WxDecoder

FHAW/ASI METAR & TAF RAF Ascension Island

Cat Hill, AscensionElevation 278 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR16 min old
Ceiling 4,000 ft, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
130@12
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
4,000 ft
lowest BKN/OVC
DENSITY ALT
1,423 ft
+1,145 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0420Z (4:20 AM local) · 16 min old

FHAW is currently VFR. Winds are from the southeast at 12 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. The ceiling is 4,000 feet AGL.

WIND
130° at 12 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
Ceiling 4,000 ft
Lowest broken or overcast layer.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
24°C / 20°C
75°F / 68°F. 4°C spread.
ALTIMETER
29.91 inHg
1012.9 hPa, near standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
No significant hazards
No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: 9999 FEW BKN RMK

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

REMARKS: DECODED
BLU
unrecognized remark group
BLU
unrecognized remark group
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 0421Z (4:21 AM local) · valid to 0000Z (12:00 AM local)

FHAW forecast starts VFR at 06Z. Worst period is 21Z to 00Z with IFR possible (LOW VIS). Best period is 06Z to 21Z (MVFR). Overall the forecast deteriorates over the period.

BKN0404,000 ft
BKN0404,000 ft
0600Z6:00 AM0936Z9:36 AM1312Z1:12 PM1648Z4:48 PM2024Z8:24 PM0000Z12:00 AM

Codes in this report: 9999 FEW BKN TEMPO SCT PROB30

Tap any group to decode it.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›No significant weather concerns in the current report.

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Pilot weather notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 130° at 12 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling 4,000 ft. No extended National Weather Service forecast is available for this location. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.

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RUNWAYS & WIND
1 runway · crosswind ranking
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW1331 130°130°12 kt130°130° 12130°
READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →
Calm
5 kt
10 kt
15 kt
20 kt
25 kt
30 kt
35 kt
40 kt
45 kt
50 kt
65 kt
75 kt
100 kt
105 kt
Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.
WIND USED
130° at 12 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 1312 kt headwind · 3 kt crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
13
HEAD
12 kt
CROSS
3 kt R
BEST
31
HEAD
12 kt tail
CROSS
3 kt L
OK
Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

1 runway · longest 10,019 ft

13/31
Dimensions
10,019 x 150 ft
Surface
Asphalt
Edge lights
HIGH
RWY 13117°T
Approach lightsNSTD
RWY 31297°T
Displaced threshold4,519 ft
VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude
1,423 ft
Pressure altitude
288 ft
Field elevation
278 ft MSL
Temperature
24°C (75°F)
Dewpoint
20°C (68°F)
Altimeter
29.91 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset
1852Z 6:52 PM
Sunrise
0631Z 6:31 AM
Loggable night
1913Z (7:13 PM local) → 0609Z (6:09 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
1852Z (6:52 PM local) → 0631Z (6:31 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
1952Z (7:52 PM local) → 0531Z (5:31 AM local)
1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

RAF Ascension Island is in Cat Hill, Ascension. Field elevation 278 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipPrivately owned
UsePrivate use
TypeMedium airport
Airline serviceYes
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAFHAW / ASI
Center (ARTCC)ATLANTICO FIR
Flight service (AFSS)ATLANTICO
RegionAscension
CountrySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Coordinates-7.9702, -14.3927
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Control towerTowered
FREQUENCIES

Communications

1124.7
RAF HAVENS HF
A/G
1795.5
ATLANTICO FIR
ACC
1078
ASCENSION RDO
RDO
126.2
WIDEAWAKE TWR
TWR

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

Traffic patterns

Aircraft activity data is not available for this airport yet.

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›RAF TAZCOMM HF - 3146 4742 6733 11247
›NO ENTRY/EXIT LGTS ON TWYS. FMQ-13 172 FT FROM TWY A CNTRLN.
›OFFL BUS ONLY PPR, EXC REG SKED AMC CHAN MSN ORIGINATING PATRICK AFB AND AIR TANKER CHAN MSN ORIGINATING BRIZE NORTON.
›EXTENDED-RANGE TWIN-ENGINE OPERATIONS (ETOPS).
›CTC AFLD MGR DSN 854-1110 SELECT OPTION 9 ENTER EXTN 2219/2907, C321-494-1110 SELECT OPTION 9 ENTER EXTN 2219/2907, INTL 011-247-2219/2907.
›WX BALLOON LAUNCH WED APRXLY 1230Z, NW OF AFLD UP TO 89000 FT.
›GND ENG MAINT COORD WITH AFLD MGR.
›RWY TKOF WGT LTD TO 475,000 POUNDS FOR KC-30/A-330 AND 550,000 POUNDS FOR KC-10.
›ALL ACFT OPR ON PPR MUST CTC ASCENSION TAZCOMM AT LEAST 4 HR PRIOR TO ETA; WKLY SKED ACFT 1 HR PRIOR TO ETA.
›THE INFORMATION AND DATA CONTAINED HEREIN HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY ENTITIES OUTSIDE OF, AND NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF, THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA). SOURCE DOD FLIP.
›POTENTIAL FOR REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY AND/OR DIRECTIONAL CTL EXIST, PARTICULARLY DUR WET RSC.
›CAUTION: HILL TERRAIN ALL SIDES. NUMEROUS UNLGTD HILLS/MT WITHIN 2 NM OF AFLD TO 2820 FT. UAS OPS IN VCNTY OF AFLD. TWO GND DATA TRML (GDT) ANT TWRS 570 FT FR RWY CNTRLN. ALL GDT TWRS ARE 6 FT. 33 FT MET TWRS AT 07.9677S/14.3490W, AND 07.9676S/14.3494W; TWRS DO NOT PEAK SE CRATER. WX BALLOON LAUNCH DLY FR TWY A.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Official airport website
↗Wikipedia
↗FHAW on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does FHAW have a METAR?
Yes. FHAW has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does FHAW have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for FHAW; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at FHAW?
FHAW sits at 278 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for FHAW?
No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.
This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.