Columbus Municipal Airport

KBAK / CLU

Columbus, US

Last Updated
Mar 4, 20:45Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 43 min ago
20:45Z

🌙 Night
MVFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
8 kt
90°
5 SM
Visibility
4,700 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KBAK 042045Z 09008KT 5SM -RA BR SCT012 BKN047 OVC100 13/13 A3004

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 656 ft
SCT 1,200 ft AGL
BKN 4,700 ft AGL
OVC 10,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,856 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,356 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,656 ft AMSL

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
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Airport Runway Layout

N
BAK
05 ✈️
23
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 05
6,400 ft 150 ft ASP 45°
6.1 kt 5.1 kt
40° angle
14/32 5,000 ft 100 ft ASP 135°
5.7 kt 5.7 kt
45° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KBAK

2,733 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.7%
MVFR
18.4%
IFR
4.5%
LIFR
2.3%

Columbus Municipal Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74.7% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 8.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 115 knots. Calm conditions occur 32.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -29°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 8.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 115 kt
Calm Winds: 32.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
8%
NE
5%
E
3.7%
SE
4%
S
15.2%
SW
8.9%
W
13.6%
NW
9.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 5.9°C
Range: -29°C to 32°C
-29°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 2.3%
Fog Frequency: 1%

Best Months for VFR

October September February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.9 kt

Statistics computed from 2,733 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Columbus Municipal Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KBAK
IATA Code: CLU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 656 ft MSL

Location

City: Columbus
Country: US
Latitude: 39.262386°
Longitude: -85.895576°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 6,400 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 5,000 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Columbus Municipal Airport

Overview

Columbus Municipal Airport serves the Columbus area in Indiana, providing medium-airport capabilities for general aviation and regional transportation. Located at 39.262386, -85.895576 with an elevation of 656 feet MSL, the airport offers two asphalt runways supporting diverse aviation activities. Its strategic location and dual runway configuration make it a versatile facility for pilot operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Columbus Municipal Airport predominantly support visual flight rules, with 74.5% of observations indicating VFR conditions. Winds typically originate from the west at an average of 9.2 knots, with a notable calm frequency of 35.3%. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -23°C to 32°C, which pilots should consider for performance planning. October, September, and January offer the most consistent VFR flying conditions.

Notable Features

Both runways at Columbus Municipal Airport demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage. Runway 05/23 measures 6,400 feet in length, while runway 14/32 provides 5,000 feet of paved surface. The airport's moderate elevation and geographic characteristics suggest relatively stable approach environments with predictable wind patterns and minimal terrain complications.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect minimal crosswind challenges, with average crosswind components of 5.7 knots for runway 05/23 and 6.2 knots for runway 14/32. Visibility averages 9.3 statute miles, with only 1.5% of observations showing conditions below 3 miles. The low fog occurrence (0.8%) and predominantly favorable flying conditions make this airport generally accessible for most instrument-rated pilots and VFR 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.