Spangdahlem Air Base

ETAD / SPM

Trier, DE

Last Updated
May 15, 04:10Z

Military Airport

Restricted

Dies ist ein Militärflugplatz der Bundeswehr. Zivilverkehr ist in der Regel nicht gestattet.

Access Notes:

Bundeswehr fields generally closed to civil traffic; some historical civil use

Consult official AIP (German AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 48 min ago
04:10Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 3°C
0 kt
10+ km
Visibility
3,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1000 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI ETAD 150410Z 00000KT 9999 FEW015 BKN030 05/03 A2953 RMK AO2A SLP996 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,197 ft
FEW 1,500 ft AGL
BKN 3,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,697 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,197 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Spangdahlem Air Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 3,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 3000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of 3°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast between 04:00Z and 06:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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.

QNH
1000 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
960 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,197 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,595 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 682 ft
ISA Deviation: -7.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF ETAD 150400Z 1504/1610 31003KT 9999 FEW015 BKN025 620406 QNH2953INS TEMPO 1504/1506 BKN015 BECMG 1506/1507 01006KT 9999 BKN020 620408 QNH2956INS BECMG 1514/1515 30010G15KT 9999 BKN035 620408 QNH2960INS BECMG 1518/1519 33006KT 9999 BKN040 620408 QNH2965INS BECMG 1601/1602 28003KT 9999 BKN015 620406 QNH2968INS BECMG 1606/1607 30006KT 9999 BKN025 620406 QNH2973INS TX12/1513Z TN04/1504Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:57Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 310° 3 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
06:00Z BECMG
+2h
MVFR 10° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
14:00Z BECMG
+10h
VFR 300° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 3,500 ft

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
Chart Features
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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
TAD
05
23

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
05/23 10,007 ft 148 ft ASP 44°
0.0 kt 0.0 kt
44° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - ETAD

14,966 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
43.9%
MVFR
23.5%
IFR
16.4%
LIFR
16.2%

Spangdahlem Air Base is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 43.9% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 32.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 31 knots. Calm conditions occur 16% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 26°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, March, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 31 kt
Calm Winds: 16%
Direction Distribution:
E
21.9%
N
2.9%
S
6.9%
W
15.1%
NE
6.6%
NW
2.8%
SE
2.6%
SW
25.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.7°C
Range: -8°C to 26°C
-8°C 26°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 4.2%

Best Months for VFR

April March May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3 kt

Statistics computed from 14,966 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Spangdahlem Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ETAD
IATA Code: SPM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,197 ft MSL

Location

City: Trier
Country: DE
Latitude: 49.976507°
Longitude: 6.698413°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 10,007 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Spangdahlem Air Base

Spangdahlem Air Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the DE AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Spangdahlem Air Base is a medium-sized airport located near Trier, Germany, serving military and potentially joint civilian aviation operations. Situated at an elevation of 1197 feet above mean sea level, the base provides strategic aviation infrastructure in the European theater. Its single runway 05/23 offers a substantial 10,007-foot asphalt surface capable of supporting significant aircraft operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Spangdahlem demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions present 36.8% of the time and marginal conditions (MVFR) occurring 24.2% of observations. Temperature ranges from -8°C to 26°C, with an average of 6.2°C, indicating potential for icing and temperature-related performance considerations. Pilots can expect predominantly southwestern winds averaging 7.8 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 31 knots.

Notable Features

The airport's geographic positioning in western Germany suggests potential interaction with complex European airspace structures and terrain variations. Calm wind conditions occur 15.6% of the time, which may impact runway selection and approach strategies. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of severely restricted visibility, supporting generally reliable visual navigation.

Approach Considerations

Runway 05/23 demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and a minimal average crosswind of 2.7 knots. September through November represent the most consistent visual meteorological conditions, potentially offering the most predictable flying environment. Pilots should anticipate potential instrument meteorological conditions, as IFR and LIFR conditions combine to represent approximately 39% of observed weather patterns.

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.