KAFF/AFF METAR & TAF USAF Academy Airfield

Colorado Springs, ColoradoElevation 6,572 ftSmall airport

CURRENT STATUS

IFR51 min old

Ceiling 900 ft, visibility 10 SM.

FLIGHT CATEGORY

IFR

ceiling & visibility

WIND

330@4

steady

VISIBILITY

10 SM

16.1 km

CEILING

900 ft

lowest BKN/OVC

DENSITY ALT

6,827 ft

+255 ft vs field

CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0155Z (7:55 PM local) · 51 min old

KAFF is currently IFR. Winds are from the northwest at 4 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. The ceiling is 900 feet AGL. Main concerns: Ceiling 900 ft AGL.

WIND

330° at 4 kt

Steady.

VISIBILITY

10 statute miles

16.1 km, good.

CEILING & SKY

Ceiling 900 ft

Lowest broken or overcast layer.

TEMP / DEWPOINT

7°C / 5°C

45°F / 41°F. 2°C spread.

ALTIMETER

30.26 inHg

1024.7 hPa, above standard.

WEATHER & HAZARDS

LOW CIG

Ceiling 900 ft AGL.

Codes in this report: OVC RMK

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

REMARKS: DECODED

AO2A

automated station with observer augmentation

SLP234

sea-level pressure 1023.4 hPa

T00740045

precise temperature 7.4°C, dew point 4.5°C

PWINO

present-weather sensor not operating

$

station needs maintenance

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 1641Z (10:41 AM local) · valid to 1700Z (11:00 AM local)

KAFF forecast starts VFR at 16Z. Worst period is 16Z to 17Z with VFR possible (TURB, TURB, GUST). Best period is 17Z to 17Z (VFR). Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

Maximum temperature 23°C expected at 2100Z on day 23.
Minimum temperature 6°C expected at 1100Z on day 24.

VFR

1600Z10:00 AM2100Z3:00 PM0200Z8:00 PM0700Z1:00 AM1200Z6:00 AM1700Z11:00 AM

Codes in this report: COR 9999 FEW BECMG

Tap any group to decode it.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: High

›Conditions are IFR.

›Low ceiling: 900 ft AGL.

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

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category IFR, wind from 330° at 4 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling 900 ft. Forecast suggests tonight showers and thunderstorms likely, low near 38F, 65% chance of precipitation. Key risks: high density altitude; thunderstorms in the forecast. Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Chance Showers And Thunderstorms" but the current METAR shows none of it; the observation and forecast differ, so trust the METAR for current conditions.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES

High density altitudeMETAR

Density altitude about 6,827 ft (field elevation 6,572 ft). Expect reduced climb performance and a longer takeoff roll.

Thunderstorms in the forecastWeather.gov

Tonight: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely. Watch for developing convection and plan alternates.

Day	Conditions	Temp F	Wind	Gusts	Precip	Pilot note
Tonight	Showers And Thunderstorms Likely	38	SW 9 kt	–	65%	Thunderstorms in the forecast
Monday	Sunny	60/34	NNW 9 kt	–	3%
Tuesday	Sunny	67/36	SW 9 kt	–	0%
Wednesday	Sunny	68/37	SW 9 kt	–	0%
Thursday	Mostly Sunny	65/39	SW 9 kt	–	5%
Friday	Partly Sunny	65/39	SW 9 kt	–	12%
Saturday	Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers	60/38	W 4 kt	–	19%
Sunday	Chance Rain Showers	57	SSW 13 kt	–	50%

Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Chance Showers And Thunderstorms" but the current METAR shows none of it; the observation and forecast differ, so trust the METAR for current conditions.

Source: National Weather Service (office PUB). Forecast issued 0036Z.

Radar

Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.

RUNWAYS & WIND

4 runways · crosswind ranking

ON-FIELD METAR

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

330° at 4 kt

Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.

RECOMMENDED

RWY 34L4 kt headwind · 1 kt crosswind

RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end

34L

HEAD

4 kt

CROSS

1 kt L

BEST

34C

HEAD

4 kt

CROSS

1 kt L

OK

34R

HEAD

4 kt

CROSS

1 kt L

OK

27

HEAD

2 kt

CROSS

3 kt R

OK

09

HEAD

2 kt tail

CROSS

3 kt L

OK

16C

HEAD

4 kt tail

CROSS

1 kt R

OK

16L

HEAD

4 kt tail

CROSS

1 kt R

OK

16R

HEAD

4 kt tail

CROSS

1 kt R

OK

Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

4 runways · longest 4,501 ft

16C/34C

Dimensions

4,501 x 75 ft

Surface

Asphalt (good)

RWY 16C170°T

RWY 34C350°T

16L/34R

Dimensions

3,513 x 75 ft

Surface

Asphalt (good)

RWY 16L170°T

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 34R350°T

Traffic patternLeft

16R/34L

Dimensions

4,500 x 40 ft

Surface

Asphalt

RWY 16R169°T

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 34L349°T

Traffic patternLeft

09/27

Dimensions

2,493 x 75 ft

Surface

Asphalt (good)

RWY 0996°T

RWY 27276°T

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

6,827 ft

Pressure altitude

6,232 ft

Field elevation

6,572 ft MSL

Temperature

7°C (45°F)

Dewpoint

5°C (41°F)

Altimeter

30.26 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

0007Z 6:07 PM

Sunrise

1319Z 7:19 AM

Loggable night

0034Z (6:34 PM local) → 1252Z (6:52 AM local)

end of evening to start of morning civil twilight

Position lights required

0007Z (6:07 PM local) → 1319Z (7:19 AM local)

sunset to sunrise (91.209)

Night passenger currency

0107Z (7:07 PM local) → 1219Z (6:19 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

