WxDecoder

KSKA/SKA METAR & TAF Fairchild Air Force Base

Spokane, WashingtonElevation 2,461 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR53 min old
No ceiling, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
060@8
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
None
no BKN/OVC layer
DENSITY ALT
2,366 ft
-95 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0255Z (7:55 PM local) · 53 min old

KSKA is currently VFR. Winds are from the northeast at 8 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling.

WIND
60° at 8 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
CLR
FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
10°C / 3°C
50°F / 37°F. 7°C spread.
ALTIMETER
30.00 inHg
1015.9 hPa, near standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
No significant hazards
No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: CLR RMK

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

REMARKS: DECODED
AO2A
automated station with observer augmentation
SLP165
sea-level pressure 1016.5 hPa
T01010031
precise temperature 10.1°C, dew point 3.1°C
55000
3-hour pressure tendency: falling then rising (0.0 hPa change)
$
station needs maintenance
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 0300Z (8:00 PM local) · valid to 0900Z (2:00 AM local)

KSKA forecast starts VFR at 03Z. Worst period is 22Z to 23Z with MVFR possible. Best period is 03Z to 19Z (VFR). Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

  • Maximum temperature 8°C expected at 2200Z on day 26.
  • Minimum temperature 3°C expected at 1500Z on day 26.
BKN13013,000 ft
BKN0404,000 ft · 5.6 SM
OVC0404,000 ft · 5 SM
OVC0606,000 ft
0300Z8:00 PM0900Z2:00 AM1500Z8:00 AM2100Z2:00 PM0300Z8:00 PM0900Z2:00 AM

Codes in this report: 9999 BKN OVC BECMG NSW

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at SKA.

Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.

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

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 60° at 8 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests tonight mostly cloudy, low near 36F, 6% chance of precipitation. Key risks: no significant hazards are highlighted right now, but always confirm against an official briefing.

DayConditionsTemp FWindGustsPrecipPilot note
Tonight Mostly Cloudy 36 NE 7 kt – 6%
Monday Light Rain Likely 52/37 S 5 kt – 64%
Tuesday Chance Light Rain then Mostly Cloudy 52/37 SW 11 kt – 70%
Wednesday Light Rain Likely 48/34 S 12 kt – 70%
Thursday Chance Light Rain 48/30 E 5 kt – 40%
Friday Slight Chance Rain And Snow then Partly Sunny 47/28 N 5 kt – 22%
Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain 49/27 NE 4 kt – 16%
Sunday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain 49 N 4 kt – 15%

Source: National Weather Service (office OTX). Forecast issued 0347Z.

Radar

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

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RUNWAYS & WIND
1 runway · crosswind ranking
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW0523 60°60°8 kt60°60° 860°
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
060° at 8 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 058 kt headwind · 1 kt crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
05
HEAD
8 kt
CROSS
1 kt L
BEST
23
HEAD
8 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

1 runway · longest 13,899 ft

05/23
Dimensions
13,899 x 150 ft
Surface
Concrete
Edge lights
HIGH
RWY 0566°T
ILSLOC/GS
Approach lightsALSF2
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 23246°T
ILSLOC/GS
Approach lightsALSF1
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternRight

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
2,366 ft
Pressure altitude
2,381 ft
Field elevation
2,461 ft MSL
Temperature
10°C (50°F)
Dewpoint
3°C (37°F)
Altimeter
30.00 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
0044Z 5:44 PM
Sunrise
1425Z 7:25 AM
Loggable night
0116Z (6:16 PM local) → 1353Z (6:53 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
0044Z (5:44 PM local) → 1425Z (7:25 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
0144Z (6:44 PM local) → 1325Z (6:25 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

Fairchild Air Force Base is in Spokane, Washington. Field elevation 2,461 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipAir Force owned
UsePrivate use
TypeMedium airport
ManagerBASE OPERATIONS
Manager phone509-247-5481
AttendedContinuous (24 hours)
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKSKA / SKA
SectionalSEATTLE
Center (ARTCC)SEATTLE
Flight service (AFSS)SEATTLE
CustomsAirport of entry
RegionWashington
CountryUnited States
Coordinates47.6151, -117.6560
Distance from city10 NM SW
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Control towerTowered
BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)
FREQUENCIES

Communications

123.75
SPOKANE APP/DEP
A/D
25.762
ATIS
ATIS
121.85
GND
GND
29.37
WASHINGTON ANG OPS
OPS
23.48
PMSV METRO
PMSV
31.1
COMD POST
POST
130
PTD
PTD
126.2
TWR
TWR

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

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KSKA traffic patterns

2026-06-16 to 2026-10-23, 46 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence
TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)
AVG LANDINGS/DAY
4.7
AVG OPS/DAY
9.4
Activity trend over 16 days: flat, from 1 to 1 operations per dayOperations trend (16 days)

Busiest day: Wed · Busiest month: Jun

FLEET MIX
Unknown 67%Airliner 18%Helicopter 14%Twin 2%

Fleet composition unclear from available data.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›UNKN (Unknown) · ~23 landings/mo
›P8 ? (Unknown) · ~11 landings/mo
›P8 (Unknown) · ~7 landings/mo
›B212 (Helicopter) · ~6 landings/mo
›K35R (Airliner) · ~5 landings/mo
LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT
Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly aircraft of unknown type.

