KTVL Lake Tahoe Airport

Before you fly into KTVL

Conditions

VFR

Good for visual flying

Airport

Non-towered

Self-announce on CTAF

Pattern alt

7,268.4'

MSL · field 6,268.4' + 1,000 AGL

Favored RWY

Calm

No wind component

METAR & TAF KTVL

Current METAR

Observed 19:53Z

KTVL 271953Z AUTO 10SM BKN060 07/M04 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP140 T00721039

Wind: Calm
Visibility: 10 SM
Temp / Dew: 7°C / -4°C
Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
Clouds: BKN
Density alt: 6,738 ft
Ceiling: 6,000 ft AGL
Rules: VFR

Forecast · TAF

Valid 27 18:00Z–28 18:00Z

TAF KTVL 271720Z 2718/2818 18003KT P6SM SCT040 SCT160 FM271900 02009KT P6SM VCSH BKN050 BKN120 TEMPO 2721/2801 -SHRA BKN030 FM280300 VRB03KT P6SM FEW040

BASEVFR

27 18:00Z–27 19:00Z

Wind: 180° at 3 kt
Visibility: ≥ 6 SM
Sky: Scattered 4,000 ft, Scattered 16,000 ft
Weather: None forecast

18Z

21Z

00Z

03Z

06Z

09Z

12Z

15Z

18Z

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: 3 NM SW
VFR sectional: SAN FRANCISCO
ARTCC: ZOA · OAKLAND
NOTAM facility: TVL (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name: JOHN DICKINSON
Phone: 530-542-6182
Address: 1901 LISA MALOFF WAY, SUITE 100, SOUTH LAKE TAHOE CA 96150

Flight service · Hours

FSS RNO: RENO1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance: 0700-1600

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway

Calm

See full METAR & TAF

RWY 18

177°M

Head/Tail

—

Crosswind

—

Pattern entry · RWY 18

LEFT TRAFFIC

Runway	Heading (°M)	Length	Surface	Traffic
18/36	177° / 357°	8,541 ft	ASPH	36 R

Runway end performance

End	TORA	TODA	ASDA	LDA	VGSI	Approach lights	Obstruction
18	8,541'	8,541'	7,817'	7,017'	PAPI 4-box left(3°)	MALSF	13', brush, 450' from thr, 125' R of cntrln, slope 19
36	8,541'	8,541'	7,741'	5,708'	—	—	345', trees, 5700' from thr, 500' R of cntrln, slope 15

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.

Approaches & charts

ILS · 1

RWY 18

DD · CAT I

TVL

108.9

LDA RWY 18

KTVL · IAP

LDA RWY 18

KTVL · IAP

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): High pressure
Oxygen (bulk): High pressure
Airframe repair: Minor
Power plant repair: Minor
Other services: CHTR,INSTR,SALES

Ramp & ground

Transient storage: Not published
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.

Cheapest 100LLNearby

$5.59

KSPZ·Silver Springs Airport·46.2 nm

Cheapest Jet ANearby

$6.29

KJAQ·Amador County Airport·48.6 nm

FBO	100LL	Jet A	Amenities
Mountain West Aviation 122.850(530) 541-2110 WebsiteTitan3d ago	$7.25	$7.99

Mountain West Aviation
122.850(530) 541-2110
100LL
$7.25
Jet A
$7.99

Cheaper nearby (within 50 nm)

100LL$5.59atKSPZSilver Springs Airport46.2 nmsave $1.66
Jet A$6.29atKJAQAmador County Airport48.6 nmsave $1.70

