Esenboğa International Airport

LTAC / ESB

Ankara, TR

Last Updated
Apr 22, 21:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 26 min ago
21:50Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
5°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 3°C
6 kt
360°
10+ km
Visibility
10,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTAC 222150Z 36006KT 9999 SCT030 BKN100 05/03 Q1012 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,125 ft
SCT 3,000 ft AGL
BKN 10,000 ft AGL
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)
10,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
13,125 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Esenboğa 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 north (360°) at 6 knots. Runway 03L/21R is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 10000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 5°C (41°F) with a dewpoint of 3°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 fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast with Light Showers Rain between 18:00Z and 20:00Z.

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
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
908 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,125 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,163 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,713 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTAC 221640Z 2218/2318 VRB02KT 9999 SCT040 BKN100 TEMPO 2218/2220 -SHRA BKN030 BKN080 BECMG 2302/2306 -SHRA BKN025 BKN080 BECMG 2314/2317 SCT040 BKN100
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:15Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 2 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
02:00Z BECMG
+4h
MVFR
Ceiling: 2,500 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°
5.2 kt 3.0 kt
30° angle
✈️ 03R/21L
Active: 03R
12,303 ft 197 ft ASP 35°
5.2 kt 3.0 kt
30° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTAC

18,613 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79%
MVFR
13.7%
IFR
5.9%
LIFR
1.5%

Esenboğa International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 7.4% of observations. 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 September, October, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 6.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 29 kt
Calm Winds: 2.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
11.4%
NE
26%
E
8.7%
SE
2.8%
S
9.8%
SW
15.2%
W
14.6%
NW
8.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 6.8°C
Range: -15°C to 30°C
-15°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 2%

Best Months for VFR

September October April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03L/21R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt
Runway 03R/21L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt

Statistics computed from 18,613 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.