Rifle Garfield County
RIL · KRIL · Rifle, Colorado · Garfield County · map
Rifle Garfield County is a public-use airport owned by Garfield County, 3 miles east of Rifle, Colorado, 5,537 feet above sea level. Its one runway, 08/26, is 7,000 feet of asphalt. It has fuel (100LL avgas, Jet A) and about 22 based aircraft. The FAA counts about 14,382 takeoffs and landings a year. About 219 passengers boarded flights here in the FAA's fiscal year 2024.
Weather and planning now, the forecast, warnings, pilot reports, winds aloft, restrictions
Weather right now KRIL · observed 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC), 42 minutes ago
VFR good flying weather
- Wind from the west (270°) at 9 knots
- Visibility 10 miles or more
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet
- Temperature 56°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter 29.93 inHg
The forecast issued Mon 5:30 pm MDT (23:30 UTC), good until Tue 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC)
- From Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet VFR
- From Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet VFR
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC) and 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet VFR
- From Tue 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
- From Tue 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
- 30% chance between Tue 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) and 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): light rain showers, overcast at 4,000 feet VFR
- From Tue 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet VFR
The codes as issued, and in English (METAR and TAF)
METAR KRIL 130153Z AUTO 27009KT 10SM FEW060 BKN100 OVC110 13/09 A2993 RMK AO2 RAB16E49 SLP097 P0001 T01330089
- METAR
- a routine hourly observation
- KRIL
- the station, KRIL
- 130153Z
- observed 7:53 pm MDT (01:53 UTC)
- AUTO
- fully automated report, nobody checked it
- 27009KT
- wind from the west at 9 knots
- 10SM
- visibility 10 miles
- FEW060
- a few clouds at 6,000 feet
- BKN100
- a broken layer at 10,000 feet
- OVC110
- overcast at 11,000 feet
- 13/09
- temperature 13 °C (55 °F), dew point 9 °C (48 °F)
- A2993
- altimeter setting 29.93 inches of mercury
- RMK
- remarks follow
- AO2
- automated station with a precipitation sensor
- RAB16E49
- rain began 16 minutes past the hour, ended 49 minutes past the hour
- SLP097
- sea-level pressure 1009.7 hPa
- P0001
- 0.01 inches of precipitation in the last hour
- T01330089
- temperature 13.3 °C (56 °F), dew point 8.9 °C (48 °F)
TAF KRIL 122330Z 1300/1324 28005KT P6SM VCSH SCT120 SCT140 FM130400 16007KT P6SM VCSH SCT050 BKN090 PROB30 1305/1311 6SM -SHRA BKN050 BKN080 FM131100 VRB04KT P6SM -SHRA BKN035 FM131700 VRB04KT P6SM VCSH SCT040 BKN050 PROB30 1317/1321 -SHRA OVC040 FM132100 18005KT P6SM -SHRA SCT035 BKN050
- TAF
- a terminal aerodrome forecast: the weather expected at the airport, usually for the next 24 or 30 hours
- KRIL
- the station, KRIL
- 122330Z
- issued 5:30 pm MDT (23:30 UTC)
- 1300/1324 28005KT P6SM VCSH SCT120 SCT140
- valid from Mon 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC) to Tue 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, vcsh, scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, scattered clouds at 14,000 feet
- FM130400 16007KT P6SM VCSH SCT050 BKN090
- from Mon 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, vcsh, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 9,000 feet
- PROB30 1305/1311 6SM -SHRA BKN050 BKN080
- a 30% chance from Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC) to Tue 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet
- FM131100 VRB04KT P6SM -SHRA BKN035
- from Tue 5:00 am MDT (11:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- FM131700 VRB04KT P6SM VCSH SCT040 BKN050
- from Tue 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, vcsh, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- PROB30 1317/1321 -SHRA OVC040
- a 30% chance from Tue 11:00 am MDT (17:00 UTC) to Tue 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): light rain showers, overcast at 4,000 feet
- FM132100 18005KT P6SM -SHRA SCT035 BKN050
- from Tue 3:00 pm MDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, light rain showers, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
From the National Weather Service's aviation weather service, refreshed every few minutes; times are local to the airport with UTC in brackets. For a flight, get your briefing from Flight Service or an approved provider.
