Santa Monica Airport (KSMO)

Santa Monica, United States · North America

By Renzo, CPL

ICAO

KSMO

IATA

SMO

City

Santa Monica

Country

United States

Region

North America

Elevation

175 ft

Runways

1 runway

Coordinates

34.0158, -118.4513

Overview

Iconic California coastal airport with ocean views. Popular training airport despite noise controversies.

Current Weather at KSMO

Pilots flying into or out of Santa Monica Airport should always check the latest METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) before departure. A METAR is a standardized weather observation issued every hour (or more frequently as a SPECI when conditions change rapidly). It includes wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature, dewpoint, and altimeter setting -- everything you need for a safe go/no-go decision.

Decode METAR for KSMO

Paste the KSMO METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.

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Check Weather Before Your Flight

A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Santa Monica Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:

METARHourly surface observation for KSMO. Includes wind, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, and altimeter.
TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast covering the next 24-30 hours. Look for expected wind shifts, visibility changes, and precipitation.
NOTAMNotices to Air Missions for KSMO. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Santa Monica. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Santa Monica Airport.

Learn to read sectional charts to plan your route visually, and use our crosswind calculator to check runway compatibility with current winds.

Pilot Resources at Santa Monica Airport

Radio Frequencies

Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like KSMO include ATIS/AWOS, Ground, Tower (if towered), Approach/Departure, and Clearance Delivery. Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.

Flight Schools Nearby

Browse flight schools near Santa Monica and compare training programs.

Private Pilot Guide

Everything you need to earn your PPL, from requirements to checkride prep.

METAR Decoder

Decode any METAR report into plain English. Free tool for student and experienced pilots.

Sectional Chart Guide

Learn to read VFR sectional charts for navigation around Santa Monica.

Training Availability

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Flight Training Available

Santa Monica Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools

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