›UNKN (Unknown)
›B212 (Helicopter)
›K35R (Airliner)
›P8 ? (Unknown)
›P8 (Unknown)

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.

KGEG Spokane International Airport
5 NM E
VFR
KSFF Felts Field
14 NM E
VFR
KCOE Coeur D'Alene Airport - Pappy Boyington Field
35 NM E
VFR
KPUW Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport
57 NM SE
VFR
KSZT Sandpoint Airport
60 NM NE
VFR
KMWH Grant County International Airport
72 NM W
VFR
AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›PMSV O/S; CTC WX FLT DSN 657-8411, C509-247-8411. WX FLT SVC AVBL H24. AN/FMQ-19 AUTOMATED OBSERVING SYS IN USE; AUGMENTED BY HUMAN OBSN WHEN NEC.
›AMOPS AVBL TO STORE CLASSIFIED UP TO SECRET LTD STORAGE CAPABILITY.
›TRAN ALERT SVC AVBL 1400-0600Z++, CLSD WKEND. CTC BASE OPS NLT 15 MIN OUT FOR SVC REQ. FLEET SVC AVBL.
›MISC: AIR EVAC/TRAN ACFT CTC PTD NLT 15 MIN PRIOR TO ARR.
›RWY COND CODES (RWYCC) UNAVBL.
›OIL: O-148-156 JOAP.
›CAUTION: FLARE ROCKET FRNG AND DEMOLITION OF EXPLOSIVES TRNG WED 1530-1630Z++ AND 2000-2100Z++ LCTD 5,000 FT S RY 5-23 ABM TWY F, MAX ALT 1300 FT.
›RECTANGULAR 4000 FT, OVERHEAD 4500 FT.
›ANG: DAGGER OPS IS OPEN 24/7. PPR FOR ANG RAMP, DSN 370-7100/7133.
›CAUTION: UNCTL VEH ON TWYS AND RAMPS. COPTER OPNS WITHIN VICINITY OF FAIRCHILD AFB.
›FLUID: SP PRESAIR; DE-ICE AVBL FOR C5 AND C17 TYPE ACFT; LOX.
›CSTMS/AG/IMG: C509-247-5202/5439.
›RSTD: AMC ACFT OPR RSTD DUR BIRD WATCH COND MODERATE (TKOF OR LDG PERMS ONLY WHEN DEP/ARR RTE AVOID IDENT BIRD ACT, NO LCL IFR/VFR TFC PAT ACT) AND SEVERE (TKOF AND LDG PROH WO OG/CC APVL), CTC PTD OR COMD POST FOR CURRENT BIRD WATCH COND.
›RSTD: PPR INCL SKED AMC MSN, 24 HR PRIOR COORD REQ. ALL INBND PAX/CARGO ACFT MUST CTC COMD POST NO LATER THAN 30 MIN PRIOR TO LDG.
›ARFF AVBL UPON REQ.
›SFA REMARKS: ACFT RQR SFA NOTIFY SEATTLE CENTER OR APP 20 MIN OUT ON ANY PUBL FREQ.
›RWY 05/23 ST175 WGT THSD LBS.
›PAD 5 DZ, 5000' S OF RWY EFF 1630-2130Z++ MON-FRI.
›JASU: (MA-1A) (A/M32A-86) (MC-1A).
›FUEL: J8, A++
›CAUTION: DO NOT MISTAKE SPOKANE INTL 4.5 NM E OF FAIRCHILD AFB. PHASE II (THE HIGH BIRD POTENTIAL HAZ TIME PERIOD) OF THE BASH PROGRAM IS IN EFFECT. EXP INCREASED BIRD ACT (APPROX) APR-MAY AND NOV-DEC; REVIEW OR CHECK NOTAM FOR CURRENT BASH PHASE.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov
↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)
↗Official airport website
↗Wikipedia
↗KSKA on OurAirports
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KSKA have a METAR?
Yes. KSKA has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KSKA have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KSKA; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KSKA?
KSKA sits at 2,461 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KSKA?
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.