Sulaymaniyah International Airport

ORSU / ISU

Sulaymaniyah, IQ

Last Updated
Mar 8, 08:00Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Stale 1100 hours ago
08:00Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
9°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 6°C
14 kt
130°
10+ km
Visibility
7,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR ORSU 080800Z 13014KT 9999 FEW041 BKN070 09/06 Q1014

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,494 ft
FEW 4,100 ft AGL
BKN 7,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
4,100 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,594 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,494 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Sulaymaniyah International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 7,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1099.9 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 14 knots. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 7000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 9°C (48°F) with a dewpoint of 6°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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.

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
RSU
13 ✈️
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
11,481 ft 148 ft CON 132°
14.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - ORSU

4,327 observations | Sep 2025 - Mar 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
71.6%
MVFR
17%
IFR
7.5%
LIFR
3.9%

Sulaymaniyah International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 71.6% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 11.4% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 6.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 67 knots. Temperature extremes range from -7°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, September, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 6.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 67 kt
Calm Winds: 2.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
7.7%
NE
7%
E
6.6%
SE
18.9%
S
7.1%
SW
5.4%
W
18.1%
NW
26.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 12.3°C
Range: -7°C to 38°C
-7°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 5.9%

Best Months for VFR

October September March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.6 kt

Statistics computed from 4,327 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Mar 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Sulaymaniyah International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: ORSU
IATA Code: ISU
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,494 ft MSL

Location

City: Sulaymaniyah
Country: IQ
Latitude: 35.561749°
Longitude: 45.316738°
Time Zone: Europe/Moscow

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 11,481 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Sulaymaniyah International Airport

Overview

Sulaymaniyah International Airport serves the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, located at an elevation of 2,494 feet MSL. The airport supports regional and international air traffic, with a substantial runway measuring 11,481 feet in length. Its strategic positioning in the mountainous terrain of northern Iraq makes it a critical transportation hub for the area.

Flying Conditions

Flight conditions at ORSU are predominantly VFR, with 73.2% of observations indicating visual flight rules. The airport experiences significant wind variations, with a prevailing northwest wind at 315° and average speeds of 7 knots, occasionally reaching up to 67 knots. Temperature ranges from -7°C to 38°C, with an average of 13.5°C, presenting potential thermal considerations for flight operations.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation and regional terrain suggest potential challenges with wind shear and mountain wave effects. Crosswind components on the 13/31 runway average 3.6 knots, with 100% wind favorability. October, September, and November offer the most consistent VFR conditions, making these months optimal for flight planning.

Approach Considerations

Runway 13/31 provides excellent wind alignment, with prevailing winds closely matching the runway heading. Pilots should anticipate minimal fog (8% occurrence) and consistently good visibility averaging 10 statute miles. The long 11,481-foot concrete runway offers substantial landing and takeoff capabilities for various aircraft types.

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.