Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base

KSPS / SPS

Wichita Falls, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 17:23Z

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
Fresh 6 min ago
17:23Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
21°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
14 kt
170°
10 SM
Visibility
2,100 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KSPS 221723Z 17014KT 10SM SCT014 BKN021 OVC026 21/17 A3000 RMK AO2 T02110172

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,019 ft
SCT 1,400 ft AGL
BKN 2,100 ft AGL
OVC 2,600 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,419 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,119 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
2,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,619 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 2,600 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (170°) at 14 knots. Runway 17/35 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 2100 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 21°C (70°F) with a dewpoint of 17°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 20 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Mist.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
982 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,019 ft)
Pressure Alt
937 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,902 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSPS 221535Z 2216/2312 16008KT 6SM BR OVC005 FM221700 17010KT P6SM OVC010 FM221900 17015KT P6SM BKN020 FM230800 16013KT P6SM OVC015
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
17:29Z BASE
+0h
IFR 160° 8 kt
Visibility: 6SM
Ceiling: 500 ft
Mist
19:00Z FM221900
+2h
MVFR 170° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,000 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
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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
SPS
15L ✈️
33R
15C ✈️
33C
15R ✈️
33L
17 ✈️
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15C/33C
Active: 15C
10,003 ft 150 ft PEM 158°
13.2 kt 4.8 kt
20° angle
✈️ 15L/33R
Active: 15L
6,000 ft 150 ft PEM 158°
13.2 kt 4.8 kt
20° angle
✈️ 15R/33L
Active: 15R
13,101 ft 300 ft CON 158°
13.2 kt 4.8 kt
20° angle
✈️ 17/35
Active: 17
7,021 ft 150 ft ASP 180°
14.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSPS

5,597 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
88.4%
MVFR
7.2%
IFR
2.8%
LIFR
1.6%

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 88.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 10 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Temperature extremes range from -14°C to 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, February, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 10 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 4.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
18%
NE
7.4%
E
5.9%
SE
10.7%
S
32.6%
SW
11.4%
W
3.9%
NW
5.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 14.6°C
Range: -14°C to 37°C
-14°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.8%
Fog Frequency: 0.9%

Best Months for VFR

September February October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15C/33C
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 15L/33R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 15R/33L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.3 kt

Statistics computed from 5,597 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSPS
IATA Code: SPS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,019 ft MSL

Location

City: Wichita Falls
Country: US
Latitude: 33.988800°
Longitude: -98.491898°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 15C/33C
Length: 10,003 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 15L/33R
Length: 6,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 15R/33L
Length: 13,101 ft
Width: 300 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 7,021 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base 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

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force Base is a medium airport located in Wichita Falls, Texas, serving both military and civilian aviation needs. Situated at an elevation of 1,019 feet MSL, the airport features four runways ranging from 6,000 to 13,101 feet in length. Its co-location with Sheppard Air Force Base provides a unique operational environment for both military training and general aviation.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions, with 89.7% of observations showing favorable visual flight rules. Prevailing winds are from the south at an average of 9 knots, with maximum gusts up to 30 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from -9°C to 35°C, with an average of 15°C. Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during September, October, and November.

Notable Features

The airport boasts four runways with different surface types: two PEM (Portland Cement) runways and one concrete runway, providing flexibility for various aircraft operations. All runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions and minimal average crosswind components ranging from 4.2 to 5.3 knots. The long 13,101-foot runway (15R/33L) offers substantial landing and takeoff capabilities.

Approach Considerations

With multiple runways available, pilots have excellent options for approach and landing based on current wind conditions. Visibility averages 9.8 statute miles, with only 0.7% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles and 1.4% experiencing fog. The consistent wind patterns and multiple runway options provide significant operational flexibility for incoming and departing aircraft.

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.