3B3 Sterling Airport | Sterling, MA

Before you fly into 3B3

Conditions

VFR

Good for visual flying

Airport

Non-towered

Self-announce on CTAF

Pattern alt

1,459'

MSL · field 459' + 1,000 AGL

Favored RWY

RWY 34

H/W +4 · X/W 3 kt R

METAR & TAF 3B3

3B3 does not publish a METAR.

Showing the nearest reporting station: KFIT (FITCHBURG MUNI) · 7.8 NM away. Conditions at 3B3 may differ.

METAR · KFIT

Observed 03:52Z

KFIT 120352Z AUTO 35005KT 10SM CLR 25/21 A2971 RMK AO2 SLP059 T02500206

Wind: 350° @ 5 kt
Visibility: 10 SM
Temp / Dew: 25°C / 21°C
Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
Clouds: CLR
Density alt: 2,030 ft
Ceiling: Unlimited
Rules: VFR

3B3 does not issue a TAF.

Showing the forecast from the nearest station: KORH (WORCESTER RGNL) · 10.2 NM away. Conditions at 3B3 may differ.

Forecast · TAF

Valid 12 00:00Z–13 00:00Z

TAF KORH 112320Z 1200/1224 28006KT P6SM FEW050 FM120200 26005KT P6SM BKN050 PROB30 1202/1204 5SM -TSRA BKN050CB FM121400 27005KT P6SM FEW050

BASEVFR

12 00:00Z–12 02:00Z

Wind: 280° at 6 kt
Visibility: ≥ 6 SM
Sky: Few clouds 5,000 ft
Weather: None forecast

00Z

03Z

06Z

09Z

12Z

15Z

18Z

21Z

00Z

NOW

How to read

The top lane is always the active baseline (BASE + FM). Secondary lanes stack temporary and probabilistic deviations in the order they appear in the TAF.

Tap any pill to see the decoded conditions for that period.

Change indicators

BASEBase

Initial conditions at the start of the forecast.

FMFrom

A new baseline that replaces the previous forecast completely, starting at the stated time.

BECMGBecoming

Conditions change gradually over the window shown. By the end, the new conditions apply.

TEMPOTemporary

Fluctuating conditions lasting less than an hour at a time within the window — not the dominant forecast.

PROB30/40Probability

30 or 40% chance of the conditions occurring within the period. Never combined with BECMG.

Airport info & contacts

Manager on record, flight service, ARTCC, attendance schedule and pattern altitude — published by the FAA and refreshed every 28 days.

Location

From city: 2 NM SW
VFR sectional: NEW YORK
ARTCC: ZBW · BOSTON
NOTAM facility: BDR (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name: THOMAS DUFFY
Phone: 978-422-8860
Address: 121 GREENLAND RD, STERLING MA 01564

Flight service · Hours

FSS BDR: BRIDGEPORT1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance: THU-SUN · 0800-1800

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway

350° · 5 kt

See full METAR & TAF

RWY 34

305°M

Head/Tail

+4 kt

Crosswind

3 kt R

Pattern entry · RWY 34

LEFT TRAFFIC

Runway	Heading (°M)	Length	Surface	Traffic
16/34Favored	125° / 305°	3,086 ft	ASPH	Standard L

Runway end performance

End	TORA	TODA	ASDA	LDA	VGSI	Approach lights	Obstruction
16	—	—	—	—	—	—	50', trees, 400' from thr, 125' R of cntrln, slope 4
34	—	—	—	—	—	—	100', tree, 600' from thr, 53' R of cntrln, slope 4

Declared distances in feet. TORA = takeoff run available, TODA = takeoff distance, ASDA = accelerate-stop, LDA = landing distance.

Airport sketch

Runways drawn to scale from FAA survey coordinates, rendered over satellite imagery. Not for navigation.

Top-down satellite sketch of 3B3 STERLING in STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS, showing runways 16/34 drawn to scale over Esri World Imagery

Approaches & charts

Chart Supplement

3B3 · CHART_SUPP

Chart Supplement

3B3 · CHART_SUPP

Services on the field

Fuel grades, oxygen, maintenance, ramp storage and lighting — as declared to the FAA by the airport operator.

Fuel & services

Fuel: 100LL
Oxygen (bottled): Not available
Oxygen (bulk): Not available
Airframe repair: Minor
Power plant repair: Minor
Other services: GLD,INSTR,RNTL

Ramp & ground

Transient storage: Tie-down
Landing fee: No fee published
Customs: Not available
Lighting schedule: SEE RMK
Beacon: White / Green (civil land)(WG)
Wind indicator: Yes
Segmented circle: No

Fuel & FBOs

Cheapest 100LL and Jet A on the field and nearby. Always confirm with the FBO before taxi.

