McConnell Air Force Base

KIAB / IAB

Wichita, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 21:55Z

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
Recent 38 min ago
21:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 21°C
15 kt
30°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KIAB 042155Z AUTO 03015KT 10SM TS SCT043 SCT065 27/21 A2992 RMK AO2 TSE2055TSB41 SLP119 T02690209

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,371 ft
SCT 4,300 ft AGL
SCT 6,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,671 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
6,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,871 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

McConnell Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 4,300 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (30°) at 15 knots. Runway 01L/19R is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 4,300 ft, scattered at 6,500 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 21°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: Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 30 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 6 to 30 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 23:00Z and 05:00Z.

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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
967 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,371 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,379 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,148 ft
ISA Deviation: +14.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KIAB 041850Z 0418/0524 14012G20KT 9999 FEW100 SCT150 BKN200 QNH2993INS BECMG 0419/0420 15010G20KT 9999 VCTS SCT060 BKN090CB QNH2993INS BECMG 0422/0423 04015G25KT 8000 -SHRA VCTS FEW030 SCT060CB OVC150 QNH2993INS TEMPO 0423/0505 VRB30G45KT 3200 TSRA BKN030 OVC060CB BECMG 0506/0507 VRB06KT 9999 NSW BKN250 QNH2998INS BECMG 0513/0514 33006KT 9999 SKC QNH2995INS TX33/0421Z TN20/0512Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:32Z BASE
+0h
VFR 140° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 20,000 ft
23:00Z TEMPO
+1h
IFR VRB 30 kt
Visibility: 3.2 km
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Thunderstorm Rain
06:00Z BECMG
+8h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 25,000 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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
IAB
01L ✈️
19R
01R ✈️
19L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01L/19R
Active: 01L
12,000 ft 200 ft CON 13°
14.1 kt 5.1 kt
20° angle
✈️ 01R/19L
Active: 01R
12,000 ft 300 ft PEM 13°
14.1 kt 5.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KIAB

8,489 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.8%
MVFR
11.8%
IFR
8.6%
LIFR
2.8%

McConnell Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 76.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 10 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Temperature extremes range from -17°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 10 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 5.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
8.7%
N
15.2%
S
26%
W
3.9%
NE
11%
NW
4.4%
SE
8.7%
SW
16.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 14°C
Range: -17°C to 37°C
-17°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.7%
Fog Frequency: 1.7%

Best Months for VFR

July September February

Runway Wind Analysis

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

Statistics computed from 8,489 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

McConnell Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KIAB
IATA Code: IAB
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,371 ft MSL

Location

City: Wichita
Country: US
Latitude: 37.621899°
Longitude: -97.268204°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 01L/19R
Length: 12,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 01R/19L
Length: 12,000 ft
Width: 300 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About McConnell Air Force Base

McConnell 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

McConnell Air Force Base is a medium-sized military airport located in Wichita, Kansas, situated at an elevation of 1,371 feet above mean sea level. The base hosts critical Air Force operations and features two substantial parallel runways, each 12,000 feet long, capable of supporting large military and potentially commercial aircraft. Its strategic central US location provides significant operational flexibility for military aviation activities.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at McConnell AFB demonstrate predominantly favorable flying conditions, with VFR conditions present 78% of the time. Seasonal temperature variations are substantial, ranging from -15°C to 34°C, which pilots must consider for performance planning. Wind patterns are consistently from the south at an average of 8.8 knots, with occasional gusts up to 31 knots, and calm conditions occurring 7.1% of the time.

Notable Features

The airport's twin parallel runways (01L/19R and 01R/19L) offer excellent operational flexibility, both exhibiting 100% favorable wind alignment and minimal average crosswind of 4 knots. The geographical positioning in south-central Kansas presents relatively flat terrain typical of the Great Plains region. Both runways are constructed with concrete (CON) and permanent engineering materials (PEM), indicating robust surface conditions.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistently favorable wind conditions for both runways, with a prevailing southerly wind direction. Visibility averages 9.5 statute miles, with only 1.1% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles. September, January, and December represent the most predictable VFR months, offering the most stable approach and landing conditions throughout the year.

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.