USAF Academy Airfield (KAFF) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for USAF Academy Airfield in Colorado Springs, CO, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
USAF Academy Airfield (KAFF) is a general aviation airport serving pilots in and around Colorado Springs, CO at 6,572 ft. KAFF reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF — decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 8 runways (09, 16C, 16L, 16R) — longest 4,501 ft — are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. ATIS is broadcast on 128.525. Track KAFF in the ATIS Alerts Telegram bot to get a message when a new METAR changes the picture — flight category, wind, or ceiling past your selected minimums.
What changed at KAFF?
Since the 0255Z (8:55 PM MDT) report — compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- The 20,000 ft ceiling dissipated — no ceiling now.
- Pressure rising: altimeter 30.17 → 30.21 inHg.
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you — get a Telegram message when KAFF's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KAFF
A current METAR is not available for KAFF right now. Check back shortly, review a nearby reporting station, and always confirm with an official briefing before flight.
⚠️ 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 KAFF 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 KAFF. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
Current wind is calm — calm wind is not a factor for runway selection, and with no wind 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09 | 2,493 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 16C | 4,501 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 16L | 3,513 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 16R | 4,500 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 27 | 2,493 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 34C | 4,501 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 34L | 4,500 ft | ASP | — | — |
| 34R | 3,513 ft | ASP | — | — |
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 22 h: wind 6→0 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KAFF weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast — drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around USAF Academy Airfield in Colorado Springs, CO: 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 KAFF 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 KAFF
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours — via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
DEN UA /OV 35 NW DEN/TM 0402/FL170/TP B737/TB MOD CHOP
DEN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV 35 NW DENLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0402Reported at 04:02 UTC.FL170Altitude: 17,000 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.TB MOD CHOPTurbulence: moderate chop.Show raw report
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0327/FL060/TP BCS3/TB NEG/RM DURD RY16L DEN
DEN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV DENLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0327Reported at 03:27 UTC.FL060Altitude: 6,000 ft MSL.TP BCS3Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM DURD RY16L DENRemarks.Show raw report
LIC UA /OV TXC220008 /TM 0241 /FL095 /TP PA44 /WX FV16SM /WV 27010KT /TB NEG /RM LTG NE-E
LIC UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV TXC220008Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0241Reported at 02:41 UTC.FL095Altitude: 9,500 ft MSL.TP PA44Aircraft type reporting.WX FV16SMWeather and flight visibility observed.WV 27010KTWind (direction/speed) or wind-shear remarks.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM LTG NE-ERemarks.Show raw report
PUB UA /OV KPUB/TM 0226/FL051/TP J328/WX -RA/TB NEG
PUB UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV KPUBLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0226Reported at 02:26 UTC.FL051Altitude: 5,100 ft MSL.TP J328Aircraft type reporting.WX -RAWeather and flight visibility observed.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
DEN UA /OV DEN350005/TM 0224/FL070/TP B737/TB NEG
DEN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV DEN350005Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0224Reported at 02:24 UTC.FL070Altitude: 7,000 ft MSL.TP B737Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0127/FL060/TP E75L/TB NEG/RM DURD RY16R DEN
DEN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV DENLocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0127Reported at 01:27 UTC.FL060Altitude: 6,000 ft MSL.TP E75LAircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.RM DURD RY16R DENRemarks.Show raw report
DEN UA /OV PUB040005/TM 0122/FL080/TP BE99/TB NEG
DEN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV PUB040005Location — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0122Reported at 01:22 UTC.FL080Altitude: 8,000 ft MSL.TP BE99Aircraft type reporting.TB NEGTurbulence: none reported.Show raw report
DEN UA /OV 30E/TM 0111/FLDURC/TP SW4/TB NEG BLO 160/IC NEG/RM VMC BLO 160
DEN UAHeader — reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV 30ELocation — fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 0111Reported at 01:11 UTC.FLDURCReported during climb.TP SW4Aircraft type reporting.TB NEG BLO 160Turbulence: none reported blo 160.IC NEGIcing: none reported.RM VMC BLO 160Remarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use — conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KAFF
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KAFF reported mostly VFR across 38 observations, with 3 flight-category changes. The strongest gust reached 29 kt, the lowest ceiling was 3,600 ft. Wind most often came from the N.
