Airport information
- ICAO / IATA
- KPAO / PAO
- Coordinates
- 37.4611, -122.1150
- Elevation
- 4 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 15E
- Sectional chart
- SAN FRANCISCO
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- Yes
- ARTCC
- OAKLAND (ZOA)
- Flight service (FSS)
- OAKLAND
- NOTAM facility
- PAO
- Attendance
- ALL 0600-2000
- Beacon
- white-green (SS-SR)
- Segmented circle
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- lighted
- Activated
- 1940/04
- Distance from city
- 0 E
Weather
METAR observed
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TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21
| Event | Local (PDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 05:17 AM | 12:17Z |
| Sunrise | 05:48 AM | 12:48Z |
| Sunset | 08:33 PM | 03:33Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 09:04 PM | 04:04Z |
Plan a flight from KPAO
Night operations
- Airport lighting
- SEE RMK
- Rotating beacon
- white-green · SS-SR
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- Usually keyed on CTAF 118.6 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗
Runway lighting aids — 13: 2-light PAPI (left) · 31: 2-light PAPI (left).
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.
Traffic pattern
- Landing
- Rwy 13 · 127°
- Pattern
- left (turns left)
- TPA
- 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
- CTAF
- 118.6
Enter the left downwind for Rwy 13 at 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).
Runway 13/31
2,441 ft × 70 ft · Asphalt (Good)- Heading
- 127° mag · 142° true
- Markings
- basic
- VGSI
- 2-light PAPI (left) (4°)
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Approach obstacle
- Berm, 8 ft, 300 ft from threshold, 0 ft L/R of centerline — 12:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
- Heading
- 307° mag · 322° true
- Markings
- nonprecision
- VGSI
- 2-light PAPI (left) (4°)
- Traffic pattern
- Right
- Approach obstacle
- Berm, 5 ft, 230 ft from threshold, 0 ft L/R of centerline — 6:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 13/31 | 2,441 ft |
Communication frequencies
| Service | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| APP | 33.82 | NORCAL APP |
| APP | 121.3 | NORCAL APP |
| ATIS | 135.275 | |
| CTAF | 118.6 | |
| DEP | 121.3 | NORCAL DEP |
| GND | 125 | |
| TWR | 118.6 | |
| UNIC | 122.95 | UNICOM |
Nearby navigation aids
| NavAid | Type | Freq | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| NUQ · Moffett | TACAN | 117.60 | r285° / 3.2 NM |
| OSI · Woodside | VORTAC | 113.90 | r045° / 8.9 NM |
| SJC · San Jose | VOR-DME | 114.10 | r287° / 9.6 NM |
| SFO · San Francisco | VOR-DME | 115.80 | r111° / 15.6 NM |
| OAK · Oakland | VORTAC | 116.80 | r145° / 16.7 NM |
| SAU · Sausalito | VORTAC | 116.20 | r124° / 30.6 NM |
| CCR · Concord | VOR-DME | 117.00 | r168° / 35.2 NM |
Airport diagram
Open PDF ↗Preview diagram
Procedures at a glance
Approaches1
Arrivals
Minimums & Hot Spots
Chart Supplement FAA A/FD
Open PDF ↗Preview Chart Supplement
VFR sectional
Services
- Fuel available
- 100LL, Jet A
- Bottled oxygen
- LOW
- Airframe service
- MAJOR
- Powerplant service
- MAJOR
- Parking
- tiedowns
- Other services
- Air ambulance, Avionics, Charter, Glider, Instruction, Rental, Aircraft sales
Ownership & management
Remarks FAA
- +100 FT TRANSMISSION TWRS E OF ARPT.
- BIRDS ON AND INVOF AP.
- TPA 1000 FT W & 800 FT E.
- NOISE SENSITIVE AREA SE THRU NW OF ARPT. RCMD ACFT LDG AT PALO ALTO ARPT FLY AT OR ABOVE 1500 FT UNTIL XNG THE BAYSHORE FREEWAY, AND RCMD ACFT DEP RWY 31 TURN 10 DEG RIGHT AFTER TKOF TIL RCHG DUMBARTON AUTO BRIDGE.
- BE ALERT FOR PEDESTRAINS XNG A DIKE ROAD 8 FT HIGH AND 300 FT FROM RWY 13 END.
- CONS PEDESTRIAN/VEHICLE ACT ON ACFT TAXI LANES NOT DESIGNATED AS TWY MOV AREAS.
- ARPT SCTY PRODS IN EFCT.
- ON APCH TO RWY 31 BE ALERT TO POSS STG UPDRAFT FM WIND TUNNEL LCTD ON W SIDE OF MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD.
- ARPT RSTRD BY ARPT OPR TO ACFT WITH MAX CERTD WT OF 12500 LBS OR LESS.
- FOR CD WHEN ATCT IS CLSD CTC NORCAL APCH AT 916-361-3748.
- ARPT LGTS OPERATE CONTINUOUSLY WHEN ATCT CLSD.
- SELF-FUELING AVAILBLE 24/7.
- RY 13 +8 FT DIKE 300 FT FROM RY END, OBSTN LGTD.
- RY 31 +5 FT DIKE 230 FT FROM RY END, OBSTN LGTD.
Nearby airports
Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open KPAO in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.
About KPAO
Palo Alto Airport (PAO · KPAO) is an airport in Palo Alto, CA, at 4 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 2,441 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KPAO, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does KPAO have a control tower?
Yes. Palo Alto Airport has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.
What is the longest runway at KPAO?
Palo Alto Airport has 1 runway; the longest is 2,441 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is KPAO?
Palo Alto Airport is in Palo Alto, CA, at an elevation of 4 ft MSL. Coordinates: 37.4611, -122.1150.
Fly out of KPAO often?
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