Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

LTFJ / SAW

Pendik, Istanbul, TR

Last Updated
Apr 22, 21:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 9 min ago
21:50Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
8°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
8 kt
50°
10+ km
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTFJ 222150Z 05008KT 9999 FEW035 BKN100 08/06 Q1015 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 312 ft
FEW 3,500 ft AGL
BKN 10,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,812 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,312 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 10,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (50°) at 8 knots. Runway 06L/24R is favored with a 8-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 10000 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.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. There is a 30% probability of VFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 21:00Z and 01:00Z.

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.

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

QNH
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1005 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (312 ft)
Pressure Alt
260 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -505 ft
ISA Deviation: -6.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTFJ 221640Z 2218/2318 04009KT 9999 SCT025 BKN100 PROB30 TEMPO 2221/2301 -SHRA BECMG 2315/2318 CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:58Z BASE
+0h
VFR 40° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 10,000 ft

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
TFJ
06L ✈️
24R
06R
24L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06L/24R
Active: 06L
9,843 ft 148 ft CON 64°
7.9 kt 1.4 kt
10° angle
06R/24L 11,614 ft 197 ft CON
5.1 kt 6.1 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTFJ

18,470 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.6%
MVFR
16.3%
IFR
6.6%
LIFR
2.6%

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 74.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 9.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 8.6 knots. Temperature extremes range from -2°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 2%
Direction Distribution:
N
10.9%
NE
48.8%
E
6.9%
SE
1.4%
S
9.6%
SW
9.4%
W
9.1%
NW
1.8%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.7°C
Range: -2°C to 30°C
-2°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.4%

Best Months for VFR

September October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06L/24R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.6 kt
Runway 06R/24L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.6 kt

Statistics computed from 18,470 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LTFJ
IATA Code: SAW
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 312 ft MSL

Location

City: Pendik, Istanbul
Country: TR
Latitude: 40.898602°
Longitude: 29.309200°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 06L/24R
Length: 9,843 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 06R/24L
Length: 11,614 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Overview

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport serves as a critical aviation hub located in Pendik, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Situated at 312 ft above mean sea level, the airport handles significant passenger and cargo traffic with two substantial concrete runways. Its strategic location makes it a key international gateway for the Istanbul metropolitan area.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 82.6% of observations showing clear weather suitable for visual flight. The prevailing wind from the northeast at an average of 8.2 knots provides stable conditions, with temperature ranges from -2°C to 30°C. September through November offer the most consistent and favorable flying weather, with minimal risk of low visibility or adverse conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways of significant length: 06L/24R at 9,843 feet and 06R/24L at 11,614 feet, both constructed of concrete. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with a consistent average crosswind of only 3.5 knots. The low frequency of calm conditions (2.7%) and moderate wind speeds suggest generally predictable operating environments.

Approach Considerations

Approach planning should capitalize on the highly favorable wind conditions, with both runways offering consistent wind characteristics. The extensive runway lengths accommodate a wide range of aircraft types, and the statistically low occurrence of IFR conditions (3.1%) indicates generally reliable visual approach opportunities. Pilots should anticipate northeast winds and prepare for minimal crosswind challenges during landings and takeoffs.

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.