Büchel Air Base (ETSB)
Medium airport · Alflen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Airport data
| Name | Büchel Air Base |
|---|---|
| ICAO | ETSB |
| Elevation | 1,568 ft (478 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 50°10'26" E 7°3'48" 50.17380, 7.06333 |
| Location | Alflen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/21 | 8,225 ft (2507 m) | 148 ft | ASP | Yes |
Büchel Air Base at a glance
Büchel Air Base is a medium airport in Alflen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The field elevation of 1,568 ft (478 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at ETSB 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, 03/21, offers 8,225 ft (2507 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 03 points roughly 30° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for ETSB 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 Büchel Air Base
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt-Hahn Airport | EDFH | 29 km (16 NM) |
| Spangdahlem Air Base | ETAD | 34 km (18 NM) |
| Cologne Bonn Airport | EDDK | 77 km (42 NM) |
| Nörvenich Air Base | ETNN | 79 km (43 NM) |
| Mainz-Finthen Airfield | EDFZ | 81 km (44 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Büchel Air Base
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 1,568 ft field elevation of Büchel 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 Büchel Air Base
What is the ICAO code of Büchel Air Base?
The ICAO identifier of Büchel Air Base is ETSB, and it has no IATA code assigned. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Büchel Air Base above sea level?
Büchel Air Base sits at an elevation of 1,568 feet (478 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Büchel Air Base located?
The airport lies at 50.1738, 7.0633 — in Alflen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, about 29 km away.
Does ETSB publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for ETSB 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 Büchel Air Base?
Büchel Air Base has one runway. The longest, 03/21, measures 8,225 ft (2507 m) with a ASP surface.