Esenboğa International Airport

LTAC / ESB

Ankara, TR

Last Updated
May 14, 15:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 37 min ago
15:20Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
12°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 7°C
6 kt
Variable
10+ km
Visibility
3,600 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1003 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTAC 141520Z VRB06KT 9999 -SHRA FEW025CB BKN036 BKN080 12/07 Q1003 RETSRA TEMPO -TSRA

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 3,125 ft
FEW 2,500 ft AGL (CB)
BKN 3,600 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
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,725 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 3,600 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the variable directions at 6 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 3600 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 12°C (54°F) with a dewpoint of 7°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Light Thunderstorm Rain, Light Showers Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 2 to 20 knots. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 12:00Z and 16:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 16:00Z and 20:00Z. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Light Showers Rain between 20:00Z and 00:00Z.

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
1003 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
899 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (3,125 ft)
Pressure Alt
3,433 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,823 ft
ISA Deviation: +3.3°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTAC 141040Z 1412/1512 VRB02KT 9999 SCT040 SCT100 TEMPO 1412/1416 25020G30KT 4000 TSRA SCT025CB BKN030 BKN080 TEMPO 1416/1420 29015G25KT -TSRA FEW025CB BKN030 BKN080 PROB30 TEMPO 1420/1424 -SHRA FEW025CB BKN030 BKN080
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:56Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 2 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
16:00Z TEMPO
+1h
MVFR 290° 15 kt
Ceiling: 3,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm Rain
20:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+5h
MVFR
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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  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
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  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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 12,303 ft 148 ft ASP 36° No wind data
03R/21L 12,303 ft 197 ft ASP 35° No wind data
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTAC

20,646 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79.8%
MVFR
13.5%
IFR
5.4%
LIFR
1.3%

Esenboğa International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 6.7% 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: 2.6%
Direction Distribution:
E
9.5%
N
11.3%
S
9.2%
W
15.8%
NE
25.3%
NW
8.8%
SE
2.7%
SW
14.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 7.2°C
Range: -15°C to 30°C
-15°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.8%

Best Months for VFR

September October April

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 20,646 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 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.