Flight planning warnings, pilot reports, winds aloft, restrictions · for planning, not a briefing
4 warnings in force over this field:
- AIRMET ZULU 1C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 45,000 ft.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist).
Turbulence AIRMET in force: moderate turbulence (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 45,000 ft; AIRMET in force: moderate turbulence (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. 2 pilot reports of turbulence within 100 nautical miles in the last three hours: moderate chop turbulence, at 18,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC); light to moderate turbulence, at 19,000 ft, 75 nm southeast, 7:41 pm MDT (01:41 UTC). The government's turbulence forecast map ↗
Icing AIRMET in force: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. 1 pilot report of icing within 100 nautical miles in the last three hours: light rime icing from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft, 57 nm south, 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 UTC). The freezing level is about 11,500 ft (from the winds-aloft temperatures), so icing is possible in cloud above that. The government's icing forecast map ↗
4 pilot reports within 100 nautical miles in the last three hours, the nearest three:
- C56X at 18,000 ft, 36 nm southwest, 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, 0 °C, remarks: ZDVWC-11.
as filed, and in English
GJT UA /OV JNC070025/TM 0013/FL180/TP C56X/TA 00/TB MOD CHOP/IC T RIME/RM ZDVWC-11
- Report
- a routine report filed through GJT
- Where
- 25 nm east (070°) of JNC
- Time
- 00:13 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- C56X
- Temperature
- 0 °C
- Turbulence
- moderate chop
- Icing
- T rime
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-11
- S22T at 14,000 ft, 57 nm south, 6:59 pm MDT (00:59 UTC): light rime icing from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft, -6 °C, remarks: during the descent ZDVWC-12.
as filed, and in English
MTJ UA /OV MTJ290015/TM 0059/FL140/TP S22T/TA M06/IC LGT RIME 160-140/RM DURD ZDVWC-12
- Report
- a routine report filed through MTJ
- Where
- 15 nm west (290°) of MTJ
- Time
- 00:59 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- S22T
- Temperature
- −6 °C
- Icing
- light rime from 16,000 ft to 14,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent ZDVWC-12
- B190 at 19,000 ft, 75 nm southeast, 7:41 pm MDT (01:41 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-26.
as filed, and in English
ASE UA /OV DBL140045/TM 0141/FL190/TP B190/TB LGT-MOD/RM ZDVWC-26
- Report
- a routine report filed through ASE
- Where
- 45 nm southeast (140°) of DBL
- Time
- 01:41 UTC
- Height
- at 19,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B190
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-26
Winds aloft at the nearest forecast point (GJT, 44 nm southwest), for use 02:00–09:00 UTC: 9,000 ft: 220° at 26 kt, 5 °C; 12,000 ft: 210° at 39 kt, -1 °C; 18,000 ft: 200° at 52 kt, -13 °C.
No temporary flight restriction within 50 nautical miles.
5 notices to air missions in force at this field.
All 5 notices, grouped: taxiways (3), aprons and ramps (1), obstructions (1) →
From the government's aviation weather service and the FAA's restriction list, refreshed every few minutes. This is for planning; the legal briefing comes from Flight Service or the FAA's own tools. The notices come from the FAA's notice service, the site's copy refreshed every few minutes (last checked a minute ago). The FAA has so far issued eFlight its test feed, which misses some notices; the request for the full feed is with the FAA.
Wind map live wind over the area, from Windy.com
Colours show wind speed, the moving lines its direction; drag the time bar for the coming days. Map and forecast by Windy.com.
