RAF Cranwell

EGYD

Sleaford, Lincolnshire, GB

Last Updated
Apr 22, 22:50Z

Military Airport

PPR Available

This is a Royal Air Force or Ministry of Defence aerodrome. Civil access may be available with Prior Permission Required (PPR).

Access Notes:

Many RAF stations accept civil PPR; consult UK AIP AD 2 for specific procedures

Consult official AIP (UK AIP ENR 2.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 31 min ago
22:50Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 4°C
7 kt
40°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGYD 222250Z AUTO 04007KT 9999 NCD 05/04 Q1030

Weather Briefing

VFR

RAF Cranwell is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (40°) at 7 knots. Runway 01/19 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°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 3 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. There is a 40% probability of VFR conditions between 15:00Z and 17:00Z.

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.

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 EGYD 221328Z 2215/2218 07015KT 9999 FEW045 PROB40 TEMPO 2215/2217 08016G26KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:21Z BASE
+0h
VFR 70° 15 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
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
GYD
01 ✈️
19
08
26
08R
26L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 01
4,803 ft 147 ft ASP
6.1 kt 3.5 kt
30° angle
08/26 6,831 ft 147 ft ASP 83°
5.1 kt 4.8 kt
43° angle
08R/26L 2,354 ft 131 ft GRS 89°
4.6 kt 5.3 kt
49° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGYD

10,276 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
59.4%
MVFR
16.6%
IFR
9.7%
LIFR
14.2%

RAF Cranwell is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 59.4% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 23.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 11.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Temperatures typically range between -7°C and 23°C with an average of 8°C. The best months for VFR flying are April, September, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 11.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
5.7%
NE
5.9%
E
10.8%
SE
12.8%
S
21.4%
SW
18.6%
W
16.3%
NW
8.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 8°C
Range: -7°C to 23°C
-7°C 23°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 3.4%

Best Months for VFR

April September November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.1 kt
Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.9 kt
Runway 08R/26L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.9 kt

Statistics computed from 10,276 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

RAF Cranwell - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGYD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 218 ft MSL

Location

City: Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Country: GB
Latitude: 53.030300°
Longitude: -0.483242°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 4,803 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 08/26
Length: 6,831 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 08R/26L
Length: 2,354 ft
Width: 131 ft
Surface: GRS
ILS: No

About RAF Cranwell

RAF Cranwell is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the GB AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

RAF Cranwell is a military airfield located in Lincolnshire, serving as a key training facility for the Royal Air Force. Situated at an elevation of 218 ft MSL near Sleaford, the airport supports various aviation operations with three distinct runways providing operational flexibility.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions 61.8% of the time, with marginal VFR and IFR conditions occurring less frequently. The prevailing southerly winds at an average of 11.4 knots create consistent wind patterns, with temperatures ranging from -7°C to 23°C and excellent average visibility of 10 statute miles.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways: two asphalt (01/19 at 4,803 ft and 08/26 at 6,831 ft) and one grass runway (08R/26L at 2,354 ft). The multiple runway configurations provide operational versatility, with all runways demonstrating 100% favorable wind alignment and relatively low average crosswind conditions around 7 knots.

Approach Considerations

September through November offer the most favorable VFR flying conditions at RAF Cranwell. Pilots should anticipate southerly winds and be prepared for potential wind variations, with maximum recorded wind speeds reaching 37 knots. The substantial runway lengths and multiple surface types provide options for different aircraft types and meteorological conditions.

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.