Most recent change: IFR → VFR
- 16C/16L/16R
- 43%
- 34C/34L/34R
- 36%
- 09
- 17%
- 27
- 4%
TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 2100Z (3:00 PM MDT)
TAF COR KAFF 282100Z 2819/3001 16012KT 9999 VCTS BKN070CB BKN120 QNH3016INS TEMPO 2820/2821 VRB30G45KT 6000 TSRAGR BKN050CB BKN120 BECMG 2820/2821 35014KT 9999 VCTS BKN070CB QNH3018INS TEMPO 2821/2902 VRB30G45KT 6000 TSRAGR BKN050CB BECMG 2903/2904 16009KT 9999 NSW FEW015 SCT100 SCT200 QNH3021INS BECMG 2907/2908 16009KT 9999 OVC008 QNH3019INS BECMG 2912/2913 27014KT 9999 FEW010 BKN180 520004 QNH3021INS BECMG 2915/2916 15012KT 9999 SCT080 BKN180 QNH3019INS BECMG 2918/2919 15012G18KT 9999 VCTS SCT050 BKN065CB QNH3016INS TEMPO 2919/3001 VRB30G40KT 6000 TSRAGR BKN040CB TX32/2820Z TN16/2912Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 2821 NEXT 2911
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- General aviation airport
- ICAO
- KAFF
- IATA
- AFF
- FAA LID
- AFF
- City
- Colorado Springs
- State
- Colorado
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 6,572 ft
- Coordinates
- 38.9725, -104.8211
- Runways
- 8
- Longest runway
- 4,501 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 128.525 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Denver
- Next sunset
- 20h 47m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KAFF'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
11 airports+5 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
5 airports50–100 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.
- Manitou Springs High School — Manitou Springs, CO · 9 mi
- Pikes Peak Soaring Society - Irma LN — Peyton, CO · 17 mi
- Pikes Peak RC Club - Judge Orr Rd — Peyton, CO · 17 mi
Historical Flying Weather
2006–2025 · ATIS Alerts Flying Weather Index
Based on historical observations from 2006–2025, KAFF reported VFR conditions during about 89.8% of valid daylight observations, with an estimated 312 VFR flying days a year. August had the most VFR weather; February had the most instrument conditions. Surface winds averaged 8.0 kt, calm 6.5% of the time.
Full historical breakdown
Flight category by month
| Month | VFR % | MVFR % | IFR % | LIFR % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87.0 | 5.8 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 81.3 | 7.9 | 4.8 | 5.9 |
| Mar | 85.9 | 7.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Apr | 83.4 | 9.3 | 4.2 | 3.2 |
| May | 84.1 | 9.6 | 3.6 | 2.6 |
| Jun | 93.8 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 |
| Jul | 94.1 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 |
| Aug | 94.3 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 |
| Sep | 91.2 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
| Oct | 87.9 | 6.0 | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Nov | 89.7 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| Dec | 87.4 | 6.2 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
Average wind by month
| Month | Mean wind (kt) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 7.7 kt |
| Feb | 8.5 kt |
| Mar | 8.8 kt |
| Apr | 9.4 kt |
| May | 8.7 kt |
| Jun | 8.2 kt |
| Jul | 7.2 kt |
| Aug | 6.9 kt |
| Sep | 7.5 kt |
| Oct | 7.8 kt |
| Nov | 7.7 kt |
| Dec | 7.9 kt |
Historical summary of past observations — not a forecast or safety rating. Always check the current METAR, TAF, and a weather briefing before flight.
KAFF weather — frequently asked
What runways are available at KAFF?+
KAFF has 8 runways — 09, 16C, 16L, 16R, 27, 34C, 34L, 34R; the longest is 4,501 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KAFF report its own weather?+
Yes — USAF Academy Airfield has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KAFF have a TAF?+
Yes — the TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does KAFF broadcast D-ATIS?+
No — KAFF does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KAFF from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
Pilot PIREPs for USAF Academy Airfield (KAFF)
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 USAF Academy Airfield, 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 KAFF 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.
Why pilots use ATIS Alerts
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- Get pinged the moment KAFF drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
- Live METAR, TAF, crosswinds, and FAA delays — one link, always current.
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⚠️ Not for operational use. Always verify with official FAA-approved preflight weather sources before flight.
No D-ATIS at this airport — showing METAR. METAR source temporarily unavailable.
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