The airport facts, runways, radio, fuel and services, the FAA's remarks
The airport
- Codes
- FAA RIL · ICAO KRIL
- Kind
- Airport · open to the public · publicly owned
- Owner
- Garfield County
- Elevation
- 5,537 feet above sea level
- Control tower
- No control tower
- Attended
- around the clock
- Lights
- runway lights see the remarks below; beacon sunset to sunrise
- Fuel and services
- 100LL avgas, Jet A; the services card below
- On the chart
- Denver sectional
- Magnetic variation
- 10E
- In the FAA's files since
- July 1940
Runway
For understanding the field, not for navigation.
| Runway | Length × width | Surface | Lights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26 | 7,000 × 100 ft | Asphalt, good | High-intensity lights |
- Runway 08: PAPI, four lights on the left, tower 6 ft high 331 ft from the end
- Runway 26: ILS with DME, PAPI, four lights on the left, omnidirectional approach lights (ODALS), right-hand traffic pattern
Radio frequencies
| Common traffic advisory (CTAF) · UNICOM | 122.8 | |
| Rifle and center (remote transmitter) Low | 134.95 | |
| Ril and automated weather (ASOS) | 135.275 |
Automated weather (ASOS), by phone 970-625-2206.
Fuel and services as reported to the FAA
- Fuel
- 100LL avgas, Jet A
- Repairs
- airframe and engine: major repairs
- Parking
- hangars, tie-downs
- Oxygen
- bottled oxygen (low-pressure), bulk oxygen (high-pressure)
- Also here
- air freight, air ambulance, charter flights, flight instruction, aircraft rental
Other fields with jet fuel nearby: Kgws Sumers Airpark (19 nm east), Meeker Coulter Field (32 nm north), Eagle County Regional (38 nm east).
The FAA's file records what is sold and done at the field, as the airport manager reports it, not who sells it or the price; fuel sellers (FBOs) are not named in any public file. Airports selling jet fuel in Colorado · avgas.
The FAA's remarks as written in the airport file, spelled out
- Activate odals runway 26; runway end identifier lights runway 08; high-intensity runway lights runway 08/26 - the common traffic frequency. PAPI runway 08 and 26 on continuously.
- For aircraft gross weight 10000 pounds or more.
- Aft winter SN storms airport operations bfr all taxiways are cleared.
- Overnight parking fee.
- Cold temperature airport. Altitude correction required at or below -13C.
- Gld operations in the vicinity of airport.
- Proper dual rdo use (air traffic control/the common traffic frequency) is esntl for safe and efficient traffic flow.
- Use the common traffic frequency prior to entering runway or pattern.
- IFR air traffic control clnc from ril is not authorized to enter runway or takeoff and landing.
- Saturated pattern policy: tgls prohibited when 5 or more aircraft in traffic pattern.
- Flw FAA procedures for NON-TOWERED airports.
- Ctn: SN removal equip operations from 1 oct to 15 may.
Flights and activity in the air now, the airlines, based aircraft, takeoffs and landings
Activity now checking the volunteer receiver network…
Within ten miles
- Looking…
Arrivals and departures, last hour
- Looking…
From the volunteer receiver network, a few minutes behind at most; aircraft whose owners asked the FAA not to be displayed are left out; no person is named. Open the live map here.
Scheduled and charter flights from here the DOT's airline reports · August 2025 to July 2026
Airlines reported 39 departures from RIL in those twelve months, carrying 158 passengers in 513 seats (31% filled), to 26 destinations (4 abroad) on 7 airlines.
All 26 destinations, the airlines and the aircraft, month by month
From the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' T-100 table: every segment an airline reported flying, three months in arrears. Private, business and training flights are not in it; the live picture is in the activity card.
Based aircraft as counted for the FAA, fiscal year 2024
Based aircraft, as a table
| aircraft | |
|---|---|
| single-engine | 16 |
| multi-engine | 3 |
| jets | 2 |
| other | 1 |
Takeoffs and landings a year about 14,382, the FAA's fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024)
Takeoffs and landings, as a table
| a year | |
|---|---|
| air taxi and commuter | 2,300 |
| general aviation, travelling | 7,292 |
| general aviation, local | 4,760 |
| military | 30 |
Local flights stay in the traffic pattern or nearby, often practice; travelling flights arrive from or leave for somewhere else. Counts at airports without a tower are the FAA's estimates. How this compares nationally: Airports by the numbers.
