Büchel Air Base

ETSB

Alflen, DE

Last Updated
May 14, 20:20Z

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 1 hour ago
20:20Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
3 kt
20°
--
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
998 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ETSB 142020Z AUTO 02003KT //// // ////// 05/04 Q0998 ///

Weather Briefing

VFR

Büchel Air Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (20°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of 4°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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.

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

QNH
998 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
946 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,568 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,026 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,202 ft
ISA Deviation: -6.9°C

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
TSB
03 ✈️
21

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 03
8,225 ft 148 ft ASP 29°
3.0 kt 0.5 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - ETSB

6,346 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.8%
MVFR
7.3%
IFR
4.4%
LIFR
12.5%

Büchel Air Base typically experiences VFR conditions 75.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.5 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 26°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Fog is a notable factor, occurring in approximately 12.4% of observations, with visibility below 3 SM in 0% of reports. The best months for VFR flying are April, March, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 1.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
7%
NE
9.7%
E
14.9%
SE
7.9%
S
8.9%
SW
29.6%
W
14.8%
NW
5.5%

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: 12.4%

Best Months for VFR

April March September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4 kt

Statistics computed from 6,346 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Büchel Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ETSB
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,568 ft MSL

Location

City: Alflen
Country: DE
Latitude: 50.173801°
Longitude: 7.063330°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 8,225 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Büchel Air Base

Büchel 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

Büchel Air Base is a medium-sized airport located near Alflen, Germany, situated at an elevation of 1,568 feet MSL. The base serves as a military airfield with a single asphalt runway (03/21) measuring 8,225 feet in length. Its strategic location in western Germany provides critical aviation infrastructure for military and potentially supporting civilian operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Büchel Air Base demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing 73.7% of the time. Winter months can present challenging conditions, with LIFR (Low Instrument Flight Rules) occurring 14% of observations and temperatures ranging from -8°C to 26°C. The prevailing southwest winds at 225° average 7.7 knots, with occasional gusts up to 28 knots.

Notable Features

The airport's terrain at 1,568 feet MSL suggests a moderately elevated location with potential terrain considerations for approach and departure. Wind patterns are consistently from the southwest, with calm conditions occurring only 2.1% of the time. The runway alignment (03/21) appears well-suited to the predominant wind direction, with favorable wind conditions 100% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate generally good visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of visibility below 3 miles. Seasonal variations suggest September, November, and December offer the most consistent VFR conditions. The average crosswind on Runway 03/21 is relatively mild at 3.5 knots, providing comfortable landing and takeoff conditions for most aircraft.

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.