Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

FAPE / PLZ

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), ZA

Last Updated
Aug 9, 02:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 12 min ago
02:00Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
9 kt
280°
10+ km
Visibility
1,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR FAPE 090200Z 28009KT 9999 -RA BKN016 OVC025 13/11 Q1015 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 226 ft
BKN 1,600 ft AGL
OVC 2,500 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,826 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,726 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 9 knots. Runway 26 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 1600 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 11°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain, Light Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 00:00Z and 12:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 06:00Z and 12:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Light Rain between 12:00Z and 18:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1007 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (226 ft)
Pressure Alt
174 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -12 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF FAPE 082200Z 0900/0924 24012KT 9999 FEW012 BKN020 TX14/0912Z TN11/0902Z TEMPO 0900/0912 4000 SHRA BKN006 SCT040TCU TEMPO 0906/0912 23020G30KT PROB30 TEMPO 0912/0918 4000 -RA BKN012 BECMG 0913/0915 18020KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:11Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 240° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
06:00Z TEMPO
+4h
VFR 230° 20 kt
12:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+10h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 1,200 ft
Light Rain
13:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 180° 20 kt

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
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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
APE
08
26 ✈️
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
7,087 ft 151 ft ASP 58°
8.5 kt 3.1 kt
20° angle
17/35 5,502 ft 151 ft ASP 146°
6.3 kt 6.5 kt
134° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - FAPE

9,664 observations | Sep 2025 - Aug 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.1%
MVFR
12.1%
IFR
8%
LIFR
3.8%

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 76.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 10.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 37 knots. Temperatures typically range between 6°C and 36°C with an average of 18.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are August, July, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 10.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 37 kt
Calm Winds: 0.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
5.6%
NE
7.1%
E
18.5%
SE
4.7%
S
7.3%
SW
27.3%
W
24.4%
NW
4.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 18.7°C
Range: 6°C to 36°C
6°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.8%

Best Months for VFR

August July April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 9 kt

Statistics computed from 9,664 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Aug 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: FAPE
IATA Code: PLZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 226 ft MSL

Location

City: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Country: ZA
Latitude: -33.984901°
Longitude: 25.617300°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 08/26
Length: 7,087 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 5,502 ft
Width: 151 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport

Overview

Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport serves the metropolitan area of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. Located at an elevation of 226 feet MSL, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the Eastern Cape region. The airport supports both commercial and general aviation operations with its two asphalt runways.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Chief Dawid Stuurman are predominantly VFR, with 75.4% of observations showing visual flight conditions. The airport experiences a consistent southwesterly wind pattern at 225 degrees, averaging 11.8 knots with occasional gusts up to 37 knots. Temperature ranges from 8°C to 35°C, with an average of 19.6°C, providing generally stable flying conditions throughout the year.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways: 08/26 at 7,087 feet and 17/35 at 5,502 feet, both constructed with asphalt surfaces. Runway 08/26 shows an exceptionally favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and a low average crosswind of 4.5 knots. Runway 17/35 experiences slightly more challenging crosswind conditions, with an average crosswind of 10.2 knots.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during January, September, and November. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility (fog occurs in only 0.8% of observations). The consistent southwesterly winds make runway selection predictable, with both runways demonstrating excellent wind alignment for most approach scenarios.

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.