Cape Town International Airport (FACT)
Cape Town, South Africa · Africa
By Renzo, CPL
ICAO
FACT
IATA
CPT
City
Cape Town
Country
South Africa
Region
Africa
Elevation
151 ft
Runways
2 runways
Coordinates
-33.9649, 18.6017
Overview
Mother City airport with Table Mountain backdrop. Strong Cape Doctor southeast wind and good VFR weather.
Current Weather at FACT
Pilots flying into or out of Cape Town International Airport should always check the latest METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) before departure. A METAR is a standardized weather observation issued every hour (or more frequently as a SPECI when conditions change rapidly). It includes wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature, dewpoint, and altimeter setting -- everything you need for a safe go/no-go decision.
WDecode METAR for FACT
Paste the FACT METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.
Check Weather Before Your Flight
A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Cape Town International Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:
- METARHourly surface observation for FACT. Includes wind, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, and altimeter.
- TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast covering the next 24-30 hours. Look for expected wind shifts, visibility changes, and precipitation.
- NOTAMNotices to Air Missions for FACT. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
- PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Cape Town. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
- SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Cape Town International Airport.
Learn to read sectional charts to plan your route visually, and use our crosswind calculator to check runway compatibility with current winds.
Pilot Resources at Cape Town International Airport
Radio Frequencies
Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like FACT include ATIS/AWOS, Ground, Tower (if towered), Approach/Departure, and Clearance Delivery. Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.
Flight Schools Nearby
Browse flight schools near Cape Town and compare training programs.
Private Pilot Guide
Everything you need to earn your PPL, from requirements to checkride prep.
METAR Decoder
Decode any METAR report into plain English. Free tool for student and experienced pilots.
Sectional Chart Guide
Learn to read VFR sectional charts for navigation around Cape Town.
Training Availability
Flight Training Available
Cape Town International Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools
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