Naval Air Station Pensacola Forrest Sherman Field

KNPA / NPA

Pensacola, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 21:56Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 30 min ago
21:56Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 24°C
11 kt
220° G18 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNPA 052156Z 22011G18KT 10SM FEW035 SCT090 SCT250 32/24 A2991 RMK AO2 RAB01E11 SLP131 T2 SET P0000 T03170244 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 28 ft
FEW 3,500 ft AGL
SCT 9,000 ft AGL
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,528 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,028 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,028 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Naval Air Station Pensacola Forrest Sherman Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 9,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots with gusts to 18 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component (gusting to 9 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,500 ft, scattered at 9,000 ft, scattered at 25,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 32°C (90°F) with a dewpoint of 24°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1012 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (28 ft)
Pressure Alt
36 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,083 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +17.1°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
NPA
01
19
07L
25R ✈️
07R
25L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 7,137 ft 200 ft ASP
9.1 kt 6.2 kt
146° angle
✈️ 07L/25R
Active: 25R
8,002 ft 200 ft ASP 68°
9.5 kt 5.5 kt
30° angle
✈️ 07R/25L
Active: 25L
8,001 ft 200 ft ASP 68°
9.5 kt 5.5 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 - KNPA

12,473 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
71.8%
MVFR
15.3%
IFR
5.8%
LIFR
7%

Naval Air Station Pensacola Forrest Sherman Field typically experiences VFR conditions 71.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 7.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 19.2% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 24 kt
Calm Winds: 19.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
11.8%
N
17.1%
S
12.4%
W
2.5%
NE
6.9%
NW
7.2%
SE
12.3%
SW
10.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 18.9°C
Range: -6°C to 34°C
-6°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.9%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

July September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.4 kt
Runway 07L/25R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 07R/25L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 12,473 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Naval Air Station Pensacola Forrest Sherman Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNPA
IATA Code: NPA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 28 ft MSL

Location

City: Pensacola
Country: US
Latitude: 30.352699°
Longitude: -87.318604°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 7,137 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07L/25R
Length: 8,002 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 07R/25L
Length: 8,001 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Naval Air Station Pensacola Forrest Sherman Field

Naval Air Station Pensacola Forrest Sherman Field is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Naval Air Station Pensacola Forrest Sherman Field serves as a critical naval aviation training facility located in the Florida panhandle. Situated at an elevation of 28 feet MSL near Pensacola, the airport supports military aviation operations with three substantial asphalt runways ranging from 7,137 to 8,002 feet in length. Its strategic location provides an ideal environment for pilot training and military aviation activities.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNPA are predominantly VFR, with 70.7% of observations showing good flying conditions. Temperatures range from -3°C to 33°C, with an average of 17.2°C, offering generally stable flying weather. Wind patterns are predominantly northerly at an average of 7.1 knots, with calm conditions occurring 23.5% of the time. September, October, and November represent the most favorable VFR months for aviation operations.

Notable Features

The airport features three parallel runways with excellent wind coverage, each oriented to accommodate prevailing wind conditions. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components ranging from 3.9 to 4.9 knots. Visibility averages 9.3 statute miles, with only 2.9% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles and occasional fog at 4.7% of recorded times.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistent approach conditions across the three runways, with Runway 01/19, 07L/25R, and 07R/25L all providing reliable landing options. The low elevation and coastal location suggest potential for variable wind conditions, though the data indicates generally mild wind characteristics. Approaches should consider the average 7.1-knot winds and potential for occasional reduced visibility during foggy conditions.

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.