French Field (81ME) Area Aviation Weather & Runway Winds
As of 2:56 PM ET, Oct 28, based on the nearest station (KBHB), 81ME is currently VFR with winds from 210° at 8 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported.
Aviation weather near French Field in Ellsworth, ME, decoded from the nearest reporting station (KBHB): conditions and runway crosswinds.
French Field (81ME) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Ellsworth, ME at a field elevation of 338 ft. 81ME has no weather station of its own. Conditions here are decoded from KBHB, about 14 nm away, the nearest reporting station, and local conditions can differ. It has one runway (15/33), the longest 1,668 ft. The nearest TAF is issued for KBGR.
No weather station at this airport: showing the nearest station KBHB, 14.3 nm away.
Wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 8 kt, visibility 10+ statute miles, no cloud data, temperature 8°C (47°F), altimeter 30.41 inHg. Conditions are Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
METAR KBHB 281856Z AUTO 21008KT 10SM CLR 08/M04 A3041 RMK AO2 SLP299 T00831039 $
What changed at KBHB (nearest station)?
Since the 1756Z (1:56 PM EDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Pressure falling: altimeter 30.43 → 30.41 inHg.
Current pilot readout for 81ME
Based on the nearest station (KBHB), 81ME is currently VFR with winds from 210° at 8 knots, visibility 10+ statute miles, and no ceiling reported. the wind favors runway ends 15. Density altitude is approximately -1,000 ft (field elevation 338 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
New to aviation weather? How to read a METAR → · What VFR/MVFR/IFR mean → · Decode any METAR/TAF → · Density altitude calculator →
Runway wind check
Estimated head/tailwind and crosswind for each runway end from the current reported wind.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15FAV | 1,668 ft | Asphalt/Turf | 5 kt head | 7 kt right |
| 33 | 1,668 ft | Asphalt/Turf | 5 kt tail | 7 kt left |
Open the crosswind calculator to try your own wind and runway numbers →
81ME runways
1 physical runway · 2 runway ends. Each card opens the runway's intelligence page: equipment and lighting, LAHSO, frequencies, today's configuration, predicted use, history and approaches.
- Status not monitoredRunway 15/331,668 × 40 ft · Asphalt/TurfCurrent useno stated-runway source at 81MEWind
- 15
- 5 kt headwind · 7 kt crosswind from right
- 33
- 5 kt tailwind · 7 kt crosswind from left
no active equipment NOTAM receivedView Runway Intelligence →
“Current use” is what the facilitystates; wind components are arithmetic on the current METAR against TRUE headings; status reflects NOTAMs received through SWIM, the tower's TFDM record and the D-ATIS — a runway reads “Open” only with a complete NOTAM picture.
24-hour trend
Wind, ceiling and flight category over the last 24 hours.
Over the last 21 h: wind 0→8 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
81ME weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
NOAA NEXRAD composite and lightning, updated about every five minutes; amber frames are HRRR model guidance, not observed radar. Not for navigation.
Recent aviation weather trends at 81ME
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, the nearest station KBHB reported mostly VFR across 19 observations, with 0 flight-category changes. Wind most often came from the N.
Most recent change: LIFR → VFR
Share of hours each runway had the most headwind. From wind reports, not ATC assignments.
- 33
- 64%
- 15
- 36%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 1729Z (1:29 PM EDT)
TAF KBHB 281729Z 2818/2918 22008KT P6SM SCT250
New to TAFs? How to read one →
Get 81ME weather alerts in Telegram
Stop refreshing aviation weather manually. Track 81ME in ATIS Alerts and get notified when a new METAR changes the picture: a category drop, or wind and ceiling moving toward your minimums.
Track 81ME free on TelegramNo live weather from 81ME
Live crosswind meter
81ME has no weather feed online, so the wind comes from KBHB, 14 nm away.
Wind is 55° off runway 15, the end with the most headwind right now.
Have a weather station at 81ME? Help us make your field's weather available to every pilot, free. Add your field's wx station →Turf · 1,668 ft. Headings from FAA runway data. Not for navigation.
Field aerial
North up
Runway 15/33 drawn from FAA threshold coordinates.
Imagery: USGS The National Map (public domain). Something off? ✏️ Suggest an edit
Airport info
From the FAA airport record (cycle 2026-10-01) and OurAirports.
Services
- Control tower
- None
Airport
- Type
- General aviation airport
- FAA LID
- 81ME
- City
- Ellsworth
- State
- Maine
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 338 ft
- Coordinates
- 44.6199, -68.5946
- Runways
- 1 physical runway · 2 runway ends
- Longest runway
- 1,668 ft
- Weather reporting
- Nearest station KBHB
- TAF
- Nearest KBGR
- Time zone
- America/New_York
- Sunset in
- 1h 49m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed 81ME's live status on your website, free →
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.
- Mid Coast Radio Control Club - Bryant Lane , Swanville, ME · 20 mi
Customize your 81ME shirt or mug
81ME's real runway layout on the back, elevation and tower frequency on the front. Add your tail number on the sleeve.
Pilot PIREPs for French Field (81ME)
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 French 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 81ME 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.
⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
Spotted incorrect airport info? ✏️ Suggest an edit