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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport

Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)

IATA: YOW ICAO: CYOW

Longest Active Runway

10,000 ft

3,048 meters

Field Elevation

374 ft

114 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

45.3225°, -75.6692°

LARGE AIRPORT

🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#566 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#962 of 7558

Top 13.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Canada)

#8 in CA

#19 of 411 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+0%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport's longest active runway measures 10,000 ft (3,048 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #566. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #962 worldwide (Top 13.4%) and #8 nationally in Canada.

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4D / 4E Heavy Intercontinental

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Positioned at 374 ft (114 m MSL), this aerodrome operates near standard International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) sea-level air density. High ambient air pressure provides optimal turbine thrust conversion, maximum wing lift coefficients, and minimal ground roll distance requirements, allowing long-haul flights to depart at maximum structural takeoff weight limits without atmospheric density penalties.

🧭

Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Within its 100 NM cluster of 1 neighboring aerodromes, Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is supported by major regional alternatives. Notably, Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) lies just 81.7 NM away with a 11,000 ft runway, offering reliable operational redundancy for commercial diversions and congested airspace rerouting.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

At 10,000 ft (3,048 m), the primary runway comfortably accommodates mid-to-large twin-aisle widebody transports (such as the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330-900) as well as maximum-range narrowbody transcontinental configurations (Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 737 MAX 9) under typical atmospheric conditions.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
14/32	10,000 ft (3048m)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
07/25	8,000 ft (2438m)	200 ft (61m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
04/22	3,300 ft (1006m)	75 ft (23m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	❌ Unlighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Montreal / Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (Montréal)	`YUL`	81.7 NM (151.3 km)	11,000 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/yow.json ↗