MoD Boscombe Down

EGDM

Salisbury, Wiltshire, GB

Last Updated
Jun 10, 07:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 29 min ago
07:50Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
9 kt
270°
10+ km
Visibility
6,800 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR EGDM 100750Z 27009KT 9999 FEW012 SCT048 BKN068 11/08 Q1017 TEMPO 7000 -SHRA SCT015 RMK BLU TEMPO WHT

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 407 ft
FEW 1,200 ft AGL
SCT 1,500 ft AGL
SCT 4,800 ft AGL
BKN 6,800 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,607 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
1,907 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
4,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,207 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
6,800 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,207 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

MoD Boscombe Down is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 6,800 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 9 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 6800 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 8°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 8 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Showers Rain, Light Showers Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 07:00Z and 13:00Z. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions between 10:00Z and 15:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 13:00Z and 15:00Z.

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. 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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1003 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (407 ft)
Pressure Alt
295 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -87 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.2°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF EGDM 100612Z 1007/1015 25008KT 9999 FEW020 SCT040 TEMPO 1007/1013 6000 SHRA SCT022TCU PROB30 TEMPO 1010/1015 27015G27KT PROB30 TEMPO 1013/1015 7000 -SHRA
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:18Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
10:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+2h
VFR 270° 15 kt
13:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+5h
MVFR
Visibility: 7 km
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
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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
GDM
05
23 ✈️
05N
23N
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 23
10,538 ft 150 ft PEM 50°
6.9 kt 5.8 kt
40° angle
05N/23N 2,513 ft 0 ft ASP
0.0 kt 9.0 kt
90° angle
17/35 6,278 ft 150 ft PEM 167°
2.0 kt 8.8 kt
103° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - EGDM

12,573 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
57.2%
MVFR
19%
IFR
11.8%
LIFR
12%

MoD Boscombe Down is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 57.2% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 23.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 9.7 knots. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are May, April, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 9.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 0.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
6.5%
NE
8.6%
E
11.9%
SE
11.3%
S
23.1%
SW
16.2%
W
13.3%
NW
9%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.5°C
Range: -6°C to 31°C
-6°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 3.8%

Best Months for VFR

May April September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 05N/23N
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt

Statistics computed from 12,573 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

MoD Boscombe Down - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: EGDM
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 407 ft MSL

Location

City: Salisbury, Wiltshire
Country: GB
Latitude: 51.152199°
Longitude: -1.747410°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 10,538 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 05N/23N
Length: 2,513 ft
Width: 0 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 6,278 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About MoD Boscombe Down

Overview

MoD Boscombe Down is a medium-sized military airport located near Salisbury, Wiltshire, serving as a critical testing and evaluation facility for UK defence aviation. Situated at 407 feet above mean sea level, the airport plays a significant role in aerospace research and military aircraft development, with three distinct runways supporting various operational requirements.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Boscombe Down demonstrate consistent Visual Flight Rules (VFR) opportunities, with 52.2% of observations supporting clear flying conditions. The prevailing winds from the south (180°) average 9.8 knots, with temperatures ranging from -6°C to 24°C and an average of 8.8°C. Pilots can expect excellent visibility, with an average of 10 statute miles and minimal fog occurrence at only 4% of observations.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways with different specifications: a primary 10,538ft runway (05/23), a secondary 2,513ft runway (05N/23N), and a 6,278ft runway (17/35). All runways show 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind conditions ranging from 5.7 to 6 knots. The airport's multiple runway configuration provides flexibility for different aircraft types and operational scenarios.

Approach Considerations

Seasonal VFR conditions are most favorable during September, November, and January, offering optimal flying conditions for approach and departure. The consistent wind patterns and multiple runway orientations provide pilots with reliable approach options, with all runways demonstrating excellent wind compatibility. Pilots should anticipate stable approach conditions with predictable wind characteristics based on the airport's historical meteorological data.

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.