Wellington Airport (NZWN)
Wellington, New Zealand · Asia-Pacific
By Renzo Madueño, former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot
ICAO
NZWN
IATA
WLG
City
Wellington
Country
New Zealand
Region
Asia-Pacific
Elevation
41 ft
Runways
1 runway
Coordinates
-41.3272, 174.8053
Overview
Notoriously windy airport known for severe turbulence on approach. Challenging crosswind operations.
Current Weather at NZWN
Pilots flying into or out of Wellington 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 NZWN 161300Z AUTO 18023KT 9999 SCT034/// OVC055/// 10/04 Q1027Wind 180° at 23 kt — likely active runway near heading 18
Current TAF
TAF NZWN 161149Z 1612/1718 18025G35KT 9999 -SHRA SCT030 BKN060 TEMPO 1612/1616 4000 SHRA TEMPO 1616/1702 7000 SHRA BECMG 1622/1624 18015G25KT BECMG 1706/1708 18015KTRead any NZWN METAR without second-guessing
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Decode METAR for NZWN
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Check Weather Before Your Flight
A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Wellington Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:
- METARHourly surface observation for NZWN. 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 NZWN. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
- PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Wellington. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
- SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Wellington 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 Wellington Airport
Radio Frequencies
Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like NZWN 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 Wellington 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 Wellington.
Training Availability
Flight Training Available
Wellington Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools
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