PAOT/OTZ METAR & TAF Ralph Wien Memorial Airport

Kotzebue, AlaskaElevation 14 ftMedium airport

CURRENT STATUS

VFR56 min old

Ceiling 7,000 ft, visibility 10 SM.

FLIGHT CATEGORY

VFR

ceiling & visibility

WIND

140@18

steady

VISIBILITY

10 SM

16.1 km

CEILING

7,000 ft

lowest BKN/OVC

DENSITY ALT

-1,197 ft

-1,211 ft vs field

ACTIVE NWS ALERTS

Active weather alerts

Small Craft AdvisoryMinor · Expected · Likely

25 2300Z to 26 1300Z

Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 NM

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one- third of the combined wind-wave and swell height. .TONIGHT...S winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain and snow. .MON...S winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. .MON NIGHT...S winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. .TUE...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. .TUE NIGHT...SE win…

Small Craft AdvisoryMinor · Expected · Likely

25 1100Z to 26 1300Z

Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 NM

Northwestern Alaska Coastal Waters out 100 NM Wind forecasts reflect the predominant speed and direction expected. Sea forecasts represent the average of the highest one- third of the combined wind-wave and swell height. .TODAY...S winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. .TONIGHT...SE winds 25 kt. Seas 5 ft. Rain and snow. .MON...SW winds 15 kt. Seas 3 ft. .MON NIGHT...SE winds 20 kt. Seas 4 ft. .TUE...S winds …

Alerts from the National Weather Service. For situational awareness only; always confirm against an official briefing.

CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0253Z (6:53 PM local) · 56 min old

PAOT is currently VFR. Winds are from the southeast at 18 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. The ceiling is 7,000 feet AGL.

WIND

140° at 18 kt

Steady.

VISIBILITY

10 statute miles

16.1 km, good.

CEILING & SKY

Ceiling 7,000 ft

Lowest broken or overcast layer.

TEMP / DEWPOINT

2°C / 1°C

36°F / 34°F. 1°C spread.

ALTIMETER

29.59 inHg

1002 hPa, below standard.

WEATHER & HAZARDS

No significant hazards

No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: AUTO BKN OVC RMK AO2

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

REMARKS: DECODED

AO2

automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)

SLP021

sea-level pressure 1002.1 hPa

T00220011

precise temperature 2.2°C, dew point 1.1°C

58011

3-hour pressure tendency: falling quickly (1.1 hPa change)

TSNO

thunderstorm/lightning sensor not operating

station needs maintenance

TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 2339Z (3:39 PM local) · valid to 0000Z (4:00 PM local)

PAOT forecast starts MVFR at 00Z. Worst period is 16Z to 00Z with IFR possible (LOW CIG). Best period is 00Z to 06Z (MVFR). Overall the forecast deteriorates over the period.

BKN0303,000 ft

BKN0101,000 ft · 3 SM

BKN007700 ft · 5 SM

0000Z4:00 PM0448Z8:48 PM0936Z1:36 AM1424Z6:24 AM1912Z11:12 AM0000Z4:00 PM

Codes in this report: SCT BKN BR OVC

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at OTZ.

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

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›Forecast: ceiling 700 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 VFR, wind from 140° at 18 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling 7,000 ft. Forecast suggests tonight rain and snow, low near 33F, 100% chance of precipitation. Key risks: strong winds in the forecast. Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Light Rain" but the current METAR shows none of it; the observation and forecast differ, so trust the METAR for current conditions.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES

Strong winds in the forecastWeather.gov

Tuesday: winds up to 26 kt. Re-check crosswind components closer to departure.

Day	Conditions	Temp F	Wind	Gusts	Precip	Pilot note
Tonight	Rain And Snow	33	SE 22 kt	–	100%
Monday	Rain And Snow	37/33	S 17 kt	–	81%
Tuesday	Light Rain	39/34	SE 26 kt	–	85%	Strong winds in the forecast
Wednesday	Rain And Snow	38/32	SE 26 kt	–	87%
Thursday	Rain And Snow Likely	36/31	SE 30 kt	–	77%
Friday	Rain And Snow Likely	37/31	SE 17 kt	–	64%
Saturday	Chance Rain And Snow	35/27	N 17 kt	–	43%
Sunday	Slight Chance Light Snow	32	N 13 kt	–	23%

Note: the NWS forecast for now reads "Light Rain" 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 AFG). Forecast issued 0348Z.

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RUNWAYS & WIND

2 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

140° at 18 kt

Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.

