Luke Air Force Base

KLUF / LUF

Glendale, US

Last Updated
Jun 24, 17:55Z

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 38 min ago
17:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
38°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
13 kt
200°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KLUF 241755Z 20013KT 10SM SCT190 SCT210 38/08 A2990 RMK AO2A LTG DSNT NE RAB09E18 SLP106 P0000 60000 T03750083 10382 20332 50003 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,085 ft
SCT 19,000 ft AGL
SCT 21,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
19,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
20,085 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
21,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
22,085 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Luke Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 19,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 13-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 19,000 ft, scattered at 21,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 38°C (100°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C, indicating very dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 26 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 17:00Z and 21:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
977 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,085 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,093 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,113 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +25.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KLUF 241650Z 2416/2518 20012KT 9999 SCT150 BKN200 QNH2986INS TEMPO 2417/2421 VRB15G25KT 9999 -TSRA BKN120CB 520007 BECMG 2420/2421 23012G18KT 9999 FEW150 SCT220 QNH2973INS BECMG 2502/2503 VRB06KT 9999 FEW220 QNH2974INS TX43/2423Z TN32/2413Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR 200° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 20,000 ft
20:00Z BECMG
+2h
VFR 230° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
02:00Z BECMG
+8h
VFR VRB 6 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
  • • 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
LUF
03L
21R ✈️
03R
21L ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03L/21R
Active: 21R
10,012 ft 150 ft ASP 42°
12.8 kt 2.3 kt
10° angle
✈️ 03R/21L
Active: 21L
9,904 ft 150 ft CON 42°
12.8 kt 2.3 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KLUF

7,311 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
97.2%
MVFR
2.4%
IFR
0.4%
LIFR
0.1%

Luke Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 97.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 6.7 knots. Calm conditions occur 23.4% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 3°C to 44°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, June, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 6.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 27 kt
Calm Winds: 23.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.4%
N
17.7%
S
13.6%
W
4.4%
NE
7.9%
NW
9%
SE
4%
SW
14.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 22.8°C
Range: 3°C to 44°C
3°C 44°C

Visibility

Average: 11.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.1%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

April June September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03L/21R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt
Runway 03R/21L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.1 kt

Statistics computed from 7,311 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Luke Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KLUF
IATA Code: LUF
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,085 ft MSL

Location

City: Glendale
Country: US
Latitude: 33.535000°
Longitude: -112.383003°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 03L/21R
Length: 10,012 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 03R/21L
Length: 9,904 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Luke Air Force Base

Luke 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

Luke Air Force Base is a medium-sized airport located in Glendale, Arizona, situated at an elevation of 1,085 feet MSL. The base serves as a critical training facility for USAF pilots, positioned in the southwest United States with coordinates 33.535000, -112.383003. It features two substantial runways capable of handling large military aircraft.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 96.1% of observations showing clear weather suitable for visual flight. Temperature ranges from 3°C to 41°C, with an average of 20.4°C, providing consistent flying conditions throughout the year. September, December, and January represent the most favorable VFR months, with minimal instances of reduced visibility or instrument meteorological conditions.

Notable Features

Both runways (03L/21R and 03R/21L) are nearly identical in length, exceeding 9,900 feet and constructed of asphalt and concrete respectively. Wind patterns are consistently from the north (0°) with an average speed of 5.9 knots, and calm conditions occur 27.2% of the time. The geographic location provides stable atmospheric conditions with remarkably low occurrences of restricted visibility.

Approach Considerations

Wind conditions favor both runways equally, with 100% favorable wind alignment and minimal average crosswind of 3.1 knots. Pilots can expect excellent approach conditions with an average visibility of 12.4 statute miles and extremely rare instances of visibility below 3 miles. The consistent wind patterns and extensive runway lengths provide flexible and predictable approach options.

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.