Airports / California / SAS
Salton Sea Airport.
Salton City, California · -84 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.9/5
Google rating
7 ratings
0
Operators based
-84
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#4 / 152
California airports by Google rating
4.9★ across 7 Google ratings , ranked against 152 rated CA fields.
25 nm
To the nearest alternate
Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM), 4 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Salton Sea Airport (KSAS / SAS) is a general aviation field serving Salton City, California. The airport sits -84 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into SAS for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM, 25 nm), El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) (NJK, 28 nm), and Imperial County Airport (IPL, 31 nm). With a single 5,000-foot unpaved runway, SAS can typically accommodate aircraft as large as turboprops.
Charter pricing from SAS depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Salton City.
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Field capability
ICAO
KSAS
IATA
SAS
FAA / Local
SAS
Elevation
-84 ft
Coordinates
33.2414° N · 115.9520° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At -84 ft, SAS sits lower than 97% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 5,000 ft
- 07/255,000 ft × 75 ftGravelUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 5,000 ft
SAS's 5,000 ft runway typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 25nmTRMJacqueline Cochran Regional AirportPalm Springs
- 28nmNJKEl Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field)El Centro
- 31nmIPLImperial County AirportImperial
- 45nmPSPPalm Springs International AirportPalm Springs
- 51nmMXLGeneral Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International AirportMexicali
- 64nmNKXMiramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher FieldSan Diego
Location
Open the full mapKSAS · Salton Sea Airport · Salton City, CA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SAS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 139 nm | 43m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 175 nm | 48m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 204 nm | 52m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 409 nm | 1h 21m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 491 nm | 1h 33m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 567 nm | 1h 43m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 581 nm | 1h 45m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 669 nm | 1h 57m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SAS?
- Salton Sea Airport's longest runway is 5,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at SAS?
- Salton Sea Airport has one runway; the longest measures 5,000 ft.
- What is the nearest major airport to SAS?
- The closest alternate is Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM), about 25 nm away, followed by El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) (NJK) at 28 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SAS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Scottsdale about 52m (204 nm), San Francisco about 1h 21m (409 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 33m (491 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.