Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base

KSPS / SPS

Wichita Falls, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 20:52Z

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 59 min ago
20:52Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
24°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
17 kt
160°
10 SM
Visibility
3,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSPS 222052Z 16017KT 10SM FEW023 SCT028 BKN038 24/18 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP109 T02390183 56023

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,019 ft
FEW 2,300 ft AGL
SCT 2,800 ft AGL
BKN 3,800 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,319 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,819 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,819 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 3,800 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (160°) at 17 knots. Runway 15C/33C is favored with a 17-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 3800 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 24°C (75°F) with a dewpoint of 18°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 22 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan.

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
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
978 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,019 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,057 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,382 ft
ISA Deviation: +11.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSPS 221936Z 2220/2318 17015G24KT P6SM BKN025 FM230300 16014G20KT P6SM OVC015 FM231000 17013KT P6SM OVC007 FM231600 19019G27KT P6SM SCT022
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:51Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 170° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
03:00Z FM230300
+6h
MVFR 160° 14 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 1,500 ft

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
SPS
15L ✈️
33R
15C ✈️
33C
15R ✈️
33L
17 ✈️
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15C/33C
Active: 15C
10,003 ft 150 ft PEM 158°
16.7 kt 3.0 kt
10° angle
✈️ 15L/33R
Active: 15L
6,000 ft 150 ft PEM 158°
16.7 kt 3.0 kt
10° angle
✈️ 15R/33L
Active: 15R
13,101 ft 300 ft CON 158°
16.7 kt 3.0 kt
10° angle
✈️ 17/35
Active: 17
7,021 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
16.7 kt 3.0 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 - KSPS

5,597 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
88.4%
MVFR
7.2%
IFR
2.8%
LIFR
1.6%

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 88.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 10 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Temperature extremes range from -14°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, February, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 10 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 4.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
18%
NE
7.4%
E
5.9%
SE
10.7%
S
32.6%
SW
11.4%
W
3.9%
NW
5.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 14.6°C
Range: -14°C to 37°C
-14°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.8%
Fog Frequency: 0.9%

Best Months for VFR

September February October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15C/33C
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 15L/33R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 15R/33L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 5,597 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSPS
IATA Code: SPS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,019 ft MSL

Location

City: Wichita Falls
Country: US
Latitude: 33.988800°
Longitude: -98.491898°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 15C/33C
Length: 10,003 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 15L/33R
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 15R/33L
Length: 13,101 ft
Width: 300 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 7,021 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard 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

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base is a medium airport located in Wichita Falls, Texas, serving both military and civilian aviation needs. Situated at an elevation of 1,019 feet MSL, the airport features four runways ranging from 6,000 to 13,101 feet in length. Its co-location with Sheppard Air Force Base provides a unique operational environment for both military training and general aviation.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 89.7% of observations showing favorable visual flight rules. Prevailing winds are from the south at an average of 9 knots, with maximum gusts up to 30 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -9°C to 35°C, with an average of 15°C. Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during September, October, and November.

Notable Features

The airport boasts four runways with different surface types: two PEM (Portland Cement) runways and one concrete runway, providing flexibility for various aircraft operations. All runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and minimal average crosswind components ranging from 4.2 to 5.3 knots. The long 13,101-foot runway (15R/33L) offers substantial landing and takeoff capabilities.

Approach Considerations

With multiple runways available, pilots have excellent options for approach and landing based on current wind conditions. Visibility averages 9.8 statute miles, with only 0.7% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles and 1.4% experiencing fog. The consistent wind patterns and multiple runway options provide significant operational flexibility for incoming and departing aircraft.

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.