Definition
A military installation operated by the United States Air Force, used for housing aircraft, personnel, and supporting flight operations. AFBs typically have one or more runways and may appear on aeronautical charts as either active military airfields or, in some cases, as joint-use facilities shared with civilian traffic.
Plain English
An airfield run by the U.S. Air Force. When you see 'AFB' attached to a place name on a chart or in a NOTAM, it means that airport belongs to the Air Force.
Context Anchor
Seen in airport names, aviation charts, FAA publications, and pilot notices when a location is an Air Force base.
Why Pilots Care
Most AFBs are restricted to military use. Civilian pilots generally cannot land at an AFB without prior permission, and the surrounding airspace often includes Restricted Areas, MOAs, or other special-use airspace that affects flight planning.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “base” means any airport or home field here. In this context, AFB specifically means an Air Force military installation.
Example Sentence 1
The cross-country route passed near Vance AFB, so the pilot reviewed the surrounding restricted airspace before departure.
Example Sentence 2
Aeronautical charts mark AFBs with specific symbols and restricted airspace details.