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 311700Z 27008KT 15SM FEW050 FEW260 28/13 A2993 RMK CU1CI1 CU TR CI TR SLP136 DENSITY ALT 2000FTWind 270° at 8 kt — likely active runway near heading 27
Current TAF
TAF CYOW 311440Z 3115/0118 VRB03KT P6SM FEW015 FEW080 BECMG 3116/3118 25006KT FM010000 18005KT P6SM SKC FM010800 18005KT P6SM SCT080 PROB30 0108/0112 1SM BR BKN004 FM011500 21005KT P6SM BKN080 OVC180 RMK NXT FCST BY 311800ZDecode METAR for CYOW
Paste the CYOW METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.
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
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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