San Carlos Airport (KSQL)
Medium airport · San Carlos, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | San Carlos Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KSQL |
| IATA | SQL |
| Elevation | 5 ft (2 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 37°30'47" W 122°15'3" 37.51313, -122.25084 |
| Location | San Carlos, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/30 | 2,621 ft (799 m) | 75 ft | ASP | Yes |
San Carlos Airport at a glance
San Carlos Airport is a medium airport in San Carlos, California, United States, known to airline systems as SQL. The field elevation of 5 ft (2 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KSQL are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 12/30, offers 2,621 ft (799 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 12 points roughly 120° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KSQL 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 San Carlos Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Airport | KPAO | 13 km (7 NM) |
| San Francisco International Airport | KSFO | 16 km (9 NM) |
| Moffett Federal Airfield | KNUQ | 21 km (11 NM) |
| Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport | KOAK | 23 km (12 NM) |
| Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport | KSJC | 33 km (18 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for San Carlos Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 5 ft field elevation of San Carlos 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 San Carlos Airport
What is the ICAO code of San Carlos Airport?
The ICAO identifier of San Carlos Airport is KSQL, and its IATA code is SQL. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is San Carlos Airport above sea level?
San Carlos Airport sits at an elevation of 5 feet (2 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is San Carlos Airport located?
The airport lies at 37.5131, -122.2508 — in San Carlos, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Palo Alto Airport, about 13 km away.
Does KSQL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KSQL 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 San Carlos Airport?
San Carlos Airport has one runway. The longest, 12/30, measures 2,621 ft (799 m) with a ASP surface.