Büchel Air Base

ETSB

Alflen, DE

Last Updated
Jun 15, 09:20Z

Military Airport

Restricted

Dies ist ein Militärflugplatz der Bundeswehr. Zivilverkehr ist in der Regel nicht gestattet.

Access Notes:

Bundeswehr fields generally closed to civil traffic; some historical civil use

Consult official AIP (German AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 17 min ago
09:20Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
6 kt
320°
10+ km
Visibility
2,200 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ETSB 150920Z 32006KT 9999 FEW017 BKN022 13/06 Q1017 WHT WHT BECMG BLU

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 1,568 ft
FEW 1,700 ft AGL
BKN 2,200 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
1,700 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,268 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
2,200 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,768 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Büchel Air Base is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with broken clouds at 2,200 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northwest (320°) at 6 knots. Runway 03/21 is favored with a 2-knot headwind and 6-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 2200 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 6°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 9 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions between 08:00Z and 09:00Z.

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
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
965 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (1,568 ft)
Pressure Alt
1,456 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,592 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF ETSB 150720Z 1508/1517 29005KT 9999 NSW FEW012 BKN018 PROB30 1508/1509 30005KT 9999 NSW BKN012 BECMG 1509/1511 30006KT 9999 NSW FEW020 BKN030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
09:36Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 290° 5 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,800 ft

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
TSB
03 ✈️
21

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 03
8,225 ft 148 ft ASP 29°
2.1 kt 5.6 kt
70° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - ETSB

7,131 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
77.5%
MVFR
6.9%
IFR
4.1%
LIFR
11.5%

Büchel Air Base typically experiences VFR conditions 77.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.4 knots. Temperature extremes range from -8°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Fog is a notable factor, occurring in approximately 11.3% of observations, with visibility below 3 SM in 0% of reports. The best months for VFR flying are April, June, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 1.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
14.2%
N
7%
S
8.5%
W
16.2%
NE
9.5%
NW
5.5%
SE
7.4%
SW
30%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.6°C
Range: -8°C to 28°C
-8°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 11.3%

Best Months for VFR

April June May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.9 kt

Statistics computed from 7,131 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Büchel Air Base - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ETSB
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 1,568 ft MSL

Location

City: Alflen
Country: DE
Latitude: 50.173801°
Longitude: 7.063330°
Time Zone: Europe/Brussels

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 8,225 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Büchel Air Base

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

Overview

Büchel Air Base is a medium-sized airport located near Alflen, Germany, situated at an elevation of 1,568 feet MSL. The base serves as a military airfield with a single asphalt runway (03/21) measuring 8,225 feet in length. Its strategic location in western Germany provides critical aviation infrastructure for military and potentially supporting civilian operations.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Büchel Air Base demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) prevailing 73.7% of the time. Winter months can present challenging conditions, with LIFR (Low Instrument Flight Rules) occurring 14% of observations and temperatures ranging from -8°C to 26°C. The prevailing southwest winds at 225° average 7.7 knots, with occasional gusts up to 28 knots.

Notable Features

The airport's terrain at 1,568 feet MSL suggests a moderately elevated location with potential terrain considerations for approach and departure. Wind patterns are consistently from the southwest, with calm conditions occurring only 2.1% of the time. The runway alignment (03/21) appears well-suited to the predominant wind direction, with favorable wind conditions 100% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate generally good visibility averaging 10 statute miles, with minimal instances of visibility below 3 miles. Seasonal variations suggest September, November, and December offer the most consistent VFR conditions. The average crosswind on Runway 03/21 is relatively mild at 3.5 knots, providing comfortable landing and takeoff conditions for most aircraft.

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.