McConnell Air Force Base

KIAB / IAB

Wichita, US

Last Updated
May 15, 08:55Z

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
Aging 1 hour ago
08:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
9 kt
190°
10 SM
Visibility
16,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1005 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KIAB 150855Z AUTO 19009KT 10SM BKN160 23/17 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP039 T02290169 56006

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,371 ft
BKN 16,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
16,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
17,371 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

McConnell Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 16,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.2 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (190°) at 9 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 16000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 17°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period.

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
1005 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
959 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,371 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,619 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,908 ft
ISA Deviation: +10.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KIAB 150200Z 1502/1608 19020G30KT 9999 VCTS SCT100CB BKN150 OVC200 QNH2968INS BECMG 1503/1504 19020G30KT 9999 NSW SCT150 BKN200 QNH2971INS BECMG 1505/1506 17012G22KT 9999 SCT120 BKN210 WS020/21045KT QNH2967INS BECMG 1509/1510 17012KT 9999 FEW150 SCT200 QNH2970INS BECMG 1513/1514 18010G20KT 9999 FEW180 QNH2963INS BECMG 1522/1523 18015G25KT 9999 BKN150 QNH2964INS BECMG 1602/1603 17020G30KT 9999 VCTS BKN150CB OVC210 QNH2965INS TX32/1521Z TN20/1512Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:04Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 190° 20 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 15,000 ft
13:00Z BECMG
+3h
VFR 180° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
22:00Z BECMG
+12h
VFR 180° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 15,000 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
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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
IAB
01L
19R ✈️
01R
19L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01L/19R
Active: 19R
12,000 ft 200 ft CON 13°
9.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
✈️ 01R/19L
Active: 19L
12,000 ft 300 ft PEM 13°
9.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KIAB

6,901 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
78%
MVFR
10.5%
IFR
8.5%
LIFR
3%

McConnell Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 78% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Temperature extremes range from -17°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 6%
Direction Distribution:
N
16.9%
NE
11.5%
E
7.5%
SE
7.8%
S
23.8%
SW
17.3%
W
4.1%
NW
5%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.8°C
Range: -17°C to 34°C
-17°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.7%
Fog Frequency: 2.1%

Best Months for VFR

May September February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01L/19R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt
Runway 01R/19L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 6,901 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.