Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field

KSMX / SMX

Santa Maria, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 21:51Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Aging 1 hour ago
21:51Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
13 kt
220° G21 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KSMX 212151Z 22013G21KT 10SM FEW039 FEW070 SCT090 19/10 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP168 T01940100 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 261 ft
FEW 3,900 ft AGL
FEW 7,000 ft AGL
SCT 9,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,900 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
4,161 ft AMSL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
7,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,261 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
9,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
9,261 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 9,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots with gusts to 21 knots. Runway 20 is favored with a 12-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component (gusting to 7 knots crosswind).

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 3,900 ft, few at 7,000 ft, scattered at 9,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 10°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 23 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 3 to 15 knots.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1008 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (261 ft)
Pressure Alt
149 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 692 ft
ISA Deviation: +4.5°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KSMX 211915Z 2119/2218 25012G22KT P6SM VCSH SCT025 BKN060 FM212200 26015G25KT P6SM BKN050 FM220100 28010KT P6SM SCT050 FM220600 VRB03KT P6SM SCT050
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:54Z BASE
+0h
VFR 250° 12 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 6,000 ft
01:00Z FM220100
+3h
VFR 280° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
06:00Z FM220600
+8h
VFR VRB 3 kt
Visibility: >6SM

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
SMX
02
20 ✈️
12
30

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
5,130 ft 75 ft ASP 35°
12.2 kt 4.4 kt
20° angle
12/30 6,304 ft 150 ft ASP 135°
1.1 kt 13.0 kt
85° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KSMX

6,742 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
71.8%
MVFR
12%
IFR
6.5%
LIFR
9.7%

Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field typically experiences VFR conditions 71.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 16.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 6.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 32 knots. Calm conditions occur 32.9% of the time. Temperature extremes range from 2°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are February, January, March.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 6.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 32 kt
Calm Winds: 32.9%
Direction Distribution:
N
4.1%
NE
1.6%
E
6.8%
SE
10.2%
S
8.6%
SW
3.6%
W
17.7%
NW
14.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 14.1°C
Range: 2°C to 34°C
2°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 8.3 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.5%
Fog Frequency: 9.6%

Best Months for VFR

February January March

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.3 kt
Runway 12/30
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 2.8 kt

Statistics computed from 6,742 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KSMX
IATA Code: SMX
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 261 ft MSL

Location

City: Santa Maria
Country: US
Latitude: 34.898899°
Longitude: -120.457001°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 5,130 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 12/30
Length: 6,304 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field

Overview

Santa Maria Public Airport serves the central California coastal region, located in Santa Maria, California. As a medium-sized airport with two paved runways, it supports general aviation, commercial, and potentially agricultural aviation operations. The airport sits at 261 feet above mean sea level with coordinates that place it in a strategic position within Santa Maria's transportation infrastructure.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, with 67.1% of observations supporting clear weather operations. The airport experiences significant wind influence, with western winds averaging 6.3 knots and occasional gusts up to 25 knots. Temperature ranges from 2°C to 28°C create generally stable flying conditions, though pilots should be aware of potential low visibility periods, with fog occurring in 12.9% of observations.

Notable Features

The airport features two asphalt runways: Runway 02/20 at 5,130 feet and Runway 12/30 at 6,304 feet. Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, which provides consistent approach options. The coastal location suggests potential for marine layer intrusions and associated visibility challenges, particularly during cooler months.

Approach Considerations

Given the prevailing western winds, pilots should anticipate minimal crosswind challenges, with average crosswind components of 5.2 knots on Runway 02/20 and 2.5 knots on Runway 12/30. Winter months (November, December, January) offer the most consistent VFR conditions, while pilots should be prepared for potential reduced visibility scenarios during other periods.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.