W73 Mid Atlantic Soaring Center

Before you fly into W73

Conditions

VFR

Good for visual flying

Airport

Non-towered

Self-announce on CTAF

Pattern alt

1,573'

MSL · field 573' + 1,000 AGL

Favored RWY

Calm

No wind component

METAR & TAF W73

W73 does not publish a METAR.

Showing the nearest reporting station: KHGR (HAGERSTOWN RGNL/RICHARD A HENSON FLD) · 17.6 NM away. Conditions at W73 may differ.

METAR · KHGR

Observed 21:53Z

KHGR 112153Z 22008KT 10SM CLR 33/20 A2979 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW SLP089 T03330200 $

Wind: 220° @ 8 kt
Visibility: 10 SM
Temp / Dew: 33°C / 20°C
Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
Clouds: CLR
Density alt: 3,032 ft
Ceiling: Unlimited
Rules: VFR

W73 does not issue a TAF.

Showing the forecast from the nearest station: KMRB (EASTERN WV RGNL/SHEPHERD FLD) · 36.2 NM away. Conditions at W73 may differ.

Forecast · TAF

Valid 11 22:00Z–12 18:00Z

TAF KMRB 112203Z 1122/1218 26010KT 5SM -SHRA VCTS BKN040CB TEMPO 1122/1123 32020G40KT 2SM TSRA BKN025 BKN040CB FM120100 27004KT P6SM BKN150 FM120500 00000KT P6SM BKN220 FM121300 27007KT P6SM FEW240

BASEMVFR

11 22:00Z–12 01:00Z

Wind: 260° at 10 kt
Visibility: 5 SM
Sky: Broken 4,000 ft
Weather: light showers rain, nearby thunderstorm

22Z

01Z

04Z

07Z

10Z

13Z

16Z

NOW

How to read

The top lane is always the active baseline (BASE + FM). Secondary lanes stack temporary and probabilistic deviations in the order they appear in the TAF.

Tap any pill to see the decoded conditions for that period.

Change indicators

BASEBase

Initial conditions at the start of the forecast.

FMFrom

A new baseline that replaces the previous forecast completely, starting at the stated time.

BECMGBecoming

Conditions change gradually over the window shown. By the end, the new conditions apply.

TEMPOTemporary

Fluctuating conditions lasting less than an hour at a time within the window — not the dominant forecast.

PROB30/40Probability

30 or 40% chance of the conditions occurring within the period. Never combined with BECMG.

Airport info & contacts

Manager on record, flight service, ARTCC, attendance schedule and pattern altitude — published by the FAA and refreshed every 28 days.

Location

From city: 2 NM SE
VFR sectional: WASHINGTON
ARTCC: ZDC · WASHINGTON
NOTAM facility: IPT (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name: MARK PHILIP
Phone: 770-540-5503
Address: 154 PECHER RD, 165 PECHER RD, FAIRFIELD PA 17320

Flight service · Hours

FSS IPT: WILLIAMSPORT1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance: SAT-SUN · DALGT
MON - FRI · UNATTENDED

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway

220° · 8 kt

See full METAR & TAF

Pattern entry · RWY —

No runway selected.

Runway	Heading (°M)	Length	Surface	Traffic

Approaches & charts

Chart Supplement

W73 · CHART_SUPP

Chart Supplement

W73 · CHART_SUPP

Services on the field

Fuel grades, oxygen, maintenance, ramp storage and lighting — as declared to the FAA by the airport operator.

Fuel & services

Fuel: Not available
Oxygen (bottled): Not available
Oxygen (bulk): Not available
Airframe repair: Not available
Power plant repair: Not available

Ramp & ground

Transient storage: Not published
Landing fee: No fee published
Customs: Not available
Wind indicator: Yes
Segmented circle: Yes

Fuel & FBOs

Cheapest 100LL and Jet A on the field and nearby. Always confirm with the FBO before taxi.

Cheapest 100LLNearby

$6.45

N71·Donegal Springs Airpark·41 nm

Cheapest Jet ANearby

$7.52

KGAI·DC Metro Aviation Services·36.4 nm

No on-field FBO prices. See nearby fuel options below.

Cheaper nearby (within 50 nm)

100LL$6.45atN71Donegal Springs Airpark41 nm
Jet A$7.52atKGAIDC Metro Aviation Services36.4 nm

Airport notes

Surface conditions, obstructions, local procedures, lighting outages and other notes published with each FAA cycle.

