Alpnach Air Base

LSMA

Alpnach, CH

Last Updated
Jul 27, 11:50Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a military aerodrome. Civil aircraft access may be restricted or require prior authorization. Consult the applicable AIP for current access procedures.

Consult the applicable national AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 29 min ago
11:50Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
11 kt
50°
10+ km
Visibility
9,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1018 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LSMA 271150Z 05011KT 9999 FEW064 SCT075 BKN090 25/15 Q1018 RMK BLU

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,460 ft
FEW 6,400 ft AGL
SCT 7,500 ft AGL
BKN 9,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
6,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,860 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
7,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,960 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,460 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Alpnach Air Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 9,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (50°) at 11 knots. Runway 01/19 is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 7-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 9000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of 15°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions between 10:00Z and 17:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1018 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
969 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,460 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,318 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,868 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LSMA 270925Z 2710/2816 26007KT 9999 SCT060 BKN090 PROB30 TEMPO 2710/2717 04010KT BECMG 2719/2721 CAVOK BECMG 2810/2813 03010KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:18Z BASE
+0h
VFR 260° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 9,000 ft
19:00Z BECMG
+7h
VFR
Visibility: >10km

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
SMA
01 ✈️
19

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 01/19
Active: 01
6,135 ft 131 ft ASP 11°
8.4 kt 7.1 kt
40° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LSMA

13,948 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
82%
MVFR
11.3%
IFR
2.9%
LIFR
3.9%

Alpnach Air Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 82% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 5.3 knots. Calm conditions occur 18.9% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -13°C to 35°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Fog is a notable factor, occurring in approximately 16.5% of observations, with visibility below 3 SM in 0% of reports. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 5.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 23 kt
Calm Winds: 18.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
10.7%
N
4.1%
S
23.7%
W
4.1%
NE
23.1%
NW
0.2%
SE
0.6%
SW
14.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.5°C
Range: -13°C to 35°C
-13°C 35°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 16.5%

Best Months for VFR

July June May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3 kt

Statistics computed from 13,948 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Alpnach Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LSMA
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,460 ft MSL

Location

City: Alpnach
Country: CH
Latitude: 46.943901°
Longitude: 8.284170°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 6,135 ft
Width: 131 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Alpnach Air Base

Alpnach Air Base is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the CH AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Alpnach Air Base (LSMA) is a medium-sized airport located in central Switzerland at an elevation of 1,460 feet MSL. Situated near the coordinates 46.943901, 8.284170, the airport serves an important regional role with its single runway 01/19, which spans 6,135 feet and is constructed of asphalt.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Alpnach demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing 69.7% of the time. The airport experiences moderate temperature ranges from -13°C to 27°C, with an average temperature of 5.6°C. Notably, fog occurs in 29.6% of observations, and September through November offer the most consistently favorable VFR conditions.

Notable Features

The airport's wind patterns are characterized by a southerly prevailing wind at 180 degrees, with an average speed of 4.6 knots and maximum gusts up to 23 knots. Calm wind conditions are present 22.7% of the time, which provides relatively stable approach conditions for pilots navigating the region's terrain.

Approach Considerations

Runway 01/19 demonstrates highly favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of just 2.2 knots. Visibility averages 10 statute miles, with extremely rare instances of visibility below 3 miles, suggesting generally clear approach conditions for most 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.