Runway 34L at LTFM
Runway 34L/16R at Istanbul Airport (LTFM) in Arnavutköy, Istanbul is a 12,303 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 354°/174°. The runway is 196 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 6,893 landings and 38 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 3.0°, touchdowns averaging 5,674 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 141 kt, a 9.0 kt average crosswind component.
Runway 34L/16R at Istanbul Airport (LTFM) in Arnavutköy, Istanbul is a 12,303 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 354°/174°. The runway is 196 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 6,893 landings and 38 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 3.0°, touchdowns averaging 5,674 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 141 kt, a 9.0 kt average crosswind component.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
6,893 landings observed on Runway 34L in the last 30 days, alongside 38 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 20:00 with 27 arrivals on the recent sample.
Average Touchdown Zone
Aircraft touch down on average 5,674 ft from the threshold on Runway 34L.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at LTFM have prevailed from the north-northeast (30°), accounting for roughly 23% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 10.9 kt with peak gusts to 46 kt. Strong winds (≥20 kt) occur on about 8% of observations — pilots flying into runway 34L should plan for occasional gusty conditions.
Moderate Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 9.0 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 34L alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 3.0° on Runway 34L, consistent with the standard 3° glide path.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 34L over the last 30 days. Each value is shown only when at least 10 valid samples were available; sparse cells are hidden rather than estimated.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 34L grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Approach Types and Categories
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 34L benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.