary 01/19 runway at 7,999 feet and a secondary 07/25 runway of 3,609 feet. Both runways demonstrate highly favorable wind alignments, with 100% wind compatibility. The terrain surrounding Townsville is relatively flat, facilitating straightforward approach and departure paths.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistent wind conditions favoring both runways, with average crosswinds of 6.5 knots on runway 01/19 and 4.8 knots on runway 07/25. The best visual flying months are September, October, and November, offering optimal meteorological conditions for arrivals and departures. The easterly prevailing winds provide predictable approach characteristics for most 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.