RECOMMENDED

RWY 0914 kt headwind · 11 kt crosswind

RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end

HEAD

14 kt

CROSS

11 kt R

BEST

HEAD

11 kt

CROSS

15 kt L

X-WIND

HEAD

11 kt tail

CROSS

15 kt R

X-WIND

HEAD

14 kt tail

CROSS

11 kt L

X-WIND

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

RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

2 runways · longest 6,300 ft

18/36

Dimensions

3,876 x 90 ft

Surface

Gravel (fair)

Edge lights

MED

RWY 18194°T

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 3614°T

Traffic patternLeft

09/27

Dimensions

6,300 x 150 ft

Surface

Asphalt (good)

Edge lights

HIGH

RWY 09102°T

Landing length (LDA)5,900 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA6,300 / 6,300 / 6,300 ft

Displaced threshold400 ft

ILSILS/DME

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4R)

Traffic patternLeft

RWY 27282°T

Landing length (LDA)5,900 ft

TORA / TODA / ASDA5,900 / 5,900 / 5,900 ft

REILYes

VGSIPAPI (P4L)

Traffic patternLeft

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

-1,197 ft

Pressure altitude

344 ft

Field elevation

14 ft MSL

Temperature

2°C (36°F)

Dewpoint

1°C (34°F)

Altimeter

29.59 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

0241Z 6:41 PM

Sunrise

1829Z 10:29 AM

Loggable night

0339Z (7:39 PM local) → 1731Z (9:31 AM local)

end of evening to start of morning civil twilight

Position lights required

0241Z (6:41 PM local) → 1829Z (10:29 AM local)

sunset to sunrise (91.209)

Night passenger currency

0341Z (7:41 PM local) → 1729Z (9:29 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

Ralph Wien Memorial Airport is in Kotzebue, Alaska. Field elevation 14 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT

OwnershipPublicly owned

UseOpen to the public

TypeMedium airport

Airline serviceYes

ManagerANDREW GREENE

Manager phone907-442-3147

AttendedALL WED-MON, 0700–1900

CHARTS & AIRSPACE

ICAO / IATAPAOT / OTZ

SectionalNOME

Center (ARTCC)ANCHORAGE

Flight service (AFSS)KOTZEBUE

RegionAlaska

CountryUnited States

Coordinates66.8847, -162.5990

Distance from city1 NM S

SERVICES & LIGHTING

Fuel100 · Jet A

Control towerNon-towered

Field lightingSee remarks

BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)

CTAF123.600

UNICOM122.800

FREQUENCIES

Communications

135.45

ASOS

135.45

ATIS

119.2

ANCHORAGE CNTR

CNTR

123.6

CTAF

122.2

KOTZEBUE RDO

FSS

115.7

TWEB

MISC

122.8

UNICOM

UNIC

122.800

UNICOM

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

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

PAOT traffic patterns

2026-06-12 to 2026-10-21, 68 days observed · data 2026-10-23

High confidence

TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)

AVG LANDINGS/DAY

37.2

AVG OPS/DAY

Operations trend (16 days)

Busiest day: Thu · Busiest month: Jul

FLEET MIX

Turboprop 68%Unknown 16%Helicopter 7%Airliner 6%Piston single 2%

Mostly turboprop aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES

›C208 (Turboprop) · ~499 landings/mo

›DHC3 (Unknown) · ~35 landings/mo

›PC12 (Turboprop) · ~35 landings/mo

›AS50 (Helicopter) · ~33 landings/mo

›C212 (Unknown) · ~23 landings/mo

LIKELY BASED AIRCRAFT

Low-confidence estimate

Aircraft likely based near this airport (estimate), mostly turboprop aircraft.

›C208 (Turboprop)

›C408 (Unknown)

›AS50 (Helicopter)

›PC12 (Turboprop)

›C212 (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.

PFNO Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport

VFR

VFR

PAIK Bob Baker Memorial Airport

VFR

PABL Buckland Airport

64 NM SE

VFR

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›SAND LRGR GRADATION THAN FAA RCMDD/SEE AC150/5200-30.

›NMRS 330 FT WIND TURBINE TWRS 3.5 MI SE.

›WX CAMERA AVBL ON INTERNET AT HTTPS://WEATHERCAMS.FAA.GOV

›BIRDS & WATERFOWL INVOF ARPT.

›TSA REGULATED: SEE 49 CFR 1542; ALL GATES & DOORS SECURED ALL TIMES; INFO - AMGR.

›IREG SFC TWY E 175 FT SW.

›FUEL SVC - 907-412-0775.

›RWY, TWY & RAMP EDGE LGTS EXTD 30 IN ABV GND.

›ARPT SVCS AVBL 0700-2000; AFT HR - AMGR.

›PRKG AREA UNLGTD. TSNT PRKG - FLT SVC.

›TWYS & RAMPS HAVE NMRS DIPS & ROUGH SFCS.

›CLSD TO ACR OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS EXC PPR IN WRITING - AMGR BOX 55 KOTZEBUE AK 99752.

›SAFETY AREA NON STD. LOCKED WHEEL TURNS NA.

›ACR OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS NA. WINGSPAN GTR THAN 49 FT PPR - AMGR. UNCTLD VEHICLE ACES.

›IREG SFC 1175 FT E OF THR.

›PCR VALUE: 713/F/B/X/T

›ROAD 430 FT FM THR; VEHICLE HGT LTD TO 13 FT.

›ACTVT REIL RWY 09 & 27 - CTAF. HIRL RWY 09/27; MIRL RWY 18/36 ON 0700-2400; OTR TIME - CTAF. PAPI RWY 09 & 27 ON CONSLY.

OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES

↗Official METAR on AviationWeather.gov

↗Search NOTAMs (official FAA NOTAM Search)

↗Wikipedia

↗PAOT on OurAirports

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Does PAOT have a METAR?

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

Does PAOT have a TAF?

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

What is the field elevation at PAOT?

PAOT sits at 14 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.

Is this an official preflight weather briefing for PAOT?

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.