Wheeler Sack Army Air Field

KGTB

Fort Drum, US

Last Updated
Jun 13, 04:55Z

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
Aging 1 hour ago
04:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 13°C
5 kt
250°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KGTB 130455Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM CLR 17/13 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP097 T01740127 402920172 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (250°) at 5 knots. Runway 26 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 13°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 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
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
987 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (688 ft)
Pressure Alt
786 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,191 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KGTB 130100Z 1301/1407 26010G15KT 9999 FEW200 QNH2974INS BECMG 1303/1304 VRB06KT 9999 FEW200 QNH2980INS BECMG 1315/1316 25010G15KT 9999 BKN100 QNH2982INS BECMG 1321/1322 22006KT 9999 BKN150 QNH2876INS BECMG 1404/1405 19010G20KT 9999 BKN100 QNH2972INS TX23/1319Z TN14/1309Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 1304 NEXT 1509
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:57Z BASE
+0h
VFR 260° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
15:00Z BECMG
+10h
VFR 250° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 10,000 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
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
GTB
03
21
08
26 ✈️
15
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 10,000 ft 150 ft CON 16°
2.9 kt 4.0 kt
126° angle
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
4,482 ft 150 ft CON 70°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
15/33 4,999 ft 150 ft CON 133°
2.3 kt 4.5 kt
117° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KGTB

11,295 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
50.8%
MVFR
30.2%
IFR
12.7%
LIFR
6.3%

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 50.8% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 19% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 7.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
2.9%
N
8%
S
10.2%
W
27.5%
NE
6.5%
NW
7.5%
SE
15.6%
SW
14.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.2°C
Range: -30°C to 32°C
-30°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.4%
Fog Frequency: 1.7%

Best Months for VFR

June October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 11,295 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KGTB
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 688 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Drum
Country: US
Latitude: 44.055599°
Longitude: -75.719498°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 08/26
Length: 4,482 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 4,999 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Wheeler Sack Army Air Field

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field 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

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is a medium-sized military airport located at Fort Drum in northern New York State. Situated at 688 feet above mean sea level with coordinates 44.055599, -75.719498, the airfield serves military aviation operations and supports the 10th Mountain Division. Its three concrete runways provide substantial operational flexibility for military aircraft.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Wheeler Sack demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions present 49.2% of the time and marginal VFR conditions occurring 32.8% of observations. Temperature ranges from -21°C to 28°C, with an average of 1.5°C, indicating potential challenges in winter and summer operations. Prevailing winds from the west (270°) average 8.9 knots, with occasional gusts up to 34 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways: 03/21 at 10,000 feet, 08/26 at 4,482 feet, and 15/33 at 4,999 feet, all constructed of concrete. Each runway demonstrates 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 5.1 to 5.9 knots. The longest runway (03/21) provides substantial length for diverse military aircraft operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate generally good visibility, with an average of 8.8 statute miles and only 4% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles. September through November offer the most consistent VFR conditions. With calm wind conditions occurring 8.3% of the time, pilots should be prepared for potential wind variability 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.