McConnell Air Force Base

KIAB / IAB

Wichita, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:10Z

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
Recent 51 min ago
11:10Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
15°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
10 kt
210°
7 SM
Visibility
500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KIAB 221110Z AUTO 21010KT 7SM OVC005 15/14 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP150 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,371 ft
OVC 500 ft AGL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,871 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

McConnell Air Force Base is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 500 feet and 7 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots. Runway 19 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 7 SM. The ceiling is 500 feet AGL (overcast). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 15°C (59°F) with a dewpoint of 14°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: Mist. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Mist between 10:00Z and 14:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. 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.

QNH
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
970 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,371 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,289 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,618 ft
ISA Deviation: +2.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KIAB 221000Z 2210/2316 21010G15KT 9999 OVC007 QNH2998INS TEMPO 2210/2214 4800 BR OVC005 BECMG 2214/2215 19012G22KT 9999 OVC015 QNH2995INS BECMG 2217/2218 18015G25KT 9999 SCT030 QNH2980INS BECMG 2302/2303 16015G25KT 9999 BKN015 520004 QNH2976INS BECMG 2308/2309 17020G30KT 9999 BKN007 OVC015 520004 QNH2966INS TX22/2222Z TN14/2212Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:01Z BASE
+0h
IFR 210° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 700 ft
14:00Z BECMG
+2h
MVFR 190° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,500 ft
17:00Z BECMG
+5h
VFR 180° 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
  • • 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°
9.4 kt 3.4 kt
20° angle
✈️ 01R/19L
Active: 19L
12,000 ft 300 ft PEM 13°
9.4 kt 3.4 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KIAB

6,212 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.6%
MVFR
10.3%
IFR
8.8%
LIFR
3.3%

McConnell Air Force Base typically experiences VFR conditions 77.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.7 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 September, February, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 6.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
17.6%
NE
10.4%
E
7.4%
SE
7.9%
S
24.2%
SW
17.2%
W
3.9%
NW
5.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.1°C
Range: -17°C to 34°C
-17°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.8%
Fog Frequency: 2.3%

Best Months for VFR

September February January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01L/19R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 01R/19L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt

Statistics computed from 6,212 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.