CFB Shearwater Heliport

CYAW

Halifax, CA

Last Updated
May 14, 03:00Z

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
Stale 24 hours ago
03:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
8°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
5 kt
260°
12 SM
Visibility
4,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1022 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR CYAW 140300Z 26005KT 240V300 12SM -SHRA BKN040 BKN070 OVC110 08/06 A3017 RMK SC5AC2AC1 DENSITY ALT -847FT SLP217

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 144 ft
BKN 4,000 ft AGL
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
OVC 11,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,144 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,144 ft AMSL
☁️
OVC
Overcast (8/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,144 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

CFB Shearwater Heliport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with overcast skies at 11,000 feet and 12 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 24.3 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (260°) at 5 knots. Runway 28 is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 12 SM. The ceiling is 4000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 8°C (46°F) with a dewpoint of 6°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

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.

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

QNH
1022 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1017 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (144 ft)
Pressure Alt
-119 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -924 ft
ISA Deviation: -6.7°C

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
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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
Active: 28
5,692 ft 200 ft ASP 84°
4.7 kt 1.7 kt
20° angle
16/34 8,998 ft 200 ft ASP 139°
2.6 kt 4.3 kt
121° angle
16H/34H 3,500 ft 112 ft Asphalt
0.9 kt 4.9 kt
100° 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.