Cairns Airport (YBCS)

Cairns, Australia · Asia-Pacific

By Renzo, CPL

ICAO

YBCS

IATA

CNS

City

Cairns

Country

Australia

Region

Asia-Pacific

Elevation

10 ft

Runways

1 runway

Coordinates

-16.8858, 145.7553

Overview

Tropical North Queensland gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Scenic flight and bush pilot training area.

Current Weather at YBCS

Pilots flying into or out of Cairns 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 YBCS

Paste the YBCS 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 Cairns Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:

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

Radio Frequencies

Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like YBCS 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 Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.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 Cairns 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 Cairns.

Training Availability

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Flight Training Available

Cairns Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools

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