General Ulpiano Paez International Airport (SESA)
Large airport · Salinas/La Libertad, Santa Elena Province, Ecuador
Airport data
| Name | General Ulpiano Paez International Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | SESA |
| IATA | SNC |
| Elevation | 18 ft (5 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 2°12'36" W 80°59'6" -2.21006, -80.98507 |
| Location | Salinas/La Libertad, Santa Elena Province, Ecuador |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
About General Ulpiano Paez International Airport on Wikipedia
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26 | 3,707 ft (1130 m) | 131 ft | ASP | Yes |
| 13/31 | 8,629 ft (2630 m) | 165 ft | ASP | Yes |
General Ulpiano Paez International Airport at a glance
General Ulpiano Paez International Airport is a large airport in Salinas/La Libertad, Santa Elena Province, Ecuador, known to airline systems as SNC. The field elevation of 18 ft (5 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at SESA are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
Of its 2 runways, the longest — 13/31 — offers 8,629 ft (2630 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 SESA 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 General Ulpiano Paez International Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport | SEGU | 123 km (66 NM) |
| Reales Tamarindos Airport | SEPV | 142 km (77 NM) |
| Eloy Alfaro International Airport | SEMT | 145 km (78 NM) |
| Captain Pedro Canga Rodríguez International Airport | SPME | 164 km (89 NM) |
| Santa Rosa - Artillery Colonel Victor Larrea International Airport | SERO | 176 km (95 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for General Ulpiano Paez International Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 18 ft field elevation of General Ulpiano Paez 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 17 airports and airfields we list for Ecuador — 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 General Ulpiano Paez International Airport
What is the ICAO code of General Ulpiano Paez International Airport?
The ICAO identifier of General Ulpiano Paez International Airport is SESA, and its IATA code is SNC. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is General Ulpiano Paez International Airport above sea level?
General Ulpiano Paez International Airport sits at an elevation of 18 feet (5 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is General Ulpiano Paez International Airport located?
The airport lies at -2.2101, -80.9851 — in Salinas/La Libertad, Santa Elena Province, Ecuador, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, about 123 km away.
Does SESA publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for SESA 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 General Ulpiano Paez International Airport?
General Ulpiano Paez International Airport has 2 runways. The longest, 13/31, measures 8,629 ft (2630 m) with a ASP surface.