El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport (SAWC)
Medium airport · El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Airport data
| Name | El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | SAWC |
| IATA | FTE |
| Elevation | 669 ft (204 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 50°16'49" W 72°3'12" -50.28027, -72.05340 |
| Location | El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/25 | 8,366 ft (2550 m) | 148 ft | CON | Yes |
El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport at a glance
El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is a medium airport in El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, known to airline systems as FTE. The field elevation of 669 ft (204 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at SAWC 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, 7/25, offers 8,366 ft (2550 m) of con surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 7 points roughly 70° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for SAWC 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 El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant Julio Gallardo Airport | SCNT | 158 km (85 NM) |
| Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport | SAWG | 242 km (131 NM) |
| Santa Cruz Airport | SAWU | 249 km (134 NM) |
| President Carlos Ibáñez International Airport | SCCI | 314 km (170 NM) |
| Capitan D Daniel Vazquez Airport | SAWJ | 324 km (175 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 669 ft field elevation of El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International 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 73 airports and airfields we list for Argentina — 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 El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport
What is the ICAO code of El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport?
The ICAO identifier of El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is SAWC, and its IATA code is FTE. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport above sea level?
El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport sits at an elevation of 669 feet (204 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport located?
The airport lies at -50.2803, -72.0534 — in El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Lieutenant Julio Gallardo Airport, about 158 km away.
Does SAWC publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for SAWC 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 El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport?
El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport has one runway. The longest, 7/25, measures 8,366 ft (2550 m) with a CON surface.