Emmen Air Base

LSME / EML

Emmen, CH

Last Updated
May 14, 12:50Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a military aerodrome. Civil aircraft access may be restricted or require prior authorization. Consult the applicable AIP for current access procedures.

Consult the applicable national AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 33 min ago
12:50Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
11 kt
230°
--
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1001 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LSME 141250Z AUTO 23011KT 190V250 9999NDV FEW048 SCT083 11/04 Q1001 RMK

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,400 ft
FEW 4,800 ft AGL
SCT 8,300 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,200 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
8,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,700 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Emmen Air Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 8,300 feet.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots. Runway 22 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 4,800 ft, scattered at 8,300 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 4°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 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, Thunderstorm RAGS, Thunderstorm Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 2 to 15 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 10:00Z and 20:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm RAGS between 10:00Z and 18:00Z. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions with Showers Rain between 08:00Z and 16:00Z.

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.

QNH
1001 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
954 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,400 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,768 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,624 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LSME 140925Z 1410/1516 29010KT 9999 FEW025 BKN040 BKN075 TEMPO 1410/1420 SHRA SCT040TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1410/1418 31015G25KT 4000 TSRAGS SCT040CB BECMG 1417/1420 VRB02KT PROB40 TEMPO 1508/1516 32010KT SHRA SCT040TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1512/1516 32012G25KT TSRA SCT030CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:22Z BASE
+0h
VFR 290° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
17:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR VRB 2 kt

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
SME
04
22 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 04/22
Active: 22
8,208 ft 130 ft ASP 37°
10.8 kt 1.9 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 - LSME

10,325 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.1%
MVFR
16%
IFR
4.4%
LIFR
6.5%

Emmen Air Base typically experiences VFR conditions 73.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 10.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 4.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 60.3% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -14°C to 29°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Fog is a notable factor, occurring in approximately 35.6% of observations, with visibility below 3 SM in 0% of reports. The best months for VFR flying are May, March, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 4.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 60.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
6.1%
NE
6.4%
E
2.1%
SE
0.4%
S
2.7%
SW
9.8%
W
9.5%
NW
2.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.6°C
Range: -14°C to 29°C
-14°C 29°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 35.6%

Best Months for VFR

May March April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 04/22
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.2 kt

Statistics computed from 10,325 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Emmen Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LSME
IATA Code: EML
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,400 ft MSL

Location

City: Emmen
Country: CH
Latitude: 47.092444°
Longitude: 8.305184°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 04/22
Length: 8,208 ft
Width: 130 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Emmen Air Base

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

Overview

Emmen Air Base (LSME) is a medium-sized airport located in Switzerland at an elevation of 1,400 feet MSL. Situated near the town of Emmen, the airport serves as an important regional aviation facility with a substantial 8,208-foot asphalt runway oriented 04/22.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Emmen Air Base demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions prevailing 65.5% of the time. Pilots should anticipate potential marginal conditions, as MVFR occurs in 19.7% of observations, with IFR and LIFR accounting for the remaining 14.8%. Fog is notably frequent, occurring in 52.8% of observations, and temperatures range extensively from -14°C to 29°C.

Notable Features

The airport experiences predominantly southwestern winds at 225 degrees, with an average speed of 4.8 knots and maximum gusts reaching 28 knots. Calm wind conditions are reported in 61.6% of observations, suggesting relatively stable atmospheric conditions. The geographical positioning likely contributes to these wind characteristics and potential terrain-influenced meteorological variations.

Approach Considerations

Runway 04/22 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of just 2.1 knots. September, October, and November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for aviation operations. Pilots should prepare for potential visibility challenges, though the average visibility remains robust at 10 statute miles.

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.