CFB Shearwater Heliport

CYAW

Halifax, CA

Last Updated
May 15, 11:00Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a Canadian Forces Base (CFB). Civil access requires prior authorization.

Access Notes:

CFB installations generally restricted to civil traffic

Consult official AIP (Canada AIP ENR 5.2) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 51 min ago
11:00Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
18 kt
40° G24 kt
15 SM
Visibility
6,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1006 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYAW 151100Z 04018G24KT 360V060 15SM SCT019 BKN060 BKN250 11/08 A2972 RMK SC4SC2CI1 DENSITY ALT 105FT SLP066

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 144 ft
SCT 1,900 ft AGL
BKN 6,000 ft AGL
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
1,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,044 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,144 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,144 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

CFB Shearwater Heliport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 6,000 feet and 15 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (40°) at 18 knots with gusts to 24 knots. Runway 10/28 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 16-knot crosswind component (gusting to 21 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 15 SM. The ceiling is 6000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 11 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: FCST. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 11:00Z and 19:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with FCST between 19:00Z and 22:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1006 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1001 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (144 ft)
Pressure Alt
362 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -83 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF AMD CYAW 151108Z 1511/1522 04012G22KT P6SM BKN020 BKN060 TEMPO 1511/1519 SCT020 BKN060 FM151900 33015G25KT P6SM BKN025 TEMPO 1519/1522 BKN020 RMK NXT FCST BY 151200Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
11:51Z BASE
+0h
MVFR 40° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
19:00Z FM151900
+8h
MVFR 330° 15 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
19:00Z TEMPO
+8h
MVFR
Ceiling: 2,000 ft
FCST

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
YAW
10
28
16
34
16H ✈️
34H

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
10/28 5,692 ft 200 ft ASP 84°
12.9 kt 12.5 kt
44° angle
16/34 8,998 ft 200 ft ASP 139°
2.8 kt 17.8 kt
99° angle
✈️ 16H/34H
Active: 16H
3,500 ft 112 ft Asphalt
9.0 kt 15.6 kt
120° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - CYAW

2,422 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
57.6%
MVFR
25%
IFR
7.8%
LIFR
9.6%

CFB Shearwater Heliport is frequently affected by reduced visibility conditions, with VFR weather only 57.6% of the time and IFR/LIFR conditions occurring in 17.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 10.3 knots. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 28°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, March, January.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 10.3 kt
Maximum Recorded: 30 kt
Calm Winds: 0.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
15%
NE
5.5%
E
9.8%
SE
5%
S
13.7%
SW
18.7%
W
15.9%
NW
15.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 5.6°C
Range: -15°C to 28°C
-15°C 28°C

Visibility

Average: 12.9 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.7%
Fog Frequency: 4.6%

Best Months for VFR

September March January

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.4 kt
Runway 16/34
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.5 kt
Runway 16H/34H
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.5 kt

Statistics computed from 2,422 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

CFB Shearwater Heliport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: CYAW
Type: heliport
Status: active
Elevation: 144 ft MSL

Location

City: Halifax
Country: CA
Latitude: 44.636782°
Longitude: -63.502107°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+4

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 5,692 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16/34
Length: 8,998 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 16H/34H
Length: 3,500 ft
Width: 112 ft
Surface: Asphalt
ILS: No

About CFB Shearwater Heliport

CFB Shearwater Heliport is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the CA AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

CFB Shearwater Heliport (CYAW) is located in Halifax, CA at an elevation of 144 feet MSL. The airport has 3 runways (10/28, 16/34, 16H/34H), with the longest at 8,998 feet.

Weather Profile

With VFR conditions only 57.6% of the time based on 2,422 observations, CYAW requires careful weather planning. IFR conditions occur in 17.4% of reports, and instrument proficiency is advisable for regular operations here.

Wind Patterns & Runway Selection

Prevailing winds at CYAW come from the SW (225°) with an average speed of 10.3 knots and recorded gusts up to 30 knots. Calm winds are rare (0.5%), so crosswind considerations are a regular factor. Runway 10/28 offers the lowest average crosswind component at 6.4 knots, making it the preferred choice in typical wind conditions.

Seasonal Considerations

The best months for VFR operations are September, March, January, when clear skies are most prevalent. Temperatures at the field range from -15°C (5°F) to 28°C (82°F), averaging 5.6°C (42°F). Altimeter settings typically range from 28.92 to 30.7 inHg (979-1040 hPa).

Data Sources: Airport data from OurAirports.com. Weather statistics derived from 2,422 official METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Pilots should always verify current conditions through official channels before flight.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.