Beale Air Force Base (KBAB)
Medium airport · Beale Air Force Base, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | Beale Air Force Base |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KBAB |
| IATA | BAB |
| Elevation | 113 ft (34 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 39°8'10" W 121°26'13" 39.13610, -121.43700 |
| Location | Beale Air Force Base, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/33 | 12,001 ft (3658 m) | 300 ft | CON | Yes |
Beale Air Force Base at a glance
Beale Air Force Base is a medium airport in Beale Air Force Base, California, United States, known to airline systems as BAB. The field elevation of 113 ft (34 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KBAB are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 15/33, offers 12,001 ft (3658 m) of con surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 15 points roughly 150° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KBAB shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Beale Air Force Base
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Yuba County Airport | KMYV | 12 km (6 NM) |
| Sacramento International Airport | KSMF | 51 km (28 NM) |
| McClellan Airfield | KMCC | 52 km (28 NM) |
| Sacramento Mather Airport | KMHR | 66 km (36 NM) |
| Sacramento Executive Airport | KSAC | 70 km (38 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Beale Air Force Base
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 113 ft field elevation of Beale Air Force Base can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 917 airports and airfields we list for United States — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Beale Air Force Base
What is the ICAO code of Beale Air Force Base?
The ICAO identifier of Beale Air Force Base is KBAB, and its IATA code is BAB. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Beale Air Force Base above sea level?
Beale Air Force Base sits at an elevation of 113 feet (34 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Beale Air Force Base located?
The airport lies at 39.1361, -121.4370 — in Beale Air Force Base, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Yuba County Airport, about 12 km away.
Does KBAB publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KBAB appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Beale Air Force Base?
Beale Air Force Base has one runway. The longest, 15/33, measures 12,001 ft (3658 m) with a CON surface.