Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal (KSPS), Texas
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal (KSPS) is a joint-use, towered field in north Texas combining Air Force flight training operations with civil traffic, situated about 125 nautical miles from the nearest metro area. The airport's four paved runways, including a 13,100-foot main strip, support both high-performance jet training and transient business aviation traffic passing through the region. Given its military mission, KSPS carries a range of operational restrictions and scheduling notes that distinguish it from a typical civil-only airport, and crews should review these carefully before planning an arrival.
Runways
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal has four paved runways. The longest, 15R/33L, is 13,100 ft long and 300 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Perot Field / Fort Worth Alliance (KAFW), 84 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal recorded 1,371 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July. Business aviation traffic at KSPS is concentrated in the second half of the year, with July, October, November, and December each recording more operations than the spring months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 157 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal averages 27.8 days above 90°F in July, 18.4 freeze days in January and 0.3 snow days in February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 97.2°F, and January the coldest, at 54.7°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, environmental and other notes.
Restricted: prior permission required with a 24-hour notice requirement; contact airfield operations.
Restricted: transient aircraft are limited to one approach to a full stop landing and must taxi to parking during student training operations.
Due to the close proximity of runways 33L and 33C, use vigilance and monitor ground track for the high-TACAN runway 33C approach.
Restricted: all transient aircraft must be chocked 30 minutes prior to trans-alert closing, and prior permission expires 30 minutes prior to airfield closing. All transient aircraft are required to arrive with crew orders for security forces.
Restricted: runway 15C/33C is closed except for crossing at taxiway G for 80th Flying Training Wing aircraft. Taxiway K and taxiway G east of runway 15R/33L are closed except for 80th Flying Training Wing aircraft. Taxiway L and taxiway F between runway 15R/33L and the approach end of runway 33C are closed.
ILS/radar: ILS or LOC/DME approach available; ILS on runway 15C is not available.
When the control tower is closed, activate the MALSR on runway 33L via CTAF.
On runway 15C, the first 2,000 feet and last 1,000 feet are concrete, with the middle zone asphalt.
When the control tower is closed, exercise caution while taxiing. The civil airport is located to the south and the military ramp is located to the west of the runways. Field condition NOTAMs (runway surface condition) are not reported when the tower is closed.
The PAPI reference point and ILS reference point indicator on runway 15R/33L are not coincidental.
The PAPI glideslope and ILS glideslope on runway 15C/33C are not coincidental.
Caution: do not confuse the parallel taxiway with runway 15R/33L.
AETC fighter aircraft use reduced runway separation: day/VFR similar type aircraft 3,000 feet, dissimilar type aircraft 6,000 feet, night 6,000 feet for all AETC aircraft. Transient AETC aircraft should notify the tower on initial contact if reduced runway separation is not desired.
Runway 15C sequenced flashing lights are out of service until further notice.
Restricted: runway 15L/33R is for 80th Flying Training Wing T-6 aircraft use only.
Runway 33C sequenced flashing lights are out of service until further notice.
BAK-15 arresting device installed, with a 175-foot overrun.
MA-1A CHAG arresting device installed, with a 145-foot overrun.
Arresting gear: the MA-1A on runway 15R/33L is not raised unless the 80th Flying Training Wing is flying, and requires 30 minutes prior notification when the tower is operating.
Migratory bird activity occurs on and in the vicinity of the airport from October through April.
The first and last 1,000 feet are concrete, with the middle zone asphalt.
Transient alert operates 1200-0200Z++ on weekdays and 1800-2300Z++ on Sundays; closed Saturdays and holidays.
Caution: the military airport conducts high-performance jet training in a high-density environment within 95 nautical miles of KSPS, from 1200-0200Z++ Monday through Friday up to FL390, and occasionally on Saturday and Sunday when tower hours are extended by NOTAM.
Contact the Flight Service Station.
