Spangdahlem Air Base (ETAD)
Medium airport · Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Airport data
| Name | Spangdahlem Air Base |
|---|---|
| ICAO | ETAD |
| IATA | SPM |
| Elevation | 1,197 ft (365 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 49°58'35" E 6°41'54" 49.97651, 6.69841 |
| Location | Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 10,007 ft (3050 m) | 148 ft | ASP | Yes |
Spangdahlem Air Base at a glance
Spangdahlem Air Base is a medium airport in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, known to airline systems as SPM. The field elevation of 1,197 ft (365 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at ETAD are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 05/23, offers 10,007 ft (3050 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 05 points roughly 50° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for ETAD shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Spangdahlem Air Base
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Büchel Air Base | ETSB | 34 km (18 NM) |
| Frankfurt-Hahn Airport | EDFH | 40 km (22 NM) |
| Luxembourg-Findel International Airport | ELLX | 52 km (28 NM) |
| Ramstein Air Base | ETAR | 88 km (48 NM) |
| Saarbrücken Airport | EDDR | 90 km (49 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Spangdahlem Air Base
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 1,197 ft field elevation of Spangdahlem Air Base can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 75 airports and airfields we list for Germany — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Spangdahlem Air Base
What is the ICAO code of Spangdahlem Air Base?
The ICAO identifier of Spangdahlem Air Base is ETAD, and its IATA code is SPM. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Spangdahlem Air Base above sea level?
Spangdahlem Air Base sits at an elevation of 1,197 feet (365 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Spangdahlem Air Base located?
The airport lies at 49.9765, 6.6984 — in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Büchel Air Base, about 34 km away.
Does ETAD publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for ETAD appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Spangdahlem Air Base?
Spangdahlem Air Base has one runway. The longest, 05/23, measures 10,007 ft (3050 m) with a ASP surface.