Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (CYOW)

Ottawa, Canada · North America

By Renzo, CPL

ICAO

CYOW

IATA

YOW

City

Ottawa

Country

Canada

Region

North America

Elevation

374 ft

Runways

3 runways

Coordinates

45.3225, -75.6692

Overview

Canadian capital airport with bilingual operations and cold weather de-icing expertise.

Current Weather at CYOW

Pilots flying into or out of Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport should always check the latest METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) before departure. A METAR is a standardized weather observation issued every hour (or more frequently as a SPECI when conditions change rapidly). It includes wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature, dewpoint, and altimeter setting -- everything you need for a safe go/no-go decision.

Live conditions

Current METAR

METAR CYOW 150700Z 08005KT 15SM FEW020 08/07 A3029 RMK ST1 SLP263

Wind 080° at 5 kt — likely active runway near heading 08

Current TAF

TAF CYOW 150540Z 1506/1612 VRB03KT P6SM SKC FM150800 09005KT P6SM SKC PROB30 1508/1514 2SM BR FM151400 16010KT P6SM BKN040 TEMPO 1514/1517 BKN020 FM151700 18012G22KT P6SM FEW030 OVC090 FM152300 17008KT P6SM OVC070 TEMPO 1523/1602 P6SM -SHRA FM160200 18008KT P6SM OVC040 FM160800 21008KT P6SM SCT020 OVC030 RMK NXT FCST BY 150900Z

Full briefing →NOTAMs →

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Check Weather Before Your Flight

A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:

METARHourly surface observation for CYOW. Includes wind, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, and altimeter.
TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast covering the next 24-30 hours. Look for expected wind shifts, visibility changes, and precipitation.
NOTAMNotices to Air Missions for CYOW. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Ottawa. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.

Learn to read sectional charts to plan your route visually, and use our crosswind calculator to check runway compatibility with current winds.

Pilot Resources at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

Radio Frequencies

Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like CYOW include ATIS/AWOS, Ground, Tower (if towered), Approach/Departure, and Clearance Delivery. Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.

Flight Schools Nearby

Browse flight schools near Ottawa and compare training programs.

Private Pilot Guide

Everything you need to earn your PPL, from requirements to checkride prep.

METAR Decoder

Decode any METAR report into plain English. Free tool for student and experienced pilots.

Sectional Chart Guide

Learn to read VFR sectional charts for navigation around Ottawa.

Training Availability

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Flight Training Available

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools

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