General notes

EXTSV GLDR GND & FLT OPNS.
RWY 15 CLSD FOR APCH AND LNDG. EXTREME CAUTION: ALL TKOFS USE RWY 15. ALL APCHS & LNDGS USE RWY 33. ROTORCRAFT AIR & HOVER TAXI RSTD TO RWY.
KARLINDO PERSONAL USE ARPT LCTD 1300 FT E OF RWYS.
ARPT OPS RESTRICTED, IAW TFR RULES, WHEN P-40 EXPANDED TO 10 NM RADIUS.
GLIDERS OCCASIONALLY LND ON TURF AREA ADJ TO RWY 15/33.
FOR CD CTC POTOMAC APCH AT 866-709-4993.
ROTORCRAFT EXERCISE EXTREME CTN AT N END OF RWY DUE TO GLIDER GND OPNS.
ARPT CLSD TO NGT OPNS.

Approach & departure obstructions

15RY 15 HAS +15 FT ROAD AT RY END 125 FT L/R OF CNTRLN.
15RWY 15 NOT MKD WITH THLD OR MAG HDG.
33RY 33 APPROACH SLOPE 20:1 TO DSPLCD THLD.

Other notes

SEGM CIRC ON WEST SIDE OF ARPT; 45 FT DIAM.
TPA 1365' MSL.
MULTICOM 123.3 USED DURING GLIDER ACTIVITY.
1ATTND SAT-SUN & FED HOL DURG DALGT HRS WHEN WX PERMITS.

VFR map & nearby airports

VFR sectional. Tap any ICAO chip to open that airport.

Key facts · W73

Answer card

ICAO: W73
Name: MID ATLANTIC SOARING CENTER
Location: FAIRFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA
Elevation: 573 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude: 1,573 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower: Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways: 0
Longest runway: –
Published ILS approaches: 0
Published frequencies: 1
Magnetic variation: 10°
Current flight rules: VFR
Current wind: 220° at 8 kt
Favored runway now: –

Mid Atlantic Soaring Center is in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. Field elevation is 573 ft MSL. This is a glider-focused field with extensive ground and flight activity. No tower is published. CTAF is 123.3. The airport has one runway, 15/33. The published pattern altitude is 1,365 ft MSL, which is 792 ft AGL. No ILS approaches are published.

Read the runway notes before you go. Runway 15 is closed for approach and landing. Takeoffs use runway 15. Landings use runway 33. Runway 33 has a displaced threshold. The approach slope is 20 to 1 to that threshold. Runway 15 is not marked with a threshold or magnetic heading. Gliders may also land on the turf area next to runway 15/33. A segmented circle sits on the west side of the airport.

There are no on-field FBOs listed in the facts. Contact the airport operator directly before arrival, or call the field on CTAF for current service status. The field is attended Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays during daylight hours when weather permits. For clearance delivery, contact Potomac Approach at 866-709-4993. Check the current FAA Chart Supplement for any temporary flight restriction impacts, including periods when P-40 expands to a 10 NM radius. Karlindo personal use airport is 1,300 ft east of the runways. Keep your scan tight in the pattern and on departure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pattern altitude at W73?

The published pattern altitude is 1,365 ft MSL. That works out to 792 ft AGL based on the listed field elevation of 573 ft MSL.

Is there a tower at Mid Atlantic Soaring Center?

No tower is published for W73. Use CTAF 123.3 and expect glider traffic to be active.

Does W73 have any ILS approaches?

No ILS approaches are published for W73. Check the current FAA Chart Supplement for the latest approach data before you go.

Which runway is used for takeoff and landing at W73?

The published remarks say runway 15 is closed for approach and landing. Takeoffs use runway 15. Landings use runway 33.

What should I know about glider operations at W73?

Expect extensive glider ground and flight operations. The remarks also say gliders occasionally land on the turf area next to runway 15/33.

Is there a curfew or special airspace restriction at W73?

The facts do not publish a curfew. Check the current FAA Chart Supplement for any published noise or curfew restrictions before flying into the field. The remarks also say airport operations are restricted when P-40 is expanded to a 10 NM radius.

Who is on the field at W73 for fuel or service?

No on-field FBOs are listed in the facts. Contact the airport operator directly before arrival, or call the field on CTAF/UNICOM for current FBO availability.

What should a first-time pilot watch for on arrival to W73?

Watch for glider traffic, the displaced threshold on runway 33 and the nearby Karlindo personal use airport 1,300 ft east of the runways. The field is attended on Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays during daylight hours when weather permits.

W73