Pakse International Airport

VLPS / PKZ

Pakse, LA

Last Updated
Apr 23, 08:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 51 min ago
08:00Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
38°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
12 kt
180°
6 km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1005 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR VLPS 230800Z 18012KT 6000 FEW023 38/23 Q1005 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 351 ft
FEW 2,300 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,300 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,651 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Pakse International Airport is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,300 feet and 6 km visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 12 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 10-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 6 km, below VFR minimums in some airspace classifications. Check local requirements before departing VFR. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,300 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 38°C (100°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C, indicating relatively dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain MVFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Haze.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1005 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
993 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (351 ft)
Pressure Alt
599 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,443 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +23.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF VLPS 230500Z 2306/2406 18006KT 5000 HZ FEW020 SCT200
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:50Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 180° 6 kt
Visibility: 5 km
Haze

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
LPS
15 ✈️
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
7,874 ft 147 ft CON 147°
10.4 kt 6.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - VLPS

2,110 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
54.5%
MVFR
31.3%
IFR
13.6%
LIFR
0.5%

Pakse International Airport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 54.5% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 14.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 5.1 knots. Temperatures typically range between 15°C and 40°C with an average of 29.2°C. The best months for VFR flying are October, November, December.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 5.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 19 kt
Calm Winds: 0%
Direction Distribution:
N
32%
NE
2%
E
3.6%
SE
29.5%
S
6.2%
SW
5.6%
W
12.9%
NW
8.2%

Temperature Range

Average: 29.2°C
Range: 15°C to 40°C
15°C 40°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

October November December

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.1 kt

Statistics computed from 2,110 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Pakse International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: VLPS
IATA Code: PKZ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 351 ft MSL

Location

City: Pakse
Country: LA
Latitude: 15.132100°
Longitude: 105.780998°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-7

Runway Information

Runway 15/33
Length: 7,874 ft
Width: 147 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

Nearby Airports

VFR MVFR IFR LIFR No Data

About Pakse International Airport

Overview

Pakse International Airport serves the Champasak Province in southern Laos, situated at an elevation of 351 feet MSL. Located at coordinates 15.132100, 105.780998, this medium-sized airport provides critical aviation infrastructure for the region's transportation needs. The airport features a single concrete runway (15/33) measuring 7,874 feet in length.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Pakse are predominantly VFR, with 74.4% of observations indicating clear flying conditions. The airport experiences consistent northerly winds averaging 4.7 knots, with occasional gusts up to 19 knots. Temperature ranges from 15°C to 35°C, with an average of 27.9°C, and typically excellent visibility averaging 10 statute miles. October through December represent the most favorable VFR months for operations.

Notable Features

The airport's single runway (15/33) demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions. Crosswind components are minimal, averaging just 2.3 knots, which contributes to predictable approach and landing characteristics. The airport's moderate elevation and consistent weather patterns make it relatively straightforward for pilot navigation and aircraft performance.

Approach Considerations

Given the prevailing northerly winds, runway 15 will typically be the preferred approach direction. The long concrete runway (7,874 feet) provides ample landing surface for most aircraft types. Pilots should anticipate stable approach conditions, with statistically low likelihood of reduced visibility or challenging meteorological circumstances.

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.