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.
Live conditions
Current METAR
METAR KSMO 011751Z VRB04KT 10SM FEW018 22/16 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02220161 10222 20172 51007Current TAF
TAF KSMO 011735Z 0118/0218 VRB03KT P6SM SCT015 FM012000 23010KT P6SM SKC FM020400 VRB03KT P6SM SKC FM021400 VRB03KT P6SM BKN015 FM021600 VRB03KT P6SM SKCRead any KSMO METAR without second-guessing
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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 Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.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
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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