Esenboğa International Airport

LTAC / ESB

Ankara, TR

Last Updated
Jun 9, 20:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 14 min ago
20:20Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
5 kt
330°
10+ km
Visibility
8,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTAC 092020Z 33005KT 290V010 9999 FEW025CB SCT030 BKN080 18/12 Q1016 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,125 ft
FEW 2,500 ft AGL (CB)
SCT 3,000 ft AGL
BKN 8,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,625 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,125 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
8,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,125 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Esenboğa International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 8,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northwest (330°) at 5 knots. Runway 03L/21R is favored with a 3-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 8000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums. Caution: cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds reported at 2,500 ft AGL, indicating convective activity in the area.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Light Thunderstorm Rain. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 2 to 15 knots. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 22:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 23:00Z and 03:00Z. There is a 40% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 10:00Z and 14:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
912 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,125 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,043 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 4,153 ft
ISA Deviation: +9.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTAC 091640Z 0918/1018 VRB02KT 9999 SCT040 BKN100 TEMPO 0918/0922 04012KT -SHRA FEW025CB BKN030 BKN080 TEMPO 0923/1003 -SHRA BKN030 BKN080 PROB40 TEMPO 1010/1014 04015G25KT -TSRA FEW025CB BKN030
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:33Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 2 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
23:00Z TEMPO
+3h
VFR
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Showers Rain

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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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°
2.5 kt 4.3 kt
60° angle
✈️ 03R/21L
Active: 03R
12,303 ft 197 ft ASP 35°
2.5 kt 4.3 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTAC

23,232 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
81.9%
MVFR
12.1%
IFR
4.8%
LIFR
1.2%

Esenboğa International Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 81.9% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 6.6 knots. Temperature extremes range from -15°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, September, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 2.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.8%
NE
25.3%
E
9.5%
SE
2.7%
S
9.1%
SW
13.8%
W
16.4%
NW
8.9%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.1°C
Range: -15°C to 30°C
-15°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.6%

Best Months for VFR

June September October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03L/21R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt
Runway 03R/21L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt

Statistics computed from 23,232 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 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.