Kars Airport

LTCF / KSY

Kars, TR

Last Updated
Jul 4, 14:50Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
14:50Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
17°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 12°C
10 kt
30°
10+ km
Visibility
3,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1014 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTCF 041450Z 03010KT 9999 -TSRA FEW025CB BKN035 17/12 Q1014 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,889 ft
FEW 2,500 ft AGL (CB)
BKN 3,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW (CB)
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
8,389 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,389 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Kars Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 3,500 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north-northeast (30°) at 10 knots. Runway 06/24 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 3500 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 17°C (63°F) with a dewpoint of 12°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 9 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 15:00Z and 18:00Z. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 21:00Z.

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
1014 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
818 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,889 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,867 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 7,520 ft
ISA Deviation: +13.8°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTCF 041340Z 0415/0424 03012KT 9999 SCT040 BKN080 TEMPO 0415/0418 -TSRA FEW025CB BKN035 TEMPO 0418/0421 -TSRA FEW025CB SCT035 BKN070
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
15:55Z BASE
+0h
VFR 30° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 8,000 ft
18:00Z TEMPO
+3h
MVFR
Ceiling: 7,000 ft
Light Thunderstorm 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
TCF
06 ✈️
24

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06/24
Active: 06
11,483 ft 148 ft CON 64°
8.7 kt 5.0 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 - LTCF

7,225 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.9%
MVFR
8.8%
IFR
9.5%
LIFR
4.8%

Kars Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 76.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 27°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, September, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 2.4%
Direction Distribution:
E
10.9%
N
9.6%
S
7.1%
W
20.9%
NE
16.7%
NW
11.4%
SE
5.7%
SW
15.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 2.4°C
Range: -30°C to 27°C
-30°C 27°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 4.3%

Best Months for VFR

July September June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.4 kt

Statistics computed from 7,225 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Kars Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LTCF
IATA Code: KSY
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,889 ft MSL

Location

City: Kars
Country: TR
Latitude: 40.562199°
Longitude: 43.115002°
Time Zone: Europe/Moscow

Runway Information

Runway 06/24
Length: 11,483 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Kars Airport

Overview

Kars Airport serves the northeastern Turkish city of Kars, situated at a high elevation of 5,889 feet MSL. As a medium-sized airport with a substantial runway measuring 11,483 feet, it provides critical aviation infrastructure in a challenging geographical region near the Armenian border. The airport supports various regional and potentially military aviation operations in this strategic mountainous area.

Flying Conditions

Weather at Kars Airport demonstrates significant variability, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions predominating 75.4% of the time. Pilots can expect predominantly westerly winds averaging 6.1 knots, with occasional stronger gusts up to 28 knots. Temperature extremes range from -30°C to 27°C, indicating potential for significant seasonal weather challenges and necessary aircraft performance considerations.

Notable Features

The airport's high elevation at 5,889 feet MSL presents substantial performance implications for aircraft operations. Its geographical location in northeastern Turkey suggests potential exposure to complex terrain and mountainous wind patterns. The long 11,483-foot concrete runway provides excellent operational flexibility for various aircraft types, accommodating both regional and potentially larger aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Runway 06/24 offers highly favorable wind conditions, with 100% wind compatibility and minimal average crosswind of 3 knots. September through November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for arrivals and departures. Pilots should anticipate potential seasonal weather variations and prepare accordingly, particularly given the significant elevation and potential for rapidly changing mountain weather conditions.

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.