Runway 17 at OLBA
Runway 17/35 at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (OLBA) in Beirut is a 10,663 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 177°/357°. The runway is 197 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 29 landings and 42 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.7°, touchdowns averaging 3,182 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 138 kt, a 5.5 kt average crosswind component, a 3.0 kt average headwind.
Runway 17/35 at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (OLBA) in Beirut is a 10,663 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 177°/357°. The runway is 197 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 29 landings and 42 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.7°, touchdowns averaging 3,182 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 138 kt, a 5.5 kt average crosswind component, a 3.0 kt average headwind.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
29 landings observed on Runway 17 in the last 30 days, alongside 42 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 07:00 with 12 arrivals on the recent sample.
Average Touchdown Zone
Aircraft touch down on average 3,182 ft from the threshold on Runway 17.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at OLBA have prevailed from the east (90°), accounting for roughly 23% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 6.5 kt with peak gusts to 43 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Moderate Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 5.5 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 17 alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 2.7° on Runway 17, consistent with the standard 3° glide path.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 17 over the last 30 days. Each value is shown only when at least 10 valid samples were available; sparse cells are hidden rather than estimated.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 17 grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Approach Types and Categories
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 17 benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.