Ali Air Base (ORTL)
Medium airport · Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq
Airport data
| Name | Ali Air Base |
|---|---|
| ICAO | ORTL |
| IATA | XNH |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 30°56'9" E 46°5'24" 30.93580, 46.09010 |
| Location | Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12L/30R | 10,935 ft (3333 m) | 148 ft | CON | No |
| 12R/30L | 9,991 ft (3045 m) | 148 ft | CON | No |
Ali Air Base at a glance
Ali Air Base is a medium airport in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq, known to airline systems as XNH. The field elevation of 20 ft (6 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at ORTL 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 — 12L/30R — offers 10,935 ft (3333 m) of con surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 12L points roughly 120° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for ORTL 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 Ali Air Base
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Jalibah Southeast Air Base | ORJA | 65 km (35 NM) |
| Qalat Salih Air Base | IQ-0034 | 128 km (69 NM) |
| Kut Al Hayy East Air Base | IQ-0030 | 134 km (72 NM) |
| Basra International Airport | ORMM | 156 km (84 NM) |
| Ubaydah Bin Al Jarrah Airport | ORUB | 175 km (95 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Ali Air Base
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 20 ft field elevation of Ali 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 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 Ali Air Base
What is the ICAO code of Ali Air Base?
The ICAO identifier of Ali Air Base is ORTL, and its IATA code is XNH. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Ali Air Base above sea level?
Ali Air Base sits at an elevation of 20 feet (6 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Ali Air Base located?
The airport lies at 30.9358, 46.0901 — in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Jalibah Southeast Air Base, about 65 km away.
Does ORTL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for ORTL 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 Ali Air Base?
Ali Air Base has 2 runways. The longest, 12L/30R, measures 10,935 ft (3333 m) with a CON surface.