Istanbul Airport (LTFM)

Istanbul, Turkey · Europe

By Renzo Madueño, former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot

ICAO

LTFM

IATA

IST

City

Istanbul

Country

Turkey

Region

Europe

Elevation

325 ft

Runways

5 runways

Coordinates

41.2753, 28.7519

Overview

Turkish Airlines megahub connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the largest airports in the world by capacity.

Current Weather at LTFM

Pilots flying into or out of Istanbul 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 LTFM 160250Z 31004KT 270V330 9999 -SHRA FEW017TCU BKN027 BKN080 11/09 Q1019 NOSIG RMK RWY17L 27003KT RWY34L 30003KT 270V350 RWY16R 26002KT RWY36 33003KT RWY18 29003KT

Wind 310° at 4 kt — likely active runway near heading 31

Current TAF

TAF LTFM 152240Z 1600/1706 36012KT 9999 SCT032 BKN090 BECMG 1600/1603 -SHRA SCT012 BKN025 BKN080 TEMPO 1603/1607 4000 SHRA BKN008 FEW018CB BKN022 TEMPO 1607/1611 35018G28KT 3200 SHRA BKN008 FEW018CB BKN022 TEMPO 1612/1616 4000 SHRA BKN012 FEW018CB BKN022 BECMG 1616/1619 SCT016 BKN032 BKN080

Full briefing →NOTAMs →

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Check Weather Before Your Flight

A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Istanbul Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:

METARHourly surface observation for LTFM. 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 LTFM. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Istanbul. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Istanbul 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 Istanbul Airport

Radio Frequencies

Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like LTFM 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 Istanbul 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 Istanbul.

Training Availability

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No On-Field Training Reported

Istanbul Airport is primarily a commercial operations airport. Check nearby GA airports for flight training options.

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