Edwards Air Force Base

KEDW / EDW

Edwards, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 22:10Z

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 25 min ago
22:10Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
34°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
14 kt
250° G23 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KEDW 042210Z AUTO 25014G23KT 10SM FEW095 SCT140 34/09 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP124 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,312 ft
FEW 9,500 ft AGL
SCT 14,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
9,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,812 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
14,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
16,312 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Edwards Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 14,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 14 knots with gusts to 23 knots. Runway 24 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component (gusting to 4 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 9,500 ft, scattered at 14,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 34°C (93°F) with a dewpoint of 9°C, indicating very dry 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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
938 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,312 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,260 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 5,095 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +23.6°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
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
EDW
04L
22R
04R
22L
06
24 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
04L/22R 12,000 ft 200 ft ASPH
4.8 kt 13.2 kt
110° angle
04R/22L 15,024 ft 300 ft CONC 58°
13.7 kt 2.9 kt
168° angle
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
8,000 ft 50 ft CON 77°
13.8 kt 2.4 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 - KEDW

7,350 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
95.6%
MVFR
3.5%
IFR
0.8%
LIFR
0.1%

Edwards Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 95.6% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 9.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 19.3% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -3°C to 40°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, July, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 9.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 19.3%
Direction Distribution:
E
3.5%
N
7.9%
S
7.8%
W
14.8%
NE
5.8%
NW
2.9%
SE
2.4%
SW
35.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.2°C
Range: -3°C to 40°C
-3°C 40°C

Visibility

Average: 38.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.1%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

March July June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt
Runway 04L/22R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt
Runway 04R/22L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.7 kt

Statistics computed from 7,350 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Edwards Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KEDW
IATA Code: EDW
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,312 ft MSL

Location

City: Edwards
Country: US
Latitude: 34.905399°
Longitude: -117.884003°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 04L/22R
Length: 12,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No
Runway 04R/22L
Length: 15,024 ft
Width: 300 ft
Surface: CONC
ILS: No
Runway 06/24
Length: 8,000 ft
Width: 50 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Edwards Air Force Base

Edwards Air Force Base 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

Edwards Air Force Base is a strategic medium airport located in the high desert of California, situated at an elevation of 2,312 feet MSL. As a primary test and evaluation center for military aviation, the base hosts critical aerospace research and development operations. Its strategic location and extensive runway infrastructure make it a key facility for advanced aerospace testing.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Edwards AFB are predominantly very favorable for flying, with VFR conditions present 92.1% of the time. The airport experiences a moderate temperature range from -2°C to 37°C, with an average temperature of 13.8°C. Southwest winds prevail at an average of 7.5 knots, with calm conditions occurring 26.3% of the time, providing consistently stable flying environments.

Notable Features

The airport features three substantial runways, with the longest being Runway 04R/22L at 15,024 feet of concrete surface. Its high desert location offers excellent visibility, with an average visibility of 37.2 statute miles and extremely rare instances of reduced visibility (only 0.2% of observations below 3SM). The terrain and wind conditions make Edwards AFB an ideal location for aircraft testing and operational evaluations.

Approach Considerations

All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components between 3.2-3.3 knots. September, October, and December represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for aviation operations. Pilots can expect predictable wind patterns and excellent visual conditions, making approach and departure procedures typically straightforward at this facility.

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.