Istres-Le Tubé Air Base (LFMI)
Medium airport · Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, France
Airport data
| Name | Istres-Le Tubé Air Base |
|---|---|
| ICAO | LFMI |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 43°31'22" E 4°55'26" 43.52270, 4.92384 |
| Location | Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, France |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/33 | 12,303 ft (3750 m) | 197 ft | ASP | Yes |
Istres-Le Tubé Air Base at a glance
Istres-Le Tubé Air Base is a medium airport in Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, France. The field elevation of 82 ft (25 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at LFMI are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 15/33, offers 12,303 ft (3750 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 15 points roughly 150° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for LFMI shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Istres-Le Tubé Air Base
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Salon-de-Provence (BA 701) Air Base | LFMY | 18 km (10 NM) |
| Marseille Provence Airport | LFML | 25 km (14 NM) |
| Avignon Caumont airport | LFMV | 43 km (23 NM) |
| Nîmes-Arles-Camargue Airport | LFTW | 48 km (26 NM) |
| Orange-Caritat (BA 115) Air Base | LFMO | 69 km (37 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Istres-Le Tubé Air Base
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 82 ft field elevation of Istres-Le Tubé Air Base can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 135 airports and airfields we list for France — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Istres-Le Tubé Air Base
What is the ICAO code of Istres-Le Tubé Air Base?
The ICAO identifier of Istres-Le Tubé Air Base is LFMI, and it has no IATA code assigned. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Istres-Le Tubé Air Base above sea level?
Istres-Le Tubé Air Base sits at an elevation of 82 feet (25 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Istres-Le Tubé Air Base located?
The airport lies at 43.5227, 4.9238 — in Istres, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, France, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Salon-de-Provence (BA 701) Air Base, about 18 km away.
Does LFMI publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for LFMI appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base?
Istres-Le Tubé Air Base has one runway. The longest, 15/33, measures 12,303 ft (3750 m) with a ASP surface.