Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

LTFJ / SAW

Pendik, Istanbul, TR

Last Updated
May 14, 20:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 26 min ago
20:20Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
11°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 8°C
5 kt
50°
10+ km
Visibility
18,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1007 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LTFJ 142020Z 05005KT 9999 FEW035 BKN180 11/08 Q1007 NOSIG

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 312 ft
FEW 3,500 ft AGL
BKN 18,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,812 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
18,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
18,312 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 18,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the northeast (50°) at 5 knots. Runway 06L/24R is favored with a 5-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. The ceiling is 18000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 11°C (52°F) with a dewpoint of 8°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

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: Mist, Fog. There is a 30% probability of LIFR conditions with Fog between 01:00Z and 05:00Z.

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
1007 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
997 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (312 ft)
Pressure Alt
500 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 95 ft
ISA Deviation: -3.4°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LTFJ 141640Z 1418/1518 01005KT CAVOK BECMG 1420/1422 SCT007 BECMG 1422/1501 4000 BR BKN006 PROB30 TEMPO 1501/1505 0900 FG VV002 BECMG 1505/1507 24010KT CAVOK
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
20:46Z BASE
+0h
VFR 10° 5 kt
Visibility: >10km
22:00Z BECMG
+2h
IFR
Visibility: 4 km
Ceiling: 600 ft
Mist
01:00Z PROB30 TEMPO
+5h
LIFR
Visibility: 0.9 km
Ceiling: 200 ft
Fog
05:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR 240° 10 kt
Visibility: >10km

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
TFJ
06L ✈️
24R
06R
24L

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 06L/24R
Active: 06L
9,843 ft 148 ft CON 64°
4.9 kt 0.9 kt
10° angle
06R/24L 11,614 ft 197 ft CON
3.2 kt 3.8 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LTFJ

20,494 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
76.2%
MVFR
15.3%
IFR
6.1%
LIFR
2.4%

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 76.2% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 8.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 8.7 knots. Temperature extremes range from -2°C to 30°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, May.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 8.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 1.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.7%
N
10.6%
S
9.2%
W
9.3%
NE
49.2%
NW
1.8%
SE
1.3%
SW
10%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.9°C
Range: -2°C to 30°C
-2°C 30°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 1.7%

Best Months for VFR

September October May

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 06L/24R
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt
Runway 06R/24L
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.5 kt

Statistics computed from 20,494 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LTFJ
IATA Code: SAW
Type: large airport
Status: active
Elevation: 312 ft MSL

Location

City: Pendik, Istanbul
Country: TR
Latitude: 40.898602°
Longitude: 29.309200°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 06L/24R
Length: 9,843 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No
Runway 06R/24L
Length: 11,614 ft
Width: 197 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Overview

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport serves as a critical aviation hub located in Pendik, on the Asian side of Istanbul. Situated at 312 ft above mean sea level, the airport handles significant passenger and cargo traffic with two substantial concrete runways. Its strategic location makes it a key international gateway for the Istanbul metropolitan area.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 82.6% of observations showing clear weather suitable for visual flight. The prevailing wind from the northeast at an average of 8.2 knots provides stable conditions, with temperature ranges from -2°C to 30°C. September through November offer the most consistent and favorable flying weather, with minimal risk of low visibility or adverse conditions.

Notable Features

The airport features two parallel runways of significant length: 06L/24R at 9,843 feet and 06R/24L at 11,614 feet, both constructed of concrete. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with a consistent average crosswind of only 3.5 knots. The low frequency of calm conditions (2.7%) and moderate wind speeds suggest generally predictable operating environments.

Approach Considerations

Approach planning should capitalize on the highly favorable wind conditions, with both runways offering consistent wind characteristics. The extensive runway lengths accommodate a wide range of aircraft types, and the statistically low occurrence of IFR conditions (3.1%) indicates generally reliable visual approach opportunities. Pilots should anticipate northeast winds and prepare for minimal crosswind challenges during landings and takeoffs.

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.