KPAO

VFR

PALO ALTO

PALO ALTO · CALIFORNIA

Elev
6.7'
Longest RWY
2,441'13/31
Tower
07:00–21:00
Status
Towered
Now--Z· METAR14:47Z
Airport diagram · tap to openMore charts →
Before you fly into KPAO
Conditions
VFR
Good for visual flying
Airport
Towered
07:00–21:00 local · CTAF after hrs
Pattern alt
1,006.7'
MSL · field 6.7' + 1,000 AGL
Favored RWY
RWY 31
H/W +2 · X/W 2 kt L

METAR & TAF KPAO

Current METAR

Observed 14:47Z

KPAO 271447Z 28003KT 10SM BKN040 12/08 A3004
Wind
280° @ 3 kt
Visibility
10 SM
Temp / Dew
12°C / 8°C
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Clouds
BKN
Density alt
-500 ft
Ceiling
4,000 ft AGL
Rules
VFR

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
0 NM E
VFR sectional
SAN FRANCISCO
ARTCC
ZOA · OAKLAND
NOTAM facility
PAO (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name
ANDREW SWANSON
Address
250 HAMILTON AVENUE, PALO ALTO CA 94301-2531

Flight service · Hours

FSS OAK
OAKLAND1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance
  • 0600-2000

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF
ATIS / D-ATIS
Clearance / Ground
Tower / Local
Approach / Departure

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway
280° · 3 kt
RWY 31
307°M
Head/Tail
+2 kt
Crosswind
2 kt L

Pattern entry · RWY 31

RIGHT TRAFFIC
CrosswindCrosswindDownwindDownwindBaseBaseFinalFinal45° entry45° entryRWY 31 · 307° · RIGHT TRAFFICPattern 1,007 ft MSL
RunwayHeading (°M)LengthSurfaceTraffic
13/31Favored127° / 307°2,441 ftASPH31 R

Runway end performance

EndTORATODAASDALDAVGSIApproach lightsObstruction
13PAPI 2-box left(4°)8', berm, 300' from thr, 0' R of cntrln, slope 12
31PAPI 2-box left(4°)5', berm, 230' from thr, 0' R of cntrln, slope 6

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 live satellite imagery. Not for navigation.

© Esri

Approaches & charts

RNAV (GPS) RWY 31
KPAO · IAP
Can’t preview this PDF inline. Open it →

Services on the field

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

Fuel & services

Fuel
100LLA
Oxygen (bottled)
Low pressure
Airframe repair
Major
Power plant repair
Major
Other services
AMB,AVNCS,CHTR,GLD,INSTR,RNTL,SALES

Ramp & ground

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

Fuel & FBOs

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

Airport notes

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

General notes

  • Consider pedestrian and vehicle activity on aircraft taxi lanes not designated as taxiway movement areas.Show FAA
  • Traffic pattern altitude 1,000 feet west and 800 feet east.Show FAA
  • +100 foot transmission towers east of airport.Show FAA
  • Birds on and in vicinity of airport.Show FAA
  • Airport restricted by airport operator to aircraft with maximum certified weight of 12,500 pounds or less.Show FAA
  • Be alert for pedestrians crossing a dike road 8 feet high and 300 feet from runway 13 end.Show FAA
  • On approach to runway 31 be alert to possible strong updraft from wind tunnel located on west side of Moffett Federal Airfield.Show FAA
  • Noise sensitive area southeast through northwest of airport. Recommended aircraft landing at Palo Alto airport fly at or above 1,500 feet until crossing the Bayshore Freeway, and recommended aircraft departing runway 31 turn 10 degrees right after takeoff until reaching Dumbarton Auto Bridge.Show FAA
  • Airport security procedures in effect.Show FAA
  • For clearance delivery when tower is closed contact NorCal Approach at 916-361-3748.Show FAA

Lighting notes

  • Airport lights operate continuously when tower is closed.Show FAA

Fuel notes

  • 100LLSelf-fueling available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Show FAA

Approach & departure obstructions

  • 13Runway 13 plus 8 foot dike 300 feet from runway end, obstruction lighted.Show FAA
  • 31Runway 31 plus 5 foot dike 230 feet from runway end, obstruction lighted.Show FAA

VFR map & nearby airports

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

Key facts · KPAO

Answer card
ICAO
KPAO
Name
PALO ALTO
Location
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
Elevation
6.7 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude
1,006.7 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower
Towered · 0700-2100
Total runways
1
Longest runway
13/31 · 2,441 ft
Published ILS approaches
0
Published frequencies
13
Magnetic variation
15°
Current flight rules
VFR
Current wind
280° at 3 kt
Favored runway now
RWY 31

Palo Alto Airport sits in Palo Alto, California. Field elevation is 6.7 ft MSL. The airport has one runway. Runway 13/31 is 2,441 ft long with asphalt pavement. The tower is open daily from 0700 to 2100. No ILS approaches are published here.

Pattern altitude is not published as a single field-wide value. Use 1,000 ft AGL west of the field and 800 ft AGL east of the field. For a light piston, that is the normal starting point. Rossi Aircraft is on the field. It carries AVGAS 100LL, JET A and UL94. Self-fueling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This is a busy Bay Area airport with noise-sensitive areas southeast through northwest of the field. The published arrival and departure guidance matters here. Arrivals should stay at or above 1,500 ft until crossing the Bayshore Freeway. Runway 31 departures should turn 10 degrees right after takeoff until reaching Dumbarton Auto Bridge. Watch the threshold area on runway 13. There is an 8 ft dike about 300 ft from the end. Birds are also reported in and around the airport. The field is restricted to aircraft with a maximum certified weight of 12,500 lb or less. When the tower is closed, airport lights operate continuously. For clearance delivery after tower hours, contact NorCal Approach.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pattern altitude at KPAO?
Pattern altitude is 1,000 ft AGL west of the field and 800 ft AGL east of the field. The airport does not publish one single pattern altitude for all traffic.
What are the tower hours at Palo Alto Airport?
The tower is open from 0700 to 2100. When the tower is closed, airport lights operate continuously.
Does KPAO have any ILS approaches?
No ILS approaches are published for KPAO. Check the current FAA Chart Supplement for the latest approach list before you go.
Which runway is longest at KPAO?
Runway 13/31 is the only runway and it is 2,441 ft long. That is the longest runway at the field.
What FBO is on the field at KPAO?
Rossi Aircraft is on the field. It carries AVGAS 100LL, JET A and UL94.
Is self-serve fuel available at Palo Alto Airport?
Yes. Published remarks say self-fueling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Confirm current fuel availability with the FBO directly if you need a specific grade.
Are there noise abatement procedures at KPAO?
Yes. Published remarks call out a noise-sensitive area southeast through northwest of the airport. Arrivals should stay at or above 1,500 ft until crossing the Bayshore Freeway. Departures from runway 31 should turn 10 degrees right after takeoff until reaching Dumbarton Auto Bridge.
What should I watch for on approach to runway 31 at KPAO?
Watch for possible strong updraft from the wind tunnel on the west side of Moffett Federal Airfield. The published remarks also note birds in and near the airport.

Get PilotGPT

Fly into KPAO with confidence

Live ATC transcription, AI flight planning, POH search and georeferenced charts — offline-ready on iOS.

Download · 7-day free trial