Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (YBTL)
Medium airport · Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Airport data
| Name | Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville |
|---|---|
| ICAO | YBTL |
| IATA | TSV |
| Elevation | 18 ft (5 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 19°15'10" E 146°45'59" -19.25290, 146.76651 |
| Location | Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/19 | 7,999 ft (2438 m) | 148 ft | ASP | Yes |
| 07/25 | 3,609 ft (1100 m) | 98 ft | ASP | Yes |
Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville at a glance
Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville is a medium airport in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, known to airline systems as TSV. The field elevation of 18 ft (5 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at YBTL are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
Of its 2 runways, the longest — 01/19 — offers 7,999 ft (2438 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 01 points roughly 10° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for YBTL 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 Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Proserpine Whitsunday Coast Airport | YBPN | 232 km (125 NM) |
| Hamilton Island Airport | YBHM | 260 km (140 NM) |
| Mareeba Airport | YMBA | 281 km (152 NM) |
| Cairns International Airport | YBCS | 285 km (154 NM) |
| Mackay Airport | YBMK | 330 km (178 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 18 ft field elevation of Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville 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 194 airports and airfields we list for Australia — 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 Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville
What is the ICAO code of Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville?
The ICAO identifier of Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville is YBTL, and its IATA code is TSV. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville above sea level?
Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville sits at an elevation of 18 feet (5 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville located?
The airport lies at -19.2529, 146.7665 — in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Proserpine Whitsunday Coast Airport, about 232 km away.
Does YBTL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for YBTL 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 Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville?
Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville has 2 runways. The longest, 01/19, measures 7,999 ft (2438 m) with a ASP surface.