Santa Barbara Municipal Airport frequencies
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA · KSBA) in Santa Barbara, CA is a towered field, staffed 0600-2300. Every frequency below is in the order you tune it, from the first call to the handoff on climb out. · Open on the map
All of Santa Barbara Municipal Airport — runways, frequencies, charts and live weatherWhen the KSBA tower is closed
The tower is staffed 0600-2300. Outside those hours Santa Barbara Municipal Airport has no operating control tower: it becomes a self announce field on 119.7, and separation from other traffic is yours, not a controller's. Report your position and intentions on entry and on each leg of the pattern.
Runway lighting is often pilot controlled once the tower closes — check the KSBA airport page for the click sequence, and what to say on the radio.
Before taxi Santa Barbara
- ATIS 132.65
- A recorded loop of the field's weather, active runway and any notices, updated hourly or whenever conditions change. Listen before your first call, and tell the controller which letter you have so they do not read it to you again.
- Clearance 132.9
- Clearance delivery issues your IFR clearance, and at busier fields your VFR departure instructions and squawk code. Call before you request taxi, with the ATIS letter and your intended direction of flight.
Taxi & takeoff Santa Barbara
- Ground 121.7
- Ground control owns every taxiway and inactive runway on the field. Call for taxi with your position and destination on the field. You need an explicit clearance to cross any runway, including one that is not in use.
- Tower 119.7
- Tower owns the active runways and the surrounding surface area. Call before entering the surface area inbound, and hold short until you are cleared to take off or to cross.
Departure & arrival Santa Barbara
- App/Dep 120.55 (151-329 · GAUCH · MISHN departures), 124.15, 125.4 (330-150 · initial contact), 127.725
- One radar controller working both arrivals and departures — normal at a smaller TRACON. The same frequency takes your climb out and your inbound call.
Also
- CTAF 119.7
- The common frequency pilots use to announce themselves to each other at a field with no operating control tower. Nobody is controlling traffic — you are self announcing. Report your position and intentions on entry and on each leg of the pattern, and listen well before you transmit.
- UNICOM 122.95
- A ground station run by the FBO rather than the FAA, for fuel, parking and airport services. Use it for services. Where the field has no separate CTAF, the same frequency doubles as the advisory frequency.
- Flight service 119.05 (LOW)
- Flight Service handles briefings, flight plans and en route advisories, reached here through a remote outlet. Open and close VFR flight plans, and get updated weather in the air. 1-800-WX-BRIEF reaches the same specialists from the ground.
- Emergency 121.5
- 121.5 is the international emergency and distress frequency, monitored continuously. Declare on it if you are in trouble, and monitor it as a second radio when you have one free.
By procedure & sector (9 more)
| 120.55 | CLASS C (151-329), GAUCH DP, MISHN DP |
|---|---|
| 125.4 | CLASS C (330-150) |
| 243.0 | EMERG |
| 244.575 | APCH/P DEP/P |
| 254.35 | LCL/P |
| 269.5 | SANTA BARBARA RCAG (LOW) |
| 291.1 | APCH/P DEP/P IC (330-150), CLASS C (330-150) |
| 319.15 | APCH/P DEP/P IC (151-329), CLASS C (151-329), GAUCH DP, MISHN DP |
| 327.8 | APCH/P DEP/P |
Every KSBA frequency, as one table
| ATIS | 132.65 |
|---|---|
| Clearance | 132.9 |
| Ground | 121.7 |
| Tower | 119.7 |
| CTAF | 119.7 |
| UNICOM | 122.95 |
| Flight service | 119.05 (LOW) |
| Emergency | 121.5 |
| App/Dep | 120.55 · 151-329 · GAUCH · MISHN departures |
| App/Dep | 124.15 |
| App/Dep | 125.4 · 330-150 · initial contact |
| App/Dep | 127.725 |
Frequently asked
What is the tower frequency at KSBA?
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport tower is 119.7, calling "Santa Barbara Tower". The tower is staffed 0600-2300.
What frequency do I use at KSBA when the tower is closed?
Outside 0600-2300, Santa Barbara Municipal Airport has no operating control tower and becomes a self announce field. Use 119.7 as the CTAF and report your position and intentions — there is nobody to clear you, so separation is yours.
What is the ground frequency at KSBA?
Ground control at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is 121.7. You need an explicit clearance from ground to cross any runway while taxiing, including one that is not in use.
What is the ATIS frequency at KSBA?
ATIS at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is 132.65. Listen before your first call and report the letter you have.
What is the approach frequency for KSBA?
App/Dep for Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is 120.55, working as "Santa Barbara" (151-329 · GAUCH · MISHN departures). Call inbound for flight following or to begin an instrument approach.
Where do I get my clearance at KSBA?
Clearance delivery at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is 132.9. Call before requesting taxi, with the current ATIS letter and your direction of flight.
More about KSBA
Frequencies from FAA NASR. For planning and education only; always verify against official sources.
Something here wrong or out of date? Report a data problem.