Cheapest 100LLNearby

$4.90

0B5·Turners Falls Airport·33.8 nm

Cheapest Jet ANearby

$7.55

0B5·Turners Falls Airport·33.8 nm

FBO	100LL	Jet A	Amenities
Sterling Air 122.900(978) 422-8860 WebsiteIndependent14d ago	$6.60	—

Sterling Air
122.900(978) 422-8860
100LL
$6.60
Jet A
—

Cheaper nearby (within 50 nm)

100LL$4.90at0B5Turners Falls Airport33.8 nmsave $1.70
Jet A$7.55at0B5Turners Falls Airport33.8 nm

Airport notes

Surface conditions, obstructions, local procedures, lighting outages and other notes published with each FAA cycle.

General notes

GLDR OPS INVOF ARPT SR-SS DLY.
WILDLIFE INVOF ARPT.
FOR CD CTC BRADLEY APCH AT 860-386-3597.
GLDRS ONLY R TFC RWY 16.

Lighting notes

ACTVT LIRL RWY 16/34 & ROTG BCN - CTAF.

Runway surface & condition

16/34NON-STD LIRL; FIRST 190 FT RWY 16 UNLGTD; FIRST 240 FT RWY 34 UNLGTD.

Approach & departure obstructions

16APCH RATIO 11:1 TO DSPLCD THR.
34APCH RATIO 6:1 TO DSPLCD THR.

Other notes

ESTAB PRIOR TO 1959.
INTENSIVE GLDR ACTVT ON WKENDS.

VFR map & nearby airports

VFR sectional. Tap any ICAO chip to open that airport.

Key facts · 3B3

Answer card

ICAO: 3B3
Name: STERLING
Location: STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS
Elevation: 459 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude: 1,459 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower: Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways: 1
Longest runway: 16/34 · 3,086 ft
Published ILS approaches: 0
Published frequencies: 1
Magnetic variation: 15°
Current flight rules: VFR
Current wind: 350° at 5 kt
Favored runway now: RWY 34

Sterling Airport sits in Sterling, Massachusetts at 459 ft MSL. It has one runway, 16/34, which is 3,086 ft long. There is no control tower. CTAF is 122.9. No ILS approaches are published here.

The pattern altitude is not published. Use 1,000 ft AGL for light piston traffic unless the current Chart Supplement says otherwise. Sterling Air is on the field and carries AVGAS 100LL. Call (978) 422-8860 for current service details before you go.

This is a glider-active field. Gliders are the only right traffic for runway 16. Glider operations run from sunrise to sunset daily. Weekend activity can be heavy. Wildlife is also reported in the area. Runway 16/34 has low-intensity lighting that is controlled by CTAF. The first 190 ft of runway 16 and the first 240 ft of runway 34 are unlighted. That matters on night arrivals and during short final planning.

The airport is in central Massachusetts. Expect a non-towered environment with mixed traffic. If you need clearance delivery, contact Bradley Approach at 860-386-3597. Check the current Chart Supplement for any noise or curfew restrictions before flying into the field.

Frequently asked questions

What is the runway length at Sterling Airport (3B3)?

3B3 has one runway, 16/34, that is 3,086 ft long. That is the longest runway on the field.

Is Sterling Airport towered?

No. Sterling Airport is non-towered. Use CTAF 122.9 for self-announce traffic calls.

What is the pattern altitude at 3B3?

The pattern altitude is not published. Use 1,000 ft AGL for light piston traffic unless the current Chart Supplement says otherwise.

Does Sterling Airport have an ILS approach?

No ILS approaches are published for 3B3. Check the current Chart Supplement for any other instrument procedures before you go.

Which FBO is on the field at Sterling Airport?

Sterling Air is on the field. It carries AVGAS 100LL. Call (978) 422-8860 for current service details before arrival.

Are there glider operations at Sterling Airport?

Yes. Glider operations are in the vicinity from sunrise to sunset daily. Weekend activity is described as intensive, so keep a sharp lookout in the pattern.

What should I know about night operations on runway 16/34?

Runway 16/34 has low-intensity lighting controlled by CTAF. The first 190 ft of runway 16 and the first 240 ft of runway 34 are unlighted, so plan your rollout and lineup carefully.

Is there a noise abatement or curfew at 3B3?

Check the current Chart Supplement for any published noise or curfew restrictions before flying into the field.

3B3