Wheeler Sack Army Air Field

KGTB

Fort Drum, US

Last Updated
Jun 15, 12:15Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 13 min ago
12:15Z

☀️ Day
MVFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
7 kt
270°
10 SM
Visibility
1,400 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

SPECI KGTB 151215Z AUTO 27007KT 10SM BKN014 OVC055 13/10 A2972 RMK AO2 SLP064 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 688 ft
BKN 1,400 ft AGL
OVC 5,500 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
1,400 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,088 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
5,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,188 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

MVFR

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is currently reporting marginal VFR (MVFR) conditions with overcast skies at 5,500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 7 knots. Runway 26 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 1400 feet AGL (broken), placing conditions in the MVFR category.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 10°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 28 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: Light Showers Rain.

Pilot Recommendations

VFR pilots should exercise caution. Consider filing IFR if instrument rated, or postponing the flight if conditions are expected to deteriorate further. 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
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
983 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (688 ft)
Pressure Alt
906 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 831 ft
ISA Deviation: -0.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD KGTB 151130Z 1511/1615 26010KT 9999 BKN009 QNH2967INS BECMG 1512/1513 26010G20KT 9999 BKN015 QNH2972INS BECMG 1515/1516 26010G20KT 8000 -SHRA OVC025 QNH2973INS BECMG 1521/1522 25015G25KT 9999 NSW OVC045 QNH2975INS BECMG 1523/1524 24010KT 9999 OVC055 QNH2976INS BECMG 1602/1603 VRB06KT 9999 SCT060 QNH2979INS BECMG 1610/1611 VRB06KT 9999 BKN070 QNH2981INS TX16/1520Z TN10/1603Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:28Z BASE
+0h
IFR 260° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 900 ft
15:00Z BECMG
+3h
MVFR 260° 10 kt
Visibility: 8 km
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Light Showers Rain
21:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR 250° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,500 ft
23:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 240° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 5,500 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
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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
GTB
03
21
08
26 ✈️
15
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 10,000 ft 150 ft CON 16°
1.9 kt 6.7 kt
106° angle
✈️ 08/26
Active: 26
4,482 ft 150 ft CON 70°
6.9 kt 1.2 kt
10° angle
15/33 4,999 ft 150 ft CON 133°
5.1 kt 4.8 kt
137° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KGTB

11,397 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
50.9%
MVFR
30.2%
IFR
12.6%
LIFR
6.3%

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 50.9% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 18.9% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 32°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 7.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
2.9%
N
7.9%
S
10.1%
W
27.7%
NE
6.4%
NW
7.4%
SE
15.5%
SW
14.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.4°C
Range: -30°C to 32°C
-30°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 8.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.3%
Fog Frequency: 1.7%

Best Months for VFR

June October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt

Statistics computed from 11,397 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KGTB
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 688 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Drum
Country: US
Latitude: 44.055599°
Longitude: -75.719498°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 08/26
Length: 4,482 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 4,999 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Wheeler Sack Army Air Field

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Wheeler Sack Army Air Field is a medium-sized military airport located at Fort Drum in northern New York State. Situated at 688 feet above mean sea level with coordinates 44.055599, -75.719498, the airfield serves military aviation operations and supports the 10th Mountain Division. Its three concrete runways provide substantial operational flexibility for military aircraft.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Wheeler Sack demonstrate significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions present 49.2% of the time and marginal VFR conditions occurring 32.8% of observations. Temperature ranges from -21°C to 28°C, with an average of 1.5°C, indicating potential challenges in winter and summer operations. Prevailing winds from the west (270°) average 8.9 knots, with occasional gusts up to 34 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features three runways: 03/21 at 10,000 feet, 08/26 at 4,482 feet, and 15/33 at 4,999 feet, all constructed of concrete. Each runway demonstrates 100% favorable wind alignment, with modest average crosswind components ranging from 5.1 to 5.9 knots. The longest runway (03/21) provides substantial length for diverse military aircraft operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should anticipate generally good visibility, with an average of 8.8 statute miles and only 4% of observations showing visibility below 3 miles. September through November offer the most consistent VFR conditions. With calm wind conditions occurring 8.3% of the time, pilots should be prepared for potential wind variability during approach and landing.

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.