Songwe Airport

HTGW / MBI

Mbeya, TZ

Last Updated
May 30, 09:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 849 hours ago
09:00Z

🌇 Dusk
VFR
Flight Rules
26°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
5 kt
250°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1025 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR HTGW 300900Z 25005KT 170V310 9999 FEW024 26/14 Q1025 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 4,412 ft
FEW 2,400 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,812 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Songwe Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,400 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 848.8 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots. Runway 27 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,400 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 26°C (79°F) with a dewpoint of 14°C, indicating relatively dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1025 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
878 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (4,412 ft)
Pressure Alt
4,060 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 6,439 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +19.8°C

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
TGW
09
27 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
10,925 ft 148 ft ASP
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

Songwe Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: HTGW
IATA Code: MBI
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 4,412 ft MSL

Location

City: Mbeya
Country: TZ
Latitude: -8.919942°
Longitude: 33.273981°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-2

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 10,925 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Songwe Airport

Overview

Songwe Airport serves the Mbeya region in southwestern Tanzania, positioned at an elevation of 4,412 feet above mean sea level. As a medium-sized airport, it provides critical transportation infrastructure for the local area, facilitating regional and potentially international connections. The airport's strategic location makes it an important hub for transportation in this part of Tanzania.

Flying Conditions

Located near 8.9° South latitude, the airport experiences typical East African highland climate conditions with elevation-moderated temperatures. The substantial runway length of 10,925 feet provides excellent operational flexibility for various aircraft types. Pilots should anticipate potential altitude-related performance considerations given the significant elevation of 4,412 feet MSL.

Notable Features

The airport features a single asphalted runway (09/27) with extensive length, enabling operations for a wide range of aircraft categories. Its geographical coordinates at 8.919942° South, 33.273981° East place it in a region characterized by varied terrain typical of Tanzania's southwestern highlands. The high elevation and potential terrain interactions will require careful flight planning and performance calculations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 09/27 offers a substantial 10,925-foot surface, providing significant margin for approach and landing variations. Given the airport's highland location, pilots should be prepared for potential wind variability and altitude-related performance parameters. Standard instrument approach procedures will be critical for safe operations at this elevation.

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.