Base operations run 1200-0200Z++ on weekdays and 1800-2300Z++ on Sundays; closed Saturdays and holidays.
Restricted: solo student operations are not authorized.
Weather observation is limited to the west due to a restricted view.
Military weather advisories and warnings are available on request from Metro weather.
Transient alert service operates 1130-0300Z++ on weekdays and 1800-2300Z++ on Sundays; closed Saturdays and holidays. Qualified weapons and munitions personnel are not available to safe fighter-type aircraft.
Fluid: special provisions for LOX.
Oil JOAP results are available 1345-2100Z++ on weekdays, excluding holidays.
Class D airspace is effective 1130-0300Z++ Monday through Friday and 1800-2300Z++ on Sundays, excluding holidays; other times Class E applies.
Caution: ATC personnel, in accordance with the Cooperative Weather Watch program, will alert weather personnel to any unreported weather conditions that could affect flight safety.
Caution: the military airport conducts high-performance jet training in a high-density environment from 1400-0400Z++ Monday through Friday and occasionally Saturday when tower hours are extended by NOTAM. Transient military aircraft are not authorized to arrive or depart outside of published hours.
Expect no Air Force service while parked at the regional airport.
Contact base taxi or U-Drive service prior to arrival.
Fuel service: Jet A available.
Contact airfield operations flight or the command post.
For clearance delivery, if unable to contact on the Flight Service Station frequency, contact Fort Worth ARTCC.
For information about Wichita Falls Muni arrival procedures, visit the Sheppard Air Force Base website's Share the Air contact page.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal has five airfields within 40 NM. The closest is Kickapoo Downtown (KCWC), 7.70 NM south.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KSPS
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KSPS.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is customs available on-site at KSPS?
No, Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal does not have customs on-site. The nearest customs facility is KAFW, located approximately 84 nautical miles away. Crews requiring customs clearance for international arrivals need to plan their routing through that facility instead. This is an important consideration for any flight into KSPS that involves crossing an international border, since no customs processing option exists at the field itself.
What is the longest runway at KSPS?
The longest runway at KSPS is 15R/33L, a 13,100-foot concrete surface with a width of 300 feet. This runway is also equipped with a MALSR lighting system on the 33L end, which activates when the control tower is closed and controlled via CTAF. Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal also has three other paved runways, including a 10,003-foot strip designated 15C/33C and a 7,021-foot runway designated 18/36. The field's overall maximum paved length is 13,100 feet.
Are there aircraft arresting systems at KSPS?
Yes, KSPS has two arresting device systems recorded in its operational data. One is a BAK-15 system with a 175-foot overrun, and the other is an MA-1A CHAG configuration with a 145-foot overrun. Separately, an MA-1A arresting gear is also noted for runway 15R/33L, which remains in the lowered position unless the 80th Flying Training Wing is conducting operations. Pilots planning to use this gear when raised should account for the 30-minute prior notification requirement referenced in the airfield remarks.
Does Sheppard AFB restrict transient aircraft operations?
Yes, Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal applies several restrictions on transient traffic. Prior permission is required with a 24-hour notice requirement coordinated through airfield operations, and transient aircraft are limited to one approach to a full stop landing before taxiing to parking during student training periods. Solo student operations are not authorized at this field. Transient aircraft must also be chocked 30 minutes before trans-alert closing, and the PPR itself expires 30 minutes before the airfield closes, so timing coordination with the field's operating schedule matters for any inbound crew.
What fuel is available at KSPS?
Sheppard AFB / Wichita Falls Municipal stocks both 100LL avgas and Jet A fuel according to the airport's fuel data. The field also carries LOX under a special provisions arrangement noted in its fluid remarks. Fuel service corresponds to the field's attendance schedule, which is listed as all days, all hours for the airport overall, though transient alert service hours for military-side operations follow a separate weekday and Sunday pattern with closures on Saturdays and holidays. Dispatchers should confirm current fuel availability against the applicable operating window before planning a stop at KSPS.