O.R. Tambo International Airport (FAOR)

Johannesburg, South Africa · Africa

By Renzo, CPL

ICAO

FAOR

IATA

JNB

City

Johannesburg

Country

South Africa

Region

Africa

Elevation

5,558 ft

Runways

2 runways

Coordinates

-26.1367, 28.2460

Overview

Busiest airport in Africa at high elevation. SAA hub requiring density altitude awareness on the Highveld.

Current Weather at FAOR

Pilots flying into or out of O.R. Tambo 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.

Live conditions

Current METAR

METAR FAOR 030900Z 28007KT 210V340 CAVOK 16/03 Q1026 NOSIG

Wind 280° at 7 kt — likely active runway near heading 28

Current TAF

TAF FAOR 030400Z 0306/0412 VRB03KT CAVOK TX18/0312Z TN07/0403Z BECMG 0309/0311 34010KT FM040800 35015KT CAVOK TEMPO 0410/0412 FEW040TCU

Full briefing →NOTAMs →

Decode METAR for FAOR

Paste the FAOR METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.

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Check Weather Before Your Flight

A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:

METARHourly surface observation for FAOR. 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 FAOR. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Johannesburg. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around O.R. Tambo 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 O.R. Tambo International Airport

Radio Frequencies

Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like FAOR 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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg.

Training Availability

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Flight Training Available

O.R. Tambo International Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools

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