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.

Decode METAR for CYOW

Paste the CYOW METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.

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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 Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.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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