Airports / California / SMX
Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field.
Santa Maria, California · 261 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.0/5
Google rating
209 ratings
0
Operators based
261
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
12 nm
To the nearest alternate
Vandenberg Space Force Base (VBG), 4 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field (KSMX / SMX) sits in Santa Maria, California, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 261 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into SMX for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Vandenberg Space Force Base (VBG, 12 nm), San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP, 22 nm), and Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA, 42 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 8,004-foot paved runway, SMX can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from SMX depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Santa Maria.
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Field capability
ICAO
KSMX
IATA
SMX
FAA / Local
SMX
Elevation
261 ft
Coordinates
34.8989° N · 120.4570° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At 261 ft, SMX sits lower than 52% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 8,004 ft
- 12/308,004 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 02/205,199 ft × 75 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 8,004 ft
SMX's 8,004 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- 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.
- 12nmVBGVandenberg Space Force BaseLompoc
- 22nmSBPSan Luis County Regional AirportSan Luis Obispo
- 42nmSBASanta Barbara Municipal AirportSanta Barbara
- 47nmPRBPaso Robles Municipal AirportPaso Robles
- 75nmOXROxnard AirportOxnard
- 76nmBFLMeadows FieldBakersfield
Location
Open the full mapKSMX · Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field · Santa Maria, CA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SMX on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (SFO) | 188 nm | 50m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 269 nm | 1h 2m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 431 nm | 1h 24m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 535 nm | 1h 39m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 690 nm | 2h 0m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 700 nm | 2h 2m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 706 nm | 2h 3m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 758 nm | 2h 10m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SMX?
- Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field's longest paved runway is 8,004 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. 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 SMX?
- Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field has 2 runways; the longest measures 8,004 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SMX?
- The closest alternate is Vandenberg Space Force Base (VBG), about 12 nm away, followed by San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP) at 22 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SMX to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Las Vegas about 1h 2m (269 nm), Scottsdale about 1h 24m (431 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 39m (535 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.