West Sale Airport (YWSL)
Medium airport · Sale, Victoria, Australia
Airport data
| Name | West Sale Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | YWSL |
| IATA | SXE |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 38°5'27" E 146°57'55" -38.09083, 146.96534 |
| Location | Sale, Victoria, Australia |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 1,640 ft (500 m) | 98 ft | GRS | No |
| 09/27 | 5,010 ft (1527 m) | 98 ft | ASP | Yes |
| 14/32 | 2,293 ft (699 m) | 98 ft | GRS | No |
West Sale Airport at a glance
West Sale Airport is a medium airport in Sale, Victoria, Australia, known to airline systems as SXE. The field elevation of 72 ft (22 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at YWSL are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
Of its 3 runways, the longest — 09/27 — offers 5,010 ft (1527 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 09 points roughly 90° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for YWSL 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 West Sale Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| RAAF Base East Sale | YMES | 16 km (9 NM) |
| Latrobe Valley Airport | YLTV | 45 km (24 NM) |
| Bairnsdale Airport | YBNS | 58 km (31 NM) |
| Mount Hotham Airport | YHOT | 120 km (65 NM) |
| Melbourne Moorabbin Airport | YMMB | 164 km (89 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for West Sale Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 72 ft field elevation of West Sale 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 194 airports and airfields we list for Australia — 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 West Sale Airport
What is the ICAO code of West Sale Airport?
The ICAO identifier of West Sale Airport is YWSL, and its IATA code is SXE. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is West Sale Airport above sea level?
West Sale Airport sits at an elevation of 72 feet (22 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is West Sale Airport located?
The airport lies at -38.0908, 146.9653 — in Sale, Victoria, Australia, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is RAAF Base East Sale, about 16 km away.
Does YWSL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for YWSL 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 West Sale Airport?
West Sale Airport has 3 runways. The longest, 09/27, measures 5,010 ft (1527 m) with a ASP surface.