Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad (ORBD)
Medium airport · Al Bakr, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq
Airport data
| Name | Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad |
|---|---|
| ICAO | ORBD |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 33°56'25" E 44°21'42" 33.94020, 44.36160 |
| Location | Al Bakr, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/30 | 11,495 ft (3504 m) | 149 ft | PEM | No |
| 14/32 | 11,490 ft (3502 m) | 197 ft | CON | Yes |
Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad at a glance
Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad is a medium airport in Al Bakr, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq. The field elevation of 161 ft (49 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at ORBD are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
Of its 2 runways, the longest — 12/30 — offers 11,495 ft (3504 m) of pem surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 12 points roughly 120° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for ORBD 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 Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Samarra East Air Base / Dhuluiya Airport | IQ-0045 | 27 km (15 NM) |
| Al Taji Army Air Field | ORTI | 47 km (25 NM) |
| Rasheed Air Base | IQ-0039 | 74 km (40 NM) |
| Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base | ORBI | 76 km (41 NM) |
| Al Taqaddum Air Base | ORAT | 97 km (52 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 161 ft field elevation of Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad 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 30 airports and airfields we list for Iraq — 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 Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad
What is the ICAO code of Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad?
The ICAO identifier of Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad is ORBD, 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 Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad above sea level?
Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad sits at an elevation of 161 feet (49 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad located?
The airport lies at 33.9402, 44.3616 — in Al Bakr, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Samarra East Air Base / Dhuluiya Airport, about 27 km away.
Does ORBD publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for ORBD 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 Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad?
Balad Southeast Airport / Joint Base Balad has 2 runways. The longest, 12/30, measures 11,495 ft (3504 m) with a PEM surface.