RAAF Base Curtin

YCIN / DCN

Derby, AU

Last Updated
Mar 15, 11:30Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base. Civil access requires prior authorization.

Access Notes:

RAAF bases generally restricted

Consult official AIP (Australia AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 40 min ago
11:30Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
30°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 25°C
6 kt
280°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR YCIN 151130Z AUTO 28006KT 9999 // FEW076 30/25 Q1006

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 300 ft
FEW 7,600 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
7,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,900 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

RAAF Base Curtin is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 7,600 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 6 knots. Runway 29 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 7,600 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 30°C (86°F) with a dewpoint of 25°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 9 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: Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 7 to 20 knots. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 17:00Z and 20:00Z. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain between 11:00Z and 14:00Z.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD YCIN 151133Z 1511/1520 28012KT 9999 SCT040 FM151600 28007KT 9999 SCT015 FM151800 28007KT 9999 BKN010 TEMPO 1517/1520 9999 BKN008 INTER 1511/1515 2000 SHRA BKN015 SCT060TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1511/1514 VRB20G35KT 1000 TSRA BKN010 SCT060CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:10Z BASE
+0h
VFR 280° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
16:00Z FM151600
+4h
VFR 280° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
18:00Z FM151800
+6h
MVFR 280° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft
17:00Z TEMPO
+5h
LIFR
Visibility: 2 km
Ceiling: 800 ft
Showers Rain

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
CIN
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
10,003 ft 148 ft ASP 111°
5.9 kt 1.0 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 - YCIN

9,338 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
84.3%
MVFR
10.3%
IFR
4%
LIFR
1.5%

RAAF Base Curtin enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 84.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 7.3 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperatures typically range between 16°C and 43°C with an average of 28.9°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, November, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 7.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 3.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
16.3%
NE
6%
E
5.9%
SE
5.6%
S
7.9%
SW
10.5%
W
21.6%
NW
22.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 28.9°C
Range: 16°C to 43°C
16°C 43°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

September November October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 9,338 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

RAAF Base Curtin - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YCIN
IATA Code: DCN
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 300 ft MSL

Location

City: Derby
Country: AU
Latitude: -17.580458°
Longitude: 123.828449°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-8

Runway Information

Runway 11/29
Length: 10,003 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About RAAF Base Curtin

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

Overview

RAAF Base Curtin is a military airfield located near Derby in Western Australia, serving as a strategic medium-sized airport at 300 ft elevation. The base operates a single runway 11/29 that spans an impressive 10,003 feet with an asphalt surface, capable of supporting significant military and potential civilian aviation operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at RAAF Base Curtin are predominantly favorable for visual flight rules (VFR), with 92.2% of observations supporting clear flying conditions. Prevailing westerly winds at an average of 7.4 knots and temperatures ranging from 16°C to 43°C create consistent and generally stable atmospheric conditions, with peak VFR flying recommended during September, October, and November.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical location in northwest Australia presents unique environmental characteristics, with its western coastal positioning influencing wind patterns and meteorological conditions. The runway experiences highly favorable wind alignment, with wind conditions supporting operations 100% of the time and an average crosswind of just 4.3 knots, enhancing overall operational flexibility.

Approach Considerations

Approach considerations should account for the consistent westerly wind profile, which typically favors runway 11/29. Pilots can expect excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of reduced meteorological conditions (less than 1.2% IFR/LIFR occurrences). Maximum recorded wind speeds of 33 knots suggest potential for occasional challenging crosswind scenarios during approach and landing.

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.