RAF Cranwell

EGYD

Sleaford, Lincolnshire, GB

Last Updated
Jun 10, 05:20Z

Military Airport

PPR Available

This is a Royal Air Force or Ministry of Defence aerodrome. Civil access may be available with Prior Permission Required (PPR).

Access Notes:

Many RAF stations accept civil PPR; consult UK AIP AD 2 for specific procedures

Consult official AIP (UK AIP ENR 2.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
05:20Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
14 kt
260°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGYD 100520Z AUTO 26014KT 9999 FEW130/// 10/07 Q1013

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 218 ft
FEW 13,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
13,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,218 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

RAF Cranwell is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 13,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (260°) at 14 knots. Runway 26 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 13,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours.

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

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
GYD
01
19
08
26 ✈️
08R
26L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
01/19 4,803 ft 147 ft ASP
4.3 kt 13.3 kt
108° angle
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
6,831 ft 147 ft ASP 83°
14.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
08R/26L 2,354 ft 131 ft GRS 89°
13.8 kt 2.2 kt
171° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGYD

12,639 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
63.4%
MVFR
15.7%
IFR
8.8%
LIFR
12.1%

RAF Cranwell typically experiences VFR conditions 63.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 20.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 11.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Temperature extremes range from -7°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, April, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 11.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
6.4%
NE
6.6%
E
10.9%
SE
12.1%
S
20.4%
SW
17.8%
W
17.4%
NW
8.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 9°C
Range: -7°C to 32°C
-7°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.9%

Best Months for VFR

September April May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 01/19
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7 kt
Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.7 kt
Runway 08R/26L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.7 kt

Statistics computed from 12,639 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

RAF Cranwell - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGYD
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 218 ft MSL

Location

City: Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Country: GB
Latitude: 53.030300°
Longitude: -0.483242°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 01/19
Length: 4,803 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 08/26
Length: 6,831 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 08R/26L
Length: 2,354 ft
Width: 131 ft
Surface: GRS
ILS: No

About RAF Cranwell

RAF Cranwell is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the GB AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

RAF Cranwell is a military airfield located in Lincolnshire, serving as a key training facility for the Royal Air Force. Situated at an elevation of 218 ft MSL near Sleaford, the airport supports various aviation operations with three distinct runways providing operational flexibility.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions 61.8% of the time, with marginal VFR and IFR conditions occurring less frequently. The prevailing southerly winds at an average of 11.4 knots create consistent wind patterns, with temperatures ranging from -7°C to 23°C and excellent average visibility of 10 statute miles.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways: two asphalt (01/19 at 4,803 ft and 08/26 at 6,831 ft) and one grass runway (08R/26L at 2,354 ft). The multiple runway configurations provide operational versatility, with all runways demonstrating 100% favorable wind alignment and relatively low average crosswind conditions around 7 knots.

Approach Considerations

September through November offer the most favorable VFR flying conditions at RAF Cranwell. Pilots should anticipate southerly winds and be prepared for potential wind variations, with maximum recorded wind speeds reaching 37 knots. The substantial runway lengths and multiple surface types provide options for different aircraft types and meteorological conditions.

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.