Lajes Airport

LPLA / TER

Praia da Vitória, PT

Last Updated
Apr 22, 22:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 59 min ago
22:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 9°C
14 kt
280°
9 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LPLA 222200Z 28014KT 9000 -SHRA SCT025 SCT035 13/09 Q1000

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 180 ft
SCT 2,500 ft AGL
SCT 3,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,680 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,680 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lajes Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 2,500 feet and 9 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (280°) at 14 knots. Runway 33 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 11-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 9 km. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 2,500 ft, scattered at 3,500 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 9°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 24 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: Showers Rain, Light Rain, RADZ, Mist. Winds are forecast to reach up to 25 knots during the period. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 00:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 01:00Z and 06:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with RADZ, Mist between 02:00Z and 11:00Z.

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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LPLA 221707Z 2218/2318 29020G32KT 9999 SCT015 BKN025 TEMPO 2218/2224 6000 SHRA SCT009 BKN018 SCT022CB BECMG 2301/2303 7000 -RA SCT012 BKN022 TEMPO 2301/2306 30025G38KT TEMPO 2302/2311 4000 RADZ BR SCT008 BKN016 FEW018TCU BECMG 2306/2308 30015KT TEMPO 2306/2318 31015G28KT BECMG 2310/2312 9999 NSW SCT015 BKN030 TEMPO 2311/2318 6000 SHRA SCT010 BKN018 SCT022TCU
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:58Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 290° 20 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
01:00Z BECMG
+3h
MVFR
Visibility: 7 km
Ceiling: 2,200 ft
Light Rain
01:00Z TEMPO
+3h
VFR 300° 25 kt
02:00Z TEMPO
+4h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 1,600 ft
RADZ, Mist

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
PLA
15
33 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 33
10,870 ft 197 ft ASP 140°
9.0 kt 10.7 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LPLA

5,543 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
66.4%
MVFR
26.9%
IFR
6.3%
LIFR
0.5%

Lajes Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 66.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.8% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 13.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 154 knots. Temperatures typically range between 7°C and 27°C with an average of 16.5°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, November, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 13.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 154 kt
Calm Winds: 1.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.8%
NE
1.4%
E
6.2%
SE
7.4%
S
12.4%
SW
18%
W
14.7%
NW
24.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 16.5°C
Range: 7°C to 27°C
7°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

October November September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 7.1 kt

Statistics computed from 5,543 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lajes Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LPLA
IATA Code: TER
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 180 ft MSL

Location

City: Praia da Vitória
Country: PT
Latitude: 38.761799°
Longitude: -27.090799°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+2

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 10,870 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Lajes Airport

Overview

Lajes Airport serves Praia da Vitória on Terceira Island in the Azores, Portugal. Located at an elevation of 180 ft MSL with coordinates 38.761799, -27.090799, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure in the mid-Atlantic region. The airport features a single asphalt runway 15/33 measuring 10,870 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Lajes Airport are predominantly favorable for flying, with 70.8% of observations reporting VFR conditions. Northwest winds dominate at 315°, averaging 12.7 knots with occasional gusts up to 42 knots. Temperature ranges from 9°C to 27°C, with an average of 17.6°C, creating generally stable atmospheric conditions for aviation.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position in the Azores presents unique maritime meteorological characteristics. Runway 15/33 experiences favorable wind conditions 100% of the time, with an average crosswind of only 6.2 knots. The airport's elevation and Atlantic island location contribute to relatively consistent visibility, averaging 10 statute miles with minimal fog occurrence.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect optimal VFR conditions during October, November, and September. The extensive 10,870-foot runway provides substantial landing and takeoff flexibility. With calm wind conditions occurring only 2.5% of the time, most approaches will benefit from the predictable northwest wind pattern and generally excellent visibility.

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.