Palo Alto Airport (KPAO)
Medium airport · Palo Alto, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | Palo Alto Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KPAO |
| IATA | PAO |
| Elevation | 4 ft (1 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 37°27'40" W 122°6'54" 37.46110, -122.11500 |
| Location | Palo Alto, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/31 | 2,441 ft (744 m) | 70 ft | ASP | Yes |
Palo Alto Airport at a glance
Palo Alto Airport is a medium airport in Palo Alto, California, United States, known to airline systems as PAO. The field elevation of 4 ft (1 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KPAO 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, 13/31, offers 2,441 ft (744 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 13 points roughly 130° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KPAO 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 Palo Alto Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Moffett Federal Airfield | KNUQ | 8 km (4 NM) |
| San Carlos Airport | KSQL | 13 km (7 NM) |
| Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport | KSJC | 20 km (11 NM) |
| San Francisco International Airport | KSFO | 29 km (16 NM) |
| Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport | KOAK | 30 km (16 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Palo Alto Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 4 ft field elevation of Palo Alto Airport 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 Palo Alto Airport
What is the ICAO code of Palo Alto Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Palo Alto Airport is KPAO, and its IATA code is PAO. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Palo Alto Airport above sea level?
Palo Alto Airport sits at an elevation of 4 feet (1 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Palo Alto Airport located?
The airport lies at 37.4611, -122.1150 — in Palo Alto, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Moffett Federal Airfield, about 8 km away.
Does KPAO publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KPAO 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 Palo Alto Airport?
Palo Alto Airport has one runway. The longest, 13/31, measures 2,441 ft (744 m) with a ASP surface.