Qayyarah West Airport (ORQW)
Medium airport · Qayyarah, Ninawa Governorate, Iraq
Airport data
| Name | Qayyarah West Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | ORQW |
| IATA | RQW |
| Elevation | 749 ft (228 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 35°46'2" E 43°7'30" 35.76720, 43.12510 |
| Location | Qayyarah, Ninawa Governorate, Iraq |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/33 | 11,486 ft (3501 m) | 197 ft | CON | No |
Qayyarah West Airport at a glance
Qayyarah West Airport is a medium airport in Qayyarah, Ninawa Governorate, Iraq, known to airline systems as RQW. The field elevation of 749 ft (228 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at ORQW are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 15/33, offers 11,486 ft (3501 m) of con surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 15 points roughly 150° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for ORQW 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 Qayyarah West Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mosul International Airport | ORBM | 60 km (32 NM) |
| Tall Afar Army Air Field | ORTF | 87 km (47 NM) |
| Sahl Sinjar Air Base | IQ-0042 | 89 km (48 NM) |
| Erbil International Airport | ORER | 90 km (49 NM) |
| Tal Ashtah New Air Base | IQ-0051 | 115 km (62 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Qayyarah West Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 749 ft field elevation of Qayyarah West Airport 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 30 airports and airfields we list for Iraq — 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 Qayyarah West Airport
What is the ICAO code of Qayyarah West Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Qayyarah West Airport is ORQW, and its IATA code is RQW. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Qayyarah West Airport above sea level?
Qayyarah West Airport sits at an elevation of 749 feet (228 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Qayyarah West Airport located?
The airport lies at 35.7672, 43.1251 — in Qayyarah, Ninawa Governorate, Iraq, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Mosul International Airport, about 60 km away.
Does ORQW publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for ORQW 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 Qayyarah West Airport?
Qayyarah West Airport has one runway. The longest, 15/33, measures 11,486 ft (3501 m) with a CON surface.