Cairo West Air Base (HECW)
Medium airport · Cairo, Giza Governorate, Egypt
Airport data
| Name | Cairo West Air Base |
|---|---|
| ICAO | HECW |
| Elevation | 557 ft (170 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 30°6'59" E 30°54'56" 30.11643, 30.91553 |
| Location | Cairo, Giza Governorate, Egypt |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28 | 9,125 ft (2781 m) | 147 ft | ASP | Yes |
| 16L/34R | 11,939 ft (3639 m) | 196 ft | ASP | Yes |
Cairo West Air Base at a glance
Cairo West Air Base is a medium airport in Cairo, Giza Governorate, Egypt. The field elevation of 557 ft (170 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at HECW are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
Of its 2 runways, the longest — 16L/34R — offers 11,939 ft (3639 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 16L points roughly 160° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for HECW shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Cairo West Air Base
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sphinx International Airport | HESX | 2 km (1 NM) |
| Almaza Air Force Base | HEAZ | 43 km (23 NM) |
| Cairo International Airport | HECA | 46 km (25 NM) |
| Quesna Airport | HE42 | 55 km (30 NM) |
| Gebel El Basur Air Base | HE28 | 58 km (31 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Cairo West Air Base
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 557 ft field elevation of Cairo West Air Base can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 33 airports and airfields we list for Egypt — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Cairo West Air Base
What is the ICAO code of Cairo West Air Base?
The ICAO identifier of Cairo West Air Base is HECW, and it has no IATA code assigned. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Cairo West Air Base above sea level?
Cairo West Air Base sits at an elevation of 557 feet (170 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Cairo West Air Base located?
The airport lies at 30.1164, 30.9155 — in Cairo, Giza Governorate, Egypt, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Sphinx International Airport, about 2 km away.
Does HECW publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for HECW appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Cairo West Air Base?
Cairo West Air Base has 2 runways. The longest, 16L/34R, measures 11,939 ft (3639 m) with a ASP surface.