Santa Monica Municipal Airport frequencies
Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO · KSMO) in Santa Monica, CA is a towered field, staffed 0700-2100. 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 Monica Municipal Airport — runways, frequencies, charts and live weatherWhen the KSMO tower is closed
The tower is staffed 0700-2100. Outside those hours Santa Monica Municipal Airport has no operating control tower: it becomes a self announce field on 120.1, 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 KSMO airport page for the click sequence, and what to say on the radio.
Before taxi Santa Monica
- ATIS 119.15
- 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.
Taxi & takeoff Santa Monica
- Ground 121.9
- 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 120.1
- 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 Socal
- Departure 125.2 (CTRUS · PEVEE · SANTA MONICA departures)
- Departure control is the radar facility working aircraft climbing out of the area. Tower hands you off after takeoff. Check in with your altitude leaving and your assigned altitude.
Arrival Socal
- Approach 124.3 (101-245 SMO), 124.9 (069-100 LAX), 125.2 (246-341 LAX · CTRUS · PEVEE · SANTA MONICA departures), 135.05 (342-068 SMO · BOGET arrivals; CHOII · SANTA MONICA departures)
- Approach control is the radar facility sequencing arrivals into the area. Call inbound for flight following or an instrument approach, with your position, altitude and request.
Also
- CTAF 120.1
- 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.
By procedure & sector (18 more)
| 119.85 | KIMMO STAR, WAYVE STAR |
|---|---|
| 125.2 | CTRUS DP, PEVEE DP, SANTA MONICA DP (RWY 21) |
| 126.7 | THRNE STAR |
| 128.5 | ZUUMA STAR |
| 128.75 | BONJO STAR |
| 134.2 | FERNANDO STAR |
| 135.05 | BOGET STAR, CHOII DP, SANTA MONICA DP (RWY 3) |
| 257.8 | LCL/P |
| 263.025 | APCH/P (246-341 LAX), DEP/P, DEP/P (225-044) |
| 269.0 | APCH/P (069-100 LAX) |
| 306.9 | KIMMO STAR, WAYVE STAR |
| 317.5 | APCH/P IC (342-068 SMO), BOGET STAR, CHOII DP, SANTA MONICA DP (RWY 03) |
| 323.275 | CTRUS DP, PEVEE DP, SANTA MONICA DP (RWY 21) |
| 338.2 | FERNANDO STAR |
| 360.7 | ZUUMA STAR |
| 363.2 | APCH/P (101-245 SMO) |
| 370.95 | THRNE STAR |
| 381.55 | BONJO STAR |
Every KSMO frequency, as one table
| ATIS | 119.15 |
|---|---|
| Ground | 121.9 |
| Tower | 120.1 |
| CTAF | 120.1 |
| UNICOM | 122.95 |
| Approach | 124.3 · 101-245 SMO |
| Approach | 124.9 · 069-100 LAX |
| Approach | 125.2 · 246-341 LAX · CTRUS · PEVEE · SANTA MONICA departures |
| Approach | 135.05 · 342-068 SMO · BOGET arrivals; CHOII · SANTA MONICA departures |
| Departure | 125.2 · CTRUS · PEVEE · SANTA MONICA departures |
Frequently asked
What is the tower frequency at KSMO?
Santa Monica Municipal Airport tower is 120.1, calling "Santa Monica Tower". The tower is staffed 0700-2100.
What frequency do I use at KSMO when the tower is closed?
Outside 0700-2100, Santa Monica Municipal Airport has no operating control tower and becomes a self announce field. Use 120.1 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 KSMO?
Ground control at Santa Monica Municipal Airport is 121.9. 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 KSMO?
ATIS at Santa Monica Municipal Airport is 119.15. Listen before your first call and report the letter you have.
What is the approach frequency for KSMO?
Approach for Santa Monica Municipal Airport is 124.3, working as "Socal" (101-245 SMO). Call inbound for flight following or to begin an instrument approach.
More about KSMO
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.