Bechtol Field (56AK) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
Aviation weather near Bechtol Field in Wasilla, AK, decoded from the nearest reporting station (PAWS) — conditions, runway crosswinds, and free Telegram airport alerts.
Bechtol Field (56AK) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Wasilla, AK at 300 ft. 56AK has no weather station of its own — conditions here are decoded from PAWS, about 2 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. Its 2 runways (13, 31) — longest 1,570 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The nearest TAF is issued for PAAQ. Track it in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get alerts read from PAWS, the station this page is based on.
No weather station at this airport — showing the nearest station PAWS, 1.9 nm away.
Wind variable at 3 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, scattered clouds at 4,900 ft, broken clouds at 7,000 ft, temperature 16°C (61°F), altimeter 29.82 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR), ceiling 7,000 ft.
METAR PAWS 290356Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM SCT049 BKN070 16/11 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP069 T01610106 $
What changed at PAWS (nearest station)?
Since the 0256Z (6:56 PM AKDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
No significant changes since the 0256Z report — conditions are holding steady.
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Current pilot readout for 56AK
Based on the nearest station (PAWS), 56AK is currently VFR with variable winds at 3 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and a 7,000 ft ceiling. Density altitude is approximately 650 ft (field elevation 300 ft). 56AK does not publish a TAF — the nearest TAF station is PAAQ, about 15 nm away.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
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Track 56AK free on TelegramRunway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
Use this section to quickly compare current wind alignment across available runways at 56AK. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
Current wind is variable at 3 kt — light and variable wind like this is generally not a factor for runway selection, and with no steady direction there is no head/tail or crosswind component to compute. Live numbers return automatically once a report includes a wind direction.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1,570 ft | TURF | — | — |
| 31 | 1,570 ft | TURF | — | — |
Open the crosswind calculator — try your own wind and runway numbers →
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 23 h: wind 4→3 kt, ceiling unlimited → 7,000 ft.
56AK weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Bechtol Field in Wasilla, AK: the NOAA/NWS NEXRAD composite updates about every five minutes, with NOAA lightning strike density overlaid. The loop plays the past 50 minutes, then continues into a future-radar forecast (+1 to +4 hours, NOAA HRRR model) so you can see where precipitation around 56AK is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © OpenStreetMap © CARTO
Forecast frames (amber label) are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Lightning strike density appears as a blue-white glow when strikes are detected in view. Radar and lightning coverage are limited in parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore areas. Not for navigation.
Pilot reports (PIREPs) within 100 NM of 56AK
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
ANC UA /OV TED330008/TM 2312/FL021/TP B777/SK FEW 024/RM DURD
ANC UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV TED330008Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2312Reported at 23:12 UTC.FL021Altitude: 2,100 ft MSL.TP B777Aircraft type reporting.SK FEW 024Sky condition — cloud bases and tops in hundreds of feet MSL.RM DURDRemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at 56AK
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station PAWS reported mostly VFR across 26 observations, with 2 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 2,000 ft. Wind most often came from the S.
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 13/31
- 100%
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 56AK
- City
- Wasilla
- State
- Alaska
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 300 ft
- Coordinates
- 61.5750, -149.6060
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 1,570 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station PAWS
- TAF
- Nearest PAAQ
- Time zone
- America/Anchorage
- Sunset in
- 2h 6m
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Nearby airports
Compare nearby METAR/TAF stations within 25, 50 and 100 NM before departure or arrival.
Within 25 NM
8 airports+2 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
8 airports+2 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
8 airports+2 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport — live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- Mack Dr. - City of Wasilla — Wasilla, AK · 3 mi
- Frontier Fun Flyers - Tidewater Field — Glenn Hwy, AK · 11 mi
- Alaska Drone Racing League - Peters Creek Christian Church — Chugiak, AK · 13 mi
56AK weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at 56AK?+
56AK has 2 runways — 13, 31; the longest is 1,570 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Where does the weather shown for 56AK come from?+
Bechtol Field does not have its own weather station. Conditions shown here come from the nearest reporting station, PAWS, about 2 nm away — close enough for situational awareness, but local conditions at 56AK can differ.
Does 56AK have a TAF?+
No — 56AK does not publish its own TAF. The nearest TAF station is PAAQ, about 15 nm away.
Does 56AK broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — 56AK does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for 56AK from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR (via the nearest reporting station) instead.
Pilot PIREPs for Bechtol Field (56AK)
Community-submittedCommunity-submitted airport notes from pilots about runway conditions, wildlife, FBOs, fuel, turbulence, ramp access, and local tips.
Read recent community-submitted pilot notes for Bechtol Field, including runway conditions, wildlife activity, FBO/fuel notes, turbulence, ramp access, and local airport tips.
⚠️ Pilot PIREPs on ATIS Alerts are community-submitted airport notes for situational awareness only. They are not official FAA PIREPs, NOTAMs, weather briefings, airport advisories, or flight-planning guidance. Always verify with official FAA/NWS sources, airport management, ATC, and current publications.
No Pilot PIREPs have been submitted for 56AK yet. Recently flew here? Help the next pilot by leaving a quick airport note.
Pilot PIREPs are community pilot notes for situational awareness only — not official FAA PIREPs or advisories. Verify with official sources. Notes are moderated before they appear; helpful marks and reports help us keep them useful.
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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
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