Prince Sultan Air Base

OEPS / AKH

Al Kharj, SA

Last Updated
Apr 22, 09:55Z

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
Recent 42 min ago
09:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
30°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 14°C
15 kt
60°
9 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR OEPS 220955Z 06015KT 9000 HZ FEW180 30/14 A2985 RMK AO2A SLPNO

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,651 ft
FEW 18,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
18,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
19,651 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Prince Sultan Air Base is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 18,000 feet and 9 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east-northeast (60°) at 15 knots. Runway 35 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 14-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 km. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 18,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 30°C (86°F) with a dewpoint of 14°C, indicating very dry conditions.

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. Expected weather includes: Haze, Blowing Dust, Duststorm, Light Showers Rain. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Duststorm between 15:00Z and 18:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 16:00Z and 18:00Z.

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.

QNH
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
956 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,651 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,719 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,915 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +18.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF OEPS 220900Z 2209/2315 07012G18KT 8000 HZ SCT120 QNH2981INS BECMG 2214/2215 05012G20KT 3200 BLDU VCSH FEW020 BKN100 QNH2984INS TEMPO 2215/2218 05015G25KT 0800 DS VV001 TEMPO 2216/2218 05015G25KT 2400 -SHRA VCTS BKN020CB BECMG 2221/2222 05012G18KT 8000 HZ BKN140 BKN200 QNH2988INS BECMG 2300/2301 04010G15KT 9000 -SHRA SCT100 BKN140 QNH2991INS BECMG 2305/2306 04012G18KT 9000 HZ SKC QNH2996INS BECMG 2308/2309 06015G25KT 6000 BLDU SCT100 QNH2991INS TX28/2213Z TN17/2302Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
10:37Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 70° 12 kt
Visibility: 8 km
Haze
14:00Z BECMG
+4h
IFR 50° 12 kt
Visibility: 3.2 km
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
Blowing Dust
15:00Z TEMPO
+5h
LIFR 50° 15 kt
Visibility: 0.8 km
Ceiling: 100 ft
Duststorm
16:00Z TEMPO
+6h
IFR 50° 15 kt
Visibility: 2.4 km
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
Light 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
EPS
17L
35R
17R ✈️
35L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
17L/35R 13,123 ft 148 ft ASP 175°
6.3 kt 13.6 kt
115° angle
✈️ 17R/35L
Active: 17R
13,123 ft 148 ft ASPH
5.1 kt 14.1 kt
110° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - OEPS

7,809 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
90.2%
MVFR
7%
IFR
2.2%
LIFR
0.6%

Prince Sultan Air Base enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 90.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 856 knots. Temperature extremes range from 5°C to 45°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, November, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 856 kt
Calm Winds: 8.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.6%
NE
13.2%
E
11.4%
SE
14.2%
S
20.3%
SW
7.3%
W
6.6%
NW
5.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 21.9°C
Range: 5°C to 45°C
5°C 45°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

October November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 17L/35R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt
Runway 17R/35L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.1 kt

Statistics computed from 7,809 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Prince Sultan Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: OEPS
IATA Code: AKH
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,651 ft MSL

Location

City: Al Kharj
Country: SA
Latitude: 24.062700°
Longitude: 47.580502°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-3

Runway Information

Runway 17L/35R
Length: 13,123 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17R/35L
Length: 13,123 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Prince Sultan Air Base

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

Overview

Prince Sultan Air Base (OEPS) is a medium-sized airport located in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, situated at an elevation of 1,651 feet mean sea level. The base features two parallel runways, each 13,123 feet long with asphalt surfaces, capable of supporting significant military and potentially commercial aviation operations. Its strategic location in central Saudi Arabia provides a critical aviation infrastructure point for regional air activities.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly favorable flying conditions, with VFR conditions present 93.2% of the time. Temperature variations are substantial, ranging from 5°C to 45°C with an average of 22.3°C, which pilots should consider for performance planning. Wind patterns are consistently from the south (180°), averaging 5.6 knots, with excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles and minimal instances of reduced weather conditions.

Notable Features

Prince Sultan Air Base features twin parallel runways (17L/35R and 17R/35L) aligned in a near-perfect north-south orientation. Both runways demonstrate identical favorable wind conditions, with 100% wind compatibility and minimal average crosswind of 3.2 knots. The airport's elevation of 1,651 feet and geographic positioning in the central Arabian region contribute to its strategic operational capabilities.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistently favorable approach conditions, with September, October, and November presenting the best VFR flying weather. The parallel runway configuration allows flexible operations with minimal wind interference. The predictable southern wind pattern and excellent visibility make approaches to either runway 17L/35R or 17R/35L straightforward, with statistically minimal meteorological challenges.

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.