Who flies and works here aircraft registered in town, the companies, the examiners nearby
Aircraft registered in Rifle from the FAA register
25 aircraft are registered to owners in Rifle, Colorado: 24 piston singles, 1 gyroplane. Not every one of them is based at this airport; the based-aircraft count above is the FAA's figure for this airport alone.
Individuals are counted, not named (the site's policy at this time). All aircraft registered in Colorado.
Examiners and inspectors nearby designated by the FAA · within 50 nautical miles
2 pilot examiners (the FAA's designated pilot examiners, who give the practical tests for pilot certificates) are based within 50 nautical miles: 2 for private pilot, 2 for commercial and instrument, 1 for airline transport pilot, 2 for flight instructor; 2 for airplanes, 2 for multi-engine airplanes. Also nearby: 6 aviation medical examiners, 1 mechanic examiner, 1 training center examiner.
- Loren French private pilot, commercial and instrument, airline transport pilot, flight instructor, instrument instructor, instructor renewals, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Eagle County Airport (KEGE) · Gypsum, CO (32 nm) · (970) 401-4104 · mountaincfi@yahoo.com
- Bradley John Sullivan private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor, instrument instructor, instructor renewals, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Grand Junction Regional Airport · Grand Junction, CO (44 nm) · (970) 210-5527 · crookedhornaviation@gmail.com
All 10 nearby, by kind, with contact details
What each kind does
- DPE: Designated Pilot Examiner: gives the practical tests (checkrides) for pilot certificates and ratings.
- AME: Aviation Medical Examiner: a doctor who issues the medical certificates pilots must hold.
- DME: Designated Mechanic Examiner: tests candidates for the mechanic certificate (airframe and powerplant).
- DCTO-E: Designee at a certificated training organisation.
Designees are listed with the name and contact details the FAA publishes for them on its designee locator (read October 10, 2026): the FAA lists them so that pilots, mechanics and companies can find them. Private individuals are not named, the site's policy at this time. A designee who would rather not appear here can ask us through the contact address on the About page. Each designee is placed at the main public airport of the town the FAA lists (or the nearest one to its zip code), so "nearby" means the town, not an exact address. All examiners by state.
Safety record the NTSB's cases at or near this airport
Accidents and incidents at or near this airport NTSB records · 16 since 1982, 2 fatal
Cases the NTSB recorded with this as the nearest airport, newest first. Each opens the full report in plain English. The country as a whole: Where accidents happen.
Nearby within 30 nautical miles
Connections how this airport links to the rest of the register
- Aircraft registered in Rifle 25 aircraft · 24 piston singles, 1 gyroplanes
- NTSB accidents and incidents at or near this airport 16 since 1982 · 2 fatal
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,857 since 1982 · 381 in the last ten years
- Chicago Midway International (MDW) 6 flights in twelve months · Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
- Teterboro (TEB) 5 flights in twelve months · Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc., Scott Aviation, LLC d/b/a Silver Air
- Van Nuys (VNY) 3 flights in twelve months · Scott Aviation, LLC d/b/a Silver Air, ADVANCED AIR, LLC
- Boeing Fld/King County International (BFI) 2 flights in twelve months · Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
- Harry Reid International (LAS) 2 flights in twelve months · Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
- Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field (ASE) 1 flights in twelve months · Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
- Boise Air Trml/Gowen Field (BOI) 1 flights in twelve months · Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc.
- Carlsbad (CLD) 1 flights in twelve months · Scott Aviation, LLC d/b/a Silver Air
- Nearby landing places within 30 nautical miles 8 airports, heliports and seaplane bases
- Public-use airports in Colorado 76 landing places
- Colorado 7,452 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/airport/RIL.json.
Facts from the FAA's airport file effective October 1, 2026, written out in plain English; weather from the National Weather Service's aviation weather service; registered aircraft from the FAA register as of October 9, 2026; accidents from the NTSB's public database. Owners are shown only when they are an organisation; no person is named. Check the official sources before a flight: this page is for understanding an airport, not for planning one.