Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Last Updated
May 15, 00:40Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 8 min ago
00:40Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
6 kt
20°
6 km
Visibility
2,300 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI LPLA 150040Z 02006KT 350V060 6000 -RA SCT017 BKN023 BKN038 13/11 Q1033

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 180 ft
SCT 1,700 ft AGL
BKN 2,300 ft AGL
BKN 3,800 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,880 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,480 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,980 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Lajes Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,300 feet and 6 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (20°) at 6 knots. Runway 33 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 6 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. The ceiling is 2300 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 11°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions between 00:00Z and 09:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LPLA 142306Z 1500/1524 02008KT 9999 SCT025 SCT045 PROB40 TEMPO 1500/1509 SCT012 BKN018 BECMG 1520/1522 VRB05KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
00:47Z BASE
+0h
VFR 20° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

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
PLA
15
33 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
10,870 ft 197 ft ASP 140°
3.9 kt 4.6 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LPLA

6,144 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.5%
MVFR
26.8%
IFR
6.3%
LIFR
0.4%

Lajes Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 13 knots, with gusts recorded up to 154 knots. Temperatures typically range between 7°C and 27°C with an average of 16.3°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, May, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 13 kt
Maximum Recorded: 154 kt
Calm Winds: 1.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
15.5%
NE
1.5%
E
6.9%
SE
7.4%
S
12.7%
SW
16.7%
W
14.2%
NW
23.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.3°C
Range: 7°C to 27°C
7°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

October May November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.9 kt

Statistics computed from 6,144 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lajes Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LPLA
IATA Code: TER
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 180 ft MSL

Location

City: Praia da Vitória
Country: PT
Latitude: 38.761799°
Longitude: -27.090799°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 10,870 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lajes Airport

Overview

Lajes Airport serves Praia da Vitória on Terceira Island in the Azores, Portugal. Located at an elevation of 180 ft MSL with coordinates 38.761799, -27.090799, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure in the mid-Atlantic region. The airport features a single asphalt runway 15/33 measuring 10,870 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Lajes Airport are predominantly favorable for flying, with 70.8% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Northwest winds dominate at 315°, averaging 12.7 knots with occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from 9°C to 27°C, with an average of 17.6°C, creating generally stable atmospheric conditions for aviation.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position in the Azores presents unique maritime meteorological characteristics. Runway 15/33 experiences favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of only 6.2 knots. The airport's elevation and Atlantic island location contribute to relatively consistent visibility, averaging 10 statute miles with minimal fog occurrence.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during October, November, and September. The extensive 10,870-foot runway provides substantial landing and takeoff flexibility. With calm wind conditions occurring only 2.5% of the time, most approaches will benefit from the predictable northwest wind pattern and generally excellent visibility.

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.