Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA) Aviation Weather, METAR, TAF & ATIS Alerts
Live aviation weather for Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA, including METAR, TAF, flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling, altimeter, runway crosswinds, and Telegram airport alerts.
Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA) is a regional airport serving Spokane, WA at 2,461 ft. KSKA reports its own METAR and publishes a TAF, decoded live on this page as flight category, wind, visibility, ceiling and altimeter. Its 2 runways (05, 23), longest 13,899 ft, are checked against the current wind in the crosswind table below. The official FAA airport diagram is at the bottom of the page. Track KSKA 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.
Wind from the northeast (040°) at 10 kt, visibility 2.5 statute miles, a few clouds at 14,000 ft, temperature 20°C (68°F), altimeter 29.79 inHg. Conditions are Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
SPECI KSKA 130205Z AUTO 04010KT 2 1/2SM HZ FEW140 20/03 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP078 $
What changed at KSKA?
Since the 0155Z (6:55 PM PDT) report, compared automatically against the latest METAR.
- Flight category dropped from VFR to IFR.
- Visibility dropped from 10 SM to 2.5 SM.
- Haze began (HZ).
The latest report is an off-schedule special (SPECI), issued because conditions changed significantly. What is a SPECI? →
This is exactly what ATIS Alerts watches for you: get a Telegram message when KSKA's weather changes, free →
Current pilot readout for KSKA
KSKA is currently IFR with winds from 040° at 10 knots, visibility 2.5 statute miles, and no ceiling reported. The strongest crosswind component is currently on runway 05, about 5 knots. Density altitude is approximately 3,800 ft (field elevation 2,461 ft). Review the latest TAF below for forecast changes before departure.
⚠️ 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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For pilots and crews overnighting at Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA).
Nearby Pilot Hotel Deals
Well-reviewed places under $500 a night near KSKA (SKA); drag to explore or tap a pin for the rate.
Crew Rental Car Deals
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Runway 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 KSKA. This is intended as a planning aid only and should not replace official performance calculations or pilot judgment.
| Runway | Length | Surface | Head / Tail | Crosswind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05FAV | 13,899 ft | CON | 9 kt head | 5 kt left |
| 23 | 13,899 ft | CON | 9 kt tail | 5 kt right |
Open the crosswind calculator to 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 6→10 kt, ceiling unlimited → unlimited.
KSKA weather radar
Live NEXRAD + lightning, with a 4-hour future-radar forecast. Drag to pan, tap ⚡ to toggle lightning.
Live weather radar around Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA: 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 KSKA is headed.
Radar: NOAA/NWS via IEM · Forecast: NOAA HRRR · Lightning: NOAA · Map © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
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 KSKA
Reported by pilots in flight over the past 6 hours, via aviationweather.gov.
Show raw report
ARP UAL969 4858N 11737W 2200 F380 TB MODERATE SK CLEAR IC NONE
ARP UAL969 4858N 11737W 2200…Header: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.Show raw report
OMK UA /OV OMK105030/TM 2032/FL380/TP B772/TB MOD CHOP/RM -ZSE
OMK UAHeader: reporting station and UA: a routine pilot report.OV OMK105030Location: fix or navaid, optionally with a radial and distance in NM.TM 2032Reported at 20:32 UTC.FL380Altitude: 38,000 ft MSL.TP B772Aircraft type reporting.TB MOD CHOPTurbulence: moderate chop.RM -ZSERemarks.⚠️ PIREPs are unverified pilot reports. Not for operational use: conditions change between reports.
Recent aviation weather trends at KSKA
From ATIS Alerts' hourly weather history.
Over the past 24 hours, KSKA reported mostly VFR across 25 observations, with 2 flight-category changes. The lowest ceiling was 16,000 ft. Wind most often came from the NE.
Most recent change: VFR → IFR
Most recent change: MVFR → VFR
- 23
- 63%
- 05
- 37%
TAF | Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Issued 1900Z (12:00 PM PDT)
TAF KSKA 121900Z 1219/1401 03009KT 9999 BKN150 OVC200 QNH2976INS BECMG 1306/1307 04012KT 4800 -RA BKN020 OVC050 QNH2975INS TEMPO 1308/1312 VRB15G25KT 3200 -TSRA BKN010CB OVC030 BECMG 1316/1318 23012G22KT 6000 -SHRA BKN040 OVC060 QNH2988INS TX20/1222Z TN11/1311Z
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Airport facts
Reference data from the OurAirports dataset.
- Type
- Regional airport
- ICAO
- KSKA
- IATA
- SKA
- FAA LID
- SKA
- City
- Spokane
- State
- Washington
- Country
- United States
- Elevation
- 2,461 ft
- Coordinates
- 47.6151, -117.6560
- Runways
- 2
- Longest runway
- 13,899 ft
- Weather reporting
- Reports METAR
- TAF
- Published
- ATIS
- 25.762 MHz
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Next sunset
- 23h 55m
Run a flight school, FBO, or club here? Embed KSKA'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
9 airports+3 more within 25 NM
25–50 NM
8 airports+2 more within 50 NM
50–100 NM
7 airports+1 more within 100 NM
RC flying fields nearby
AMA model-aircraft club fields around this airport: live wind, crosswind & flyability on each page.
- High Hopes Flyers - High Hopes Field , WA · 7 mi
- Spokane FPV 2 , Spokane, WA · 11 mi
- Four Mound Flyers - 4 Mound Rd , Nine Mile Falls, WA · 11 mi
KSKA airport diagram
Official FAA taxiway and runway layout. Tap to zoom.
The FAA airport diagram for Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, WA shows the runway and taxiway layout across 2 runways, ramp areas, and hold-short positions. Review it before taxiing at an unfamiliar field.
Official FAA airport diagram · d-TPP cycle 2610 · Not for navigation. Download the official FAA PDF ↗
KSKA weather: frequently asked
What runways are available at KSKA?+
KSKA has 2 runways: 05, 23; the longest is 13,899 ft. This page computes the live crosswind for each runway end from the current wind.
Does KSKA report its own weather?+
Yes. Fairchild Air Force Base has its own weather station and publishes METAR observations, which this page decodes live.
Does KSKA have a TAF?+
Yes. The TAF is shown on this page below the current conditions.
Does KSKA broadcast D-ATIS?+
No. KSKA does not broadcast D-ATIS. Alerts for KSKA from the ATIS Alerts bot (@atisalerts_bot) are based on its METAR instead.
Where can I find the KSKA airport diagram?+
The official FAA airport diagram for Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA) is shown on this page. It maps the runway and taxiway layout, ramps, and hold-short lines. Tap it to zoom, or download the official FAA PDF free from the link under the diagram (updated every 28-day FAA charting cycle).
Pilot PIREPs for Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA)
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 Fairchild Air Force Base, 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 KSKA 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 KSKA drops below VFR or a new report moves your numbers.
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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.
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