Alpnach Air Base

LSMA

Alpnach, CH

Last Updated
May 15, 04:20Z

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
Fresh 6 min ago
04:20Z

🌅 Dawn
VFR
Flight Rules
6°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
1 kt
Variable
--
Visibility
6,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1000 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LSMA 150420Z AUTO VRB01KT 9999NDV FEW018 SCT040 OVC066 06/04 Q1000 RMK

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,460 ft
FEW 1,800 ft AGL
SCT 4,000 ft AGL
OVC 6,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,260 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,460 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
6,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,060 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Alpnach Air Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 6,600 feet.

Wind Analysis

Winds are calm, presenting no crosswind concerns for any runway.

Visibility & Ceiling

The ceiling is 6600 feet AGL (overcast), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 6°C (43°F) with a dewpoint of 4°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 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 Rain. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions with Showers Rain between 17:00Z and 20:00Z. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions with Showers Rain between 08:00Z and 18:00Z. There is a 30% probability of IFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 13:00Z and 16:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. 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
1000 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
951 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,460 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,858 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,128 ft
ISA Deviation: -6.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LSMA 141625Z 1417/1523 VRB02KT 9999 SCT040 PROB40 TEMPO 1417/1420 05012KT SHRA SCT030TCU PROB40 TEMPO 1508/1518 SHRA SCT040TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1513/1516 23012KT 4500 TSRA SCT030CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
04:26Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 2 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
08:00Z PROB40 TEMPO
+4h
MVFR
Showers Rain
13:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+9h
IFR 230° 12 kt
Visibility: 4.5 km
Thunderstorm Rain

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
SMA
01
19

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 6,135 ft 131 ft ASP 11° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LSMA

10,775 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.1%
MVFR
14.2%
IFR
3.7%
LIFR
5%

Alpnach Air Base typically experiences VFR conditions 77.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 5.1 knots. Calm conditions occur 19.9% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -13°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Fog is a notable factor, occurring in approximately 20.8% of observations, with visibility below 3 SM in 0% of reports. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 5.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 19.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.8%
NE
19.8%
E
9.9%
SE
0.6%
S
25.8%
SW
15.8%
W
4.1%
NW
0.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.4°C
Range: -13°C to 27°C
-13°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 20.8%

Best Months for VFR

May April March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.7 kt

Statistics computed from 10,775 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Alpnach Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LSMA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,460 ft MSL

Location

City: Alpnach
Country: CH
Latitude: 46.943901°
Longitude: 8.284170°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 6,135 ft
Width: 131 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Alpnach Air Base

Alpnach 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

Alpnach Air Base (LSMA) is a medium-sized airport located in central Switzerland at an elevation of 1,460 feet MSL. Situated near the coordinates 46.943901, 8.284170, the airport serves an important regional role with its single runway 01/19, which spans 6,135 feet and is constructed of asphalt.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Alpnach demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing 69.7% of the time. The airport experiences moderate temperature ranges from -13°C to 27°C, with an average temperature of 5.6°C. Notably, fog occurs in 29.6% of observations, and September through November offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions.

Notable Features

The airport's wind patterns are characterized by a southerly prevailing wind at 180 degrees, with an average speed of 4.6 knots and maximum gusts up to 23 knots. Calm wind conditions are present 22.7% of the time, which provides relatively stable approach conditions for pilots navigating the region's terrain.

Approach Considerations

Runway 01/19 demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of just 2.2 knots. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with extremely rare instances of visibility below 3 miles, suggesting generally clear approach conditions for most operations.

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.