Cranfield Airport

EGTC

Bedford, Bedfordshire, GB

Last Updated
May 14, 14:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 36 min ago
14:20Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 2°C
8 kt
330°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGTC 141420Z 33008KT 9999 VCSH FEW032 SCT045CB 13/02 Q1001

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 360 ft
FEW 3,200 ft AGL
SCT 4,500 ft AGL (CB)
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,560 ft AMSL
SCT (CB)
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,860 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Cranfield Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 4,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (330°) at 8 knots. Runway 36 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,200 ft, scattered at 4,500 ft (CB). Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 4,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 2°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 6 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain, Heavy Thunderstorm RAGS. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 12:00Z and 18:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Heavy Thunderstorm RAGS between 12:00Z and 18:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF EGTC 141058Z 1412/1418 33008KT 9999 SCT025 TEMPO 1412/1418 6000 SHRA PROB30 TEMPO 1412/1418 36015G25KT 3000 +TSRAGS BKN014 BKN030CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
14:55Z BASE
+0h
VFR 330° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
GTC
03
21
18
36 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 5,902 ft 148 ft ASP 32°
3.8 kt 7.1 kt
62° angle
✈️ 18/36
Active: 36
2,033 ft 59 ft ASP 175°
6.9 kt 4.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGTC

5,017 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
64.1%
MVFR
19.4%
IFR
9.8%
LIFR
6.8%

Cranfield Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 64.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 10 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Temperatures typically range between -5°C and 25°C with an average of 9.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are April, September, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 10 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 0.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.8%
N
5.7%
S
19.6%
W
11.6%
NE
11.2%
NW
7%
SE
8.2%
SW
24.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.7°C
Range: -5°C to 25°C
-5°C 25°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.9%

Best Months for VFR

April September May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt
Runway 18/36
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.5 kt

Statistics computed from 5,017 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Cranfield Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGTC
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 360 ft MSL

Location

City: Bedford, Bedfordshire
Country: GB
Latitude: 52.072201°
Longitude: -0.616667°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 5,902 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 18/36
Length: 2,033 ft
Width: 59 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Cranfield Airport

Overview

Cranfield Airport is a medium-sized airport located in Bedford, Bedfordshire, serving as an important aviation facility in the East of England. Situated at an elevation of 360 feet MSL, the airport provides critical infrastructure for various aviation operations in the region. Its two asphalt runways offer flexibility for different aircraft types and wind conditions.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Cranfield Airport are predominantly VFR, with 63.8% of observations showing favorable visual flight rules. The airport experiences a moderate wind environment, with prevailing southerly winds averaging 10.2 knots and occasional gusts up to 31 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -5°C to 25°C, with an average of 9.9°C, which pilots should consider for performance planning.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways: Runway 03/21 at 5,902 feet and Runway 18/36 at 2,033 feet, both constructed of asphalt. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind coverage, with relatively low average crosswind components of 5.1 and 6.1 knots respectively. The geographical coordinates (52.072201, -0.616667) place the airport in a relatively flat terrain typical of the Bedfordshire region.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal VFR conditions are most favorable during September, October, and November, offering optimal flying conditions. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced visibility (below 3SM). Pilots should note the low frequency of fog (2.4%) and prepare for consistent visual meteorological conditions, particularly during the recommended autumn months.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.