Balmaceda Airport

SCBA / BBA

Balmaceda, CL

Last Updated
Apr 24, 12:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 46 min ago
12:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
1°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -1°C
18 kt
310°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR SCBA 241200Z 31018KT 9999 SCT040 01/M01 Q1011

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,722 ft
SCT 4,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,722 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Balmaceda Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 4,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (310°) at 18 knots. Runway 27 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 12-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 4,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 1°C (34°F) with a dewpoint of -1°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. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Showers Snow. Winds are forecast to reach up to 22 knots during the period. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 15:00Z and 22:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Snow between 10:00Z and 12:00Z.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF SCBA 241040Z 2412/2512 30015KT 9999 SCT045 TN03/2412Z TX07/2418Z TEMPO 2415/2422 30020G30KT BECMG 2421/2423 OVC035 BECMG 2501/2503 OVC020 TEMPO 2510/2512 30022KT 5000 SHSN BKN020 OVC040
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:45Z BASE
+0h
VFR 300° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
15:00Z TEMPO
+3h
VFR 300° 20 kt
21:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR
Ceiling: 3,500 ft

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
CBA
09
27 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 09/27
Active: 27
8,205 ft 148 ft ASP 99°
13.8 kt 11.6 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - SCBA

7,218 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
95.6%
MVFR
3%
IFR
1.1%
LIFR
0.3%

Balmaceda Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 95.6% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 19.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 48 knots. Temperature extremes range from -7°C to 33°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, December, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 19.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 48 kt
Calm Winds: 1%
Direction Distribution:
E
2.3%
N
0.9%
S
1.5%
W
42.3%
NE
0.5%
NW
46.9%
SE
2.8%
SW
1.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 10°C
Range: -7°C to 33°C
-7°C 33°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

November December January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 09/27
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 8.5 kt

Statistics computed from 7,218 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Balmaceda Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: SCBA
IATA Code: BBA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,722 ft MSL

Location

City: Balmaceda
Country: CL
Latitude: -45.915968°
Longitude: -71.689499°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 09/27
Length: 8,205 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Balmaceda Airport

Overview

Balmaceda Airport serves the Aysén Region in southern Chile, providing critical aviation infrastructure for a remote and geographically challenging area. Located at 1722 ft MSL with coordinates -45.915968, -71.689499, the airport supports regional transportation and connectivity in Patagonia. The medium-sized airport features a single asphalt runway (09/27) spanning 8205 feet.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Balmaceda are predominantly VFR, with 96.1% of observations supporting visual flight rules. Prevailing westerly winds average 21.2 knots, with occasional gusts up to 48 knots. Temperature ranges from -7°C to 33°C, with an average of 9.9°C, creating generally stable flying conditions. November, December, and January represent the best VFR months for operations.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical location in Patagonia suggests potential for challenging terrain and dynamic wind patterns. Runway 09/27 experiences favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of 8.7 knots. The surrounding landscape likely includes mountainous and potentially turbulent air currents typical of southern Chilean topography.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate consistent westerly winds when planning approaches to Balmaceda Airport. The long 8205-foot runway provides substantial landing margin, and the low frequency of IFR conditions (0.8%) suggests generally clear approach environments. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with extremely rare instances of restricted visibility or fog.

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.