USAF Academy Airfield is in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Field elevation 6,572 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT

OwnershipAir Force owned

UsePrivate use

TypeSmall airport

ManagerCHIEF AIRFIELD MANAGEMENT

AttendedOCT 1 TO FEB 28/29/FRI/SR OR 1345Z++

CHARTS & AIRSPACE

ICAO / IATAKAFF / AFF

SectionalDENVER

Center (ARTCC)DENVER

Flight service (AFSS)DENVER

RegionColorado

CountryUnited States

Coordinates38.9725, -104.8211

Distance from city10 NM N

SERVICES & LIGHTING

Control towerTowered

CTAF124.150

FREQUENCIES

Communications

128.525

ATIS

118.125

GND

134.1

SKYTRAIN

MISC

121.95

PMSV METRO

PMSV

37.6

PTD

124.15

ACADEMY TWR

TWR

124.15

CTAF/UNICOM

UNIC

124.150

CTAF

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

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KAFF traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-23, 70 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence

TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)

AVG LANDINGS/DAY

103.4

AVG OPS/DAY

118.6

Operations trend (18 days)

Busiest day: Tue · Busiest month: Jun

FLEET MIX

Unknown 37%Other 31%Piston single 28%Turboprop 4%

Fleet composition unclear from available data.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES

›PA18 (Unknown) · ~477 landings/mo

›DG1T (Other) · ~274 landings/mo

›GLIM (Other) · ~230 landings/mo

›C172 (Piston single) · ~192 landings/mo

›SR20 (Piston single) · ~177 landings/mo

LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT

Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly single-engine piston aircraft.

›SR20 (Piston single)

›PA18 (Unknown)

›C172 (Piston single)

›PA25 (Unknown)

›C150 (Piston single)

This is an estimate based on repeated flight patterns, not registration data. Do not rely on it to identify specific aircraft or owners.

Data limitations (4)

›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.

›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.

›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.

›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.

NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

KCOS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

11 NM SE

IFR

KFLY Meadow Lake Airport

12 NM E

MVFR

KFCS Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

18 NM S

IFR

KAPA Centennial Airport

36 NM N

MVFR

KPUB Pueblo Memorial Airport

44 NM S

MVFR

KBKF Buckley Space Force Base

44 NM N

MVFR

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›(WHICHEVER IS LATER) TO SS OR 0200Z++ (WHICHEVER IS EARLIER).

›(WHICHEVER IS LATER) TO SS OR 0300Z++ (WHICHEVER IS EARLIER).

›CLSD SUN & FED HOL.

›CAUTION: MULT CRANES WI 3 NMR OF KAFF IN NE QUAD UP TO 250 FT AGL (INTERQUEST PKWY AND I-25 AREA).

›CAUTION: NUMEROUS NSTD MRKS EXIST ON AFLD.

›COMSEC STOR UNAVBL.

›CL D ATC SVS AVAIL DUR AFLD OPR HR. CHECK AFF ATIS AND NOTAMS FOR ADDN CURRENT INFO.

›CAUTION: HIGH WIND ALERT SYSTEM (HWAS) N OF RWY 09/27 AND E OF TWY A UNLGTD.

›SERVICE - NO TRAN ALERT OR MAINT SVC.

›RSTD: UNCTLD ACFT OPS AT DAVIS FLD STRICTLY PROHIBITED WO APVD UNCTLD OPS WAIVER; WAIVER MUST BE ON FILE WITH AMGR.

›CAUTION: CRANE WITH MAX HGT OF 245 FT LOCTD BY THE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY PREPARATORY SCHOOL. EXACT LCTN 38 58 42.42N, 104 51 27.91 W.

›NO MAINT OR TSNT SVC AVBL.

›CLSD SUN & FED HOL.

›FUEL-A++(MIL)

›CAUTION: USE CTN FOR UAS OPS 3-6 NM NW SFC-8500 FT MSL OVER USAF ACADEMY PROPERTY.

›CAUTION: CEILING MAY BE LOWER TO N, E, AND W DUE TO RISING TERRAIN. HI DENSITY VFR STU PILOT TRNG, GLDR TRNG AND PRCHT OPS FR SFC-17500 FT MSL WI 5 NM OF AFLD. USE CAUTION FOR UAS OPS 3-6 NM NW SFC-8500 FT MSL OVR USAF ACADEMY PROPERTY. AERODROME RWY CC NOT REPORTED.

›(WHEN NEC TO SUPPORT 306 FTG FLT OPS); 306TH FTG SUMMER OPS MON-FRI 1300-0200Z++, SAT 1430-2130Z++ (ONLY WHEN NEC TO SUPPORT 306 FTG FLT OPS), CLSD SUN AND FEDERAL HOL.

›SEE SPECIAL NOTICE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY VOLUME FLT TRNG AREAS FOR ADDN INFO.

›MISC: FULL SVC WX STN OPR H24 WITH AUGMENTED AN/FMQ-19 IN USE. BACKUP WX BRIEFING SVC FR 25 OWS, DAVIS MONTHAN AFB, AZ, DSN 228-6589 OR C520-228-6598.

›RSTD: AIRFIELD OFFL BUS ONLY. PPR MUST BE COORD 72 HR IN ADVANCE WITH AFLD MGMT, DSN: 333-2526, C:719-333-2526.

OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES

↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov

↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)

↗Wikipedia

↗KAFF on OurAirports

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Does KAFF have a METAR?

Yes. KAFF has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.

Does KAFF have a TAF?

Yes, a TAF is issued for KAFF; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.

What is the field elevation at KAFF?

KAFF sits at 6,572 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.

Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KAFF?

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.