Esenboğa International Airport

LTAC / ESB

Ankara, TR

Last Updated
Mar 4, 12:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 22 min ago
12:50Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
10°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -10°C
12 kt
50°
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1024 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTAC 041250Z 05012KT 010V080 9999 FEW040 10/M10 Q1024 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,125 ft
FEW 4,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,125 ft AMSL
QNH
1024 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
920 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,125 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,803 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,953 ft
ISA Deviation: +1.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTAC 041040Z 0412/0512 35012KT 9999 SCT040 BECMG 0412/0415 VRB02KT CAVOK BECMG 0509/0512 SCT040 SCT100
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:11Z BASE
+0h
VFR 350° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
TAC
03L ✈️
21R
03R ✈️
21L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03L/21R
Active: 03L
12,303 ft 148 ft ASP 36°
11.3 kt 4.1 kt
20° angle
✈️ 03R/21L
Active: 03R
12,303 ft 197 ft ASP 35°
11.3 kt 4.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTAC

14,106 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.1%
MVFR
15.7%
IFR
7.3%
LIFR
1.9%

Esenboğa International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 75.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 6.4 knots. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are March, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 2.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.4%
NE
22.6%
E
6.7%
SE
3%
S
11.2%
SW
16.7%
W
15.5%
NW
9.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.7°C
Range: -15°C to 30°C
-15°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2.6%

Best Months for VFR

March September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03L/21R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt
Runway 03R/21L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.3 kt

Statistics computed from 14,106 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Esenboğa International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LTAC
IATA Code: ESB
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 3,125 ft MSL

Location

City: Ankara
Country: TR
Latitude: 40.128101°
Longitude: 32.995098°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 03L/21R
Length: 12,303 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 03R/21L
Length: 12,303 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Esenboğa International Airport

Overview

Esenboğa International Airport serves as the primary airport for Ankara, Turkey's capital city. Located at an elevation of 3,125 feet MSL, the airport handles significant international and domestic traffic with two parallel asphalt runways each measuring 12,303 feet in length. Its strategic position and substantial runway capacity make it a critical aviation hub for central Turkey.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly favorable VFR conditions, with 74.5% of observations showing good visual flying conditions. The airport experiences a wide temperature range from -15°C to 30°C, with an average of 7.3°C. Wind patterns are predominantly from the northeast at an average of 6.1 knots, with occasional gusts up to 29 knots. September through November represent the most consistently favorable flying months.

Notable Features

The airport's twin parallel runways (03L/21R and 03R/21L) provide operational flexibility and redundancy. Both runways demonstrate identical wind characteristics, with 100% favorable wind conditions and an average crosswind of just 3.2 knots. The high elevation and consistent wind patterns create predictable approach and departure environments for commercial and general aviation operations.

Approach Considerations

Given the prevailing northeast wind at 45 degrees, approaches to runways 03L and 03R will typically offer the most aligned wind conditions. Visibility averages an excellent 10 statute miles, with minimal fog occurrence (3% of observations). Pilots should be prepared for potential temperature variations and plan accordingly, especially during seasonal transitions.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

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.