Centennial Airport (KAPA)
Denver, United States · North America
By Renzo, CPL
ICAO
KAPA
IATA
APA
City
Denver
Country
United States
Region
North America
Elevation
5,885 ft
Runways
3 runways
Coordinates
39.5701, -104.8493
Overview
Busiest GA airport in Colorado at high elevation. Excellent for density altitude training and mountain flying.
Current Weather at KAPA
Pilots flying into or out of Centennial Airport should always check the latest METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) before departure. A METAR is a standardized weather observation issued every hour (or more frequently as a SPECI when conditions change rapidly). It includes wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature, dewpoint, and altimeter setting -- everything you need for a safe go/no-go decision.
Live conditions
Current METAR
METAR KAPA 030853Z 15012KT 10SM SCT120 BKN220 15/07 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP155 T01500067 58010Wind 150° at 12 kt — likely active runway near heading 15
Current TAF
TAF KAPA 030900Z 0309/0406 16012KT P6SM SCT120 BKN200 FM031000 19011KT P6SM FEW100 SCT150 FM031300 VRB06KT P6SM SCT120 SCT150 FM031500 01008KT P6SM SCT120 BKN200 TEMPO 0320/0324 VRB20G35KT -TSRA BKN080CB FM040000 16013KT P6SM SCT120 BKN200Decode METAR for KAPA
Paste the KAPA METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.
Check Weather Before Your Flight
A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Centennial Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:
- METARHourly surface observation for KAPA. Includes wind, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, and altimeter.
- TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast covering the next 24-30 hours. Look for expected wind shifts, visibility changes, and precipitation.
- NOTAMNotices to Air Missions for KAPA. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
- PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Denver. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
- SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Centennial Airport.
Learn to read sectional charts to plan your route visually, and use our crosswind calculator to check runway compatibility with current winds.
Pilot Resources at Centennial Airport
Radio Frequencies
Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like KAPA include ATIS/AWOS, Ground, Tower (if towered), Approach/Departure, and Clearance Delivery. Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.
Flight Schools Nearby
Browse flight schools near Denver and compare training programs.
Private Pilot Guide
Everything you need to earn your PPL, from requirements to checkride prep.
METAR Decoder
Decode any METAR report into plain English. Free tool for student and experienced pilots.
Sectional Chart Guide
Learn to read VFR sectional charts for navigation around Denver.
Training Availability
Flight Training Available
Centennial Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools
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