Alice Springs Airport

YBAS / ASP

Alice Springs, AU

Last Updated
Jul 4, 08:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 6 min ago
08:00Z

☀️ Day
IFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
10 kt
140°
10+ km
Visibility
600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI YBAS 040800Z AUTO 14010KT 9999 // BKN006 OVC011 OVC019 10/10 Q1026

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,789 ft
BKN 600 ft AGL
OVC 1,100 ft AGL
OVC 1,900 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,389 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,889 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
1,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,689 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

IFR

Alice Springs Airport is currently reporting instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions with overcast skies at 1,100 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (140°) at 10 knots. Runway 12/30 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 600 feet AGL (broken). Only precision approaches may be usable depending on minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 10°C (50°F) with a dewpoint of 10°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. IFR conditions are expected to persist or develop. An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are recommended. Expected weather includes: Drizzle, Light Rain, Fog. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Drizzle between 06:00Z and 14:00Z. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast between 14:00Z and 01:00Z. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Fog between 20:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

An instrument rating and IFR flight plan are required. Verify that destination and alternate approach minimums are above current and forecast conditions. 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.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD YBAS 040523Z 0406/0506 08008KT 5000 DZ BKN004 FM040800 12010KT 8000 -RA BKN012 FM041600 14008KT 9999 NSW BKN004 FM050200 14010KT 9999 SCT015 BKN025 TEMPO 0406/0414 2000 DZ BKN002 TEMPO 0414/0501 9999 BKN002 PROB30 0420/0500 0500 FG BKN001
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
08:06Z BASE
+0h
LIFR 80° 8 kt
Visibility: 5 km
Ceiling: 400 ft
Drizzle
16:00Z FM041600
+8h
LIFR 140° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 400 ft
14:00Z TEMPO
+6h
LIFR
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 200 ft
20:00Z PROB30
+12h
LIFR
Visibility: 0.5 km
Ceiling: 100 ft
Fog

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
BAS
12 ✈️
30
17
35

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 12/30
Active: 12
7,999 ft 148 ft ASP 120°
9.4 kt 3.4 kt
20° angle
17/35 3,717 ft 60 ft ASP 178°
7.9 kt 6.2 kt
38° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - YBAS

14,668 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
89.8%
MVFR
6.5%
IFR
3.2%
LIFR
0.5%

Alice Springs Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 89.8% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SE averaging 8.5 knots, with gusts recorded up to 38 knots. Calm conditions occur 12.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 0°C to 43°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, January, September.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SE (135°)
Average Speed: 8.5 kt
Maximum Recorded: 38 kt
Calm Winds: 12.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
20.5%
N
7.9%
S
9.9%
W
7.6%
NE
5.5%
NW
6.7%
SE
24.1%
SW
5.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.3°C
Range: 0°C to 43°C
0°C 43°C

Visibility

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

Best Months for VFR

July January September

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.2 kt
Runway 17/35
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt

Statistics computed from 14,668 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Alice Springs Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: YBAS
IATA Code: ASP
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,789 ft MSL

Location

City: Alice Springs
Country: AU
Latitude: -23.806588°
Longitude: 133.903427°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT-9

Runway Information

Runway 12/30
Length: 7,999 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 17/35
Length: 3,717 ft
Width: 60 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Alice Springs Airport

Overview

Alice Springs Airport serves as a critical aviation hub in Australia's Northern Territory, strategically located in the central desert region. Situated at an elevation of 1789 ft MSL, the airport provides essential transportation infrastructure for the remote central Australian landscape. Its medium-sized configuration supports regional and charter operations in a challenging geographic environment.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Alice Springs are predominantly VFR, with 98.8% of observations supporting visual flight rules. Prevailing winds are from the southeast (135°) at an average of 9.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 38 knots. Temperature variations are significant, ranging from 4°C to 43°C, with an average of 26.9°C, presenting potential performance considerations for aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: the primary 12/30 runway at 7999 feet and a secondary 17/35 runway at 3717 feet. Both runways demonstrate excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions. The geographic isolation and desert environment require pilots to be prepared for potential rapid weather changes and limited alternate airport options in the region.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistent wind conditions that generally favor both runway orientations. Runway 12/30 experiences an average crosswind of 4.2 knots, while Runway 17/35 sees slightly higher crosswind conditions at 5.7 knots. September, January, and December represent the most consistently favorable months for visual flight operations at this central Australian airport.

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.