Airport notes

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

General notes

Adverse weather effects are magnified by mountains.Show FAA
Avoid the Desolation Wilderness west of the airport.Show FAA
The airport is surrounded on the east, south, and west by rapidly rising terrain.Show FAA
For large and high performance aircraft, depart runway 18; right downwind departure is recommended.Show FAA
Paragliders and motorized parachutes operate from the runway surface.Show FAA
Airport surface conditions are as follows: terminal apron excellent, taxiway to runway good, north general aviation apron poor.Show FAA
Apron entrance taxiways and high speed taxiways only.Show FAA
Birds and waterfowl are in the vicinity of the airport.Show FAA
After winter storms, runway 18/36 opens before all taxiways are clear.Show FAA
Traffic pattern altitude is 7,500 feet MSL for small aircraft and 8,000 feet MSL for transport and high performance aircraft.Show FAA
Recreational airborne activity occurs along the southern lake shore.Show FAA
Preferred arrival runway is 18; preferred departure runway is 36.Show FAA
Airport conditions are not monitored from 1600 to 0700 daily.Show FAA
Traffic advisories and sequencing in the traffic pattern are based on position reports received from pilots in these areas.Show FAA
For noise abatement information call (530) 542-6182.Show FAA
For noise abatement, depart runway 36 heading 1 mile, then left turn to 320 degrees to the shoreline.Show FAA
Airport conditions are not maintained on Saturday and Sunday.Show FAA
This is a cold temperature airport. Altitude correction is required at or below minus 12 degrees Celsius.Show FAA
Access noise restrictions limit departures to a maximum of 80 decibels A-weighted and arrivals to 84 decibels A-weighted, except transport category aircraft which are limited to 86 decibels A-weighted. The maximum night noise limit is 77.1 decibels A-weighted.Show FAA

Lighting notes

Medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights is active on runway 18; precision approach path indicator on runway 18; medium intensity runway lights on runways 18 and 36 are controlled by CTAF.Show FAA

Approach & departure obstructions

18Visual glide slope indicator is unusable beyond 4 degrees left of runway centerline and beyond 5 nautical miles.Show FAA
36The approach ratio is 22 to 1 to the displaced threshold of runway 36.Show FAA

Other notes

Multicom frequency is 122.85.Show FAA

VFR map & nearby airports

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

Key facts · KTVL

Answer card

ICAO: KTVL
Name: LAKE TAHOE
Location: SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA
Elevation: 6,268.4 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude: 7,268.4 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower: Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways: 1
Longest runway: 18/36 · 8,541 ft
Published ILS approaches: 1
Published frequencies: 1
Magnetic variation: 16°
Current flight rules: VFR
Current wind: Calm / unavailable
Favored runway now: –

Lake Tahoe Airport (KTVL) sits in South Lake Tahoe, California. Field elevation is 6,268.4 ft MSL. The airport has one runway, 18/36, which is 8,541 ft long. There is no control tower. CTAF is 122.85. One ILS approach is published for runway 18.

Traffic pattern altitude is 7,500 ft MSL for small aircraft. It is 8,000 ft MSL for transport and high performance aircraft. Mountain West Aviation is on the field. It carries AVGAS 100LL, JET A and JET A PRIST. Call them at (530) 541-2110 for current service details.

This is a mountain airport. Adverse weather effects are magnified by the terrain. The airport is surrounded on the east, south and west by rapidly rising terrain. Avoid the Desolation Wilderness west of the airport. Birds and waterfowl are also in the area. Paragliders and motorized parachutes operate from the runway surface. After winter storms, runway 18/36 may open before all taxiways are clear. The preferred arrival runway is 18. The preferred departure runway is 36. For large and high performance aircraft, runway 18 is the recommended departure runway. Right downwind departure is recommended. First-time pilots should plan carefully for density altitude, terrain and winter surface conditions before they go.

Frequently asked questions

What is the traffic pattern altitude at KTVL?

The published pattern altitude is 7,500 ft MSL for small aircraft. For transport and high performance aircraft, it is 8,000 ft MSL.

Does KTVL have an ILS approach?

Yes. One ILS approach is published for runway 18.

Is Lake Tahoe Airport towered?

No. KTVL does not have a control tower. Use CTAF 122.85 for airport traffic.

Which runway is preferred for arrival and departure at KTVL?

The preferred arrival runway is 18. The preferred departure runway is 36.

What runway should large aircraft use for departure at KTVL?

For large and high performance aircraft, departure from runway 18 is recommended. A right downwind departure is also recommended.

Which FBO is on the field at KTVL?

Mountain West Aviation is on the field. It carries AVGAS 100LL, JET A and JET A PRIST. Call the FBO directly at (530) 541-2110 for current services.

What should pilots watch for at KTVL in mountain weather?

The airport sits at 6,268.4 ft MSL. Terrain rises quickly on the east, south and west sides. The Chart Supplement also notes that adverse weather effects are magnified by the mountains.

Are there any special surface or traffic concerns at KTVL?

Yes. The Chart Supplement notes paragliders and motorized parachutes on the runway surface. It also notes birds and waterfowl nearby. After winter storms, runway 18/36 may open before all taxiways are clear.

KTVL