Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Last Updated
Mar 4, 13:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 56 min ago
13:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
23 kt
340°
10+ km
Visibility
1,400 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LPLA 041300Z 34023KT 9999 VCSH SCT007 BKN014 BKN022 13/12 Q1028

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 180 ft
SCT 700 ft AGL
BKN 1,400 ft AGL
BKN 2,200 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
880 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,580 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,380 ft AMSL

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LPLA 041101Z 0412/0512 35018G30KT 6000 -RADZ SCT006 BKN022 TEMPO 0412/0418 36025G38KT PROB40 TEMPO 0412/0415 3000 RADZ BR BKN004 BKN012 BECMG 0414/0416 9999 NSW SCT025 BKN040 BECMG 0501/0503 01012KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:56Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 350° 18 kt
Visibility: 6 km
Ceiling: 2,200 ft
Light RADZ
14:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
01:00Z BECMG
+12h
VFR 10° 12 kt

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
PLA
15
33 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
10,870 ft 197 ft ASP 140°
22.7 kt 4.0 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 - LPLA

4,333 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
69.3%
MVFR
24%
IFR
6.1%
LIFR
0.6%

Lajes Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 69.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.7% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 13.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 154 knots. Temperatures typically range between 8°C and 27°C with an average of 17.1°C. The best months for VFR flying are March, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 13.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 154 kt
Calm Winds: 1.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
8.7%
NE
0.9%
E
5.2%
SE
7.2%
S
14.3%
SW
19.7%
W
16.7%
NW
25.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 17.1°C
Range: 8°C to 27°C
8°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

March October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.7 kt

Statistics computed from 4,333 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lajes Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LPLA
IATA Code: TER
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 180 ft MSL

Location

City: Praia da Vitória
Country: PT
Latitude: 38.761799°
Longitude: -27.090799°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 10,870 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lajes Airport

Overview

Lajes Airport serves Praia da Vitória on Terceira Island in the Azores, Portugal. Located at an elevation of 180 ft MSL with coordinates 38.761799, -27.090799, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure in the mid-Atlantic region. The airport features a single asphalt runway 15/33 measuring 10,870 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Lajes Airport are predominantly favorable for flying, with 70.8% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Northwest winds dominate at 315°, averaging 12.7 knots with occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from 9°C to 27°C, with an average of 17.6°C, creating generally stable atmospheric conditions for aviation.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position in the Azores presents unique maritime meteorological characteristics. Runway 15/33 experiences favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of only 6.2 knots. The airport's elevation and Atlantic island location contribute to relatively consistent visibility, averaging 10 statute miles with minimal fog occurrence.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during October, November, and September. The extensive 10,870-foot runway provides substantial landing and takeoff flexibility. With calm wind conditions occurring only 2.5% of the time, most approaches will benefit from the predictable northwest wind pattern and generally excellent visibility.

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.