Santa Monica Municipal charts & airport diagram

What KSMO publishes

Airport diagram

The FAA airport diagram for Santa Monica Municipal — runways, taxiways, ramps and hold short lines. Shown in the browser above; the FAA PDF ↗ is the authoritative copy.

Instrument approaches at KSMO

Santa Monica Municipal has 4 published instrument approaches of 2 types (RNAV (GPS) and VOR). 3 of them offer vertical guidance; RNAV (GPS) gives the lowest minimums. One is circling only — bringing you to the airport rather than a runway, to circle for whichever runway the wind favors at circling minimums.

Departures and arrivals

Santa Monica Municipal publishes 4 departure procedures (SIDs) — charted routes from the runway to the en route structure, assigned by ATC in the clearance. It also publishes 6 arrivals (STARs), the mirror image: charted routes from the en route structure down to where the approach begins. Each one is in the list at the foot of this page with its continuation pages.

Takeoff, alternate and surface information

• Takeoff minimums are published for KSMO. Standard is 1 statute mile visibility for one and two engine aircraft (½ mile for more than two) unless this section says otherwise; Part 91 operators are not bound by them but the obstacle notes apply to everyone.
• Santa Monica Municipal has an obstacle departure procedure (ODP): the charted way to clear terrain and obstacles after takeoff in instrument conditions. ATC does not assign it; under Part 91 it is recommended rather than required, and it is what you fly when no SID or radar vectors have been given.
• A diverse vector area (DVA) is established, so ATC can issue radar vectors below the minimum vectoring altitude right after departure.
• Non standard alternate minimums are published: if you file KSMO as an IFR alternate, the required forecast is higher than the default 600-2 for precision or 800-2 for non precision approaches. Check the alternate rule tool.