Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field (KSMX), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Santa Maria Public / Capt G Allan Hancock Field, KSMX, serves as a towered general aviation and business aviation field on California's Central Coast, with Vandenberg Space Force Base and Lompoc among its nearest neighbors. The airport's long primary runway and Jet A availability support a steady mix of business aviation traffic recorded through FAA TFMSC data.
Runways
Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field has two paved runways. The longest, 12/30, is 8,004 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 6am to 10pm, daily, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Van Nuys (KVNY), 106 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field recorded 4,474 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May and October. Business aviation traffic at KSMX runs highest from April through October, with October recording the peak monthly total.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month October, 442 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field averages 2.3 days above 90°F in October and 3.8 freeze days in December. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 75.0°F, and December the coldest, at 64.3°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Touch-and-go operations are not permitted. Landing practice and practice instrument approaches are restricted between 2200 and 0700.
When the control tower is closed, activate MALSR for Runway 12, PAPI for Runway 30, and HIRL for Runway 12/30. Taxiway lights are also pilot-activated via CTAF. PAPI for Runway 12 operates continuously.
Runway 02/20 is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 operations involving scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 30 passenger seats.
When wind is calm, under 8 knots, use Runway 30.
Use caution for a lighted road running parallel and less than a quarter mile northwest of Runway 12/30.
Numerous birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 200/F/A/Y/T
PCR VALUE: 442/F/B/X/U
Aircraft fuel servicing is available on frequency 129.975.
Portions of Taxiway J are not visible from the control tower and are unlighted.
Transient pilots should remain clear of the commercial ramp and terminal.
Self-serve 100LL fuel is available 24 hours, located north of the tower.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Santa Maria Pub / Capt G Allan Hancock Field has five airfields within 42 NM. The closest is Vandenberg Space Force Base (KVBG), 11.58 NM southwest.
Part of the Santa Barbara area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KSMX
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KSMX.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What runways are available at KSMX?
Santa Maria Public / Capt G Allan Hancock Field, KSMX, operates two paved asphalt runways. Runway 12/30 is the primary strip at 8,004 feet long and 150 feet wide. Runway 02/20 measures 5,199 feet long and 75 feet wide. Note that Runway 02/20 carries a restriction excluding Part 121 and Part 380 scheduled operations above 9 passenger seats, and non-scheduled operations above 30 passenger seats. Dispatchers planning larger commercial passenger flights should default to Runway 12/30.
Is fuel available at Santa Maria Public Airport (KSMX)?
Santa Maria Public Airport, KSMX, offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel. Aircraft fuel servicing is noted as available on frequency 129.975. Self-serve 100LL is also available around the clock, located north of the tower. The field is attended daily from 0600 to 2200 local time. Pilots requiring after-hours Jet A should coordinate in advance given the attended schedule.
Does KSMX have customs and border clearance on site?
Santa Maria Public / Capt G Allan Hancock Field, KSMX, does not have onsite customs service. The nearest customs facility is at Van Nuys Airport, KVNY, roughly 105.77 nautical miles away. Flights requiring customs clearance near KSMX should plan a stop at KVNY or another designated port of entry beforehand. This distance is a meaningful planning factor for any international arrival routed through the Santa Maria area.
What wind and traffic pattern guidance applies at KSMX?
At Santa Maria Public Airport, KSMX, calm wind conditions under 8 knots call for use of Runway 30. Touch-and-go operations are not permitted, and landing practice or practice instrument approaches are restricted between 2200 and 0700 local. Transient pilots are also directed to remain clear of the commercial ramp and terminal area. Numerous birds are reported on and in the vicinity of the airport, which crews should factor into approach and departure planning.
Are there any lighting or taxiway cautions at KSMX?
Santa Maria Public / Capt G Allan Hancock Field, KSMX, has several noted lighting and taxiway cautions. When the control tower is closed, pilots activate MALSR for Runway 12, PAPI for Runway 30, HIRL for Runway 12/30, and taxiway lights, all via CTAF; PAPI for Runway 12 operates continuously. Portions of Taxiway J are not visible from the tower and are unlighted. There is also a lighted road running parallel to and less than a quarter mile northwest of Runway 12/30, a factor worth noting during night operations.