Airports / Chile / CPO
Desierto de Atacama Airport.
Copiapo, Chile · 670 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.1/5
Google rating
1,525 ratings
0
Operators based
670
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
57 nm
To the nearest alternate
Chañaral Airport (CNR).
Overview
Desierto de Atacama Airport (SCAT / CPO) sits in Copiapo, Chile, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 670 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 CPO for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Chañaral Airport (CNR, 57 nm), Ricardo García Posada Airport (ESR, 79 nm), and Vallenar Airport (VLR, 80 nm). With a single 7,218-foot paved runway, CPO can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from CPO depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Copiapo.
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Field capability
ICAO
SCAT
IATA
CPO
FAA / Local
SCAT
Elevation
670 ft
Coordinates
27.2612° S · 70.7792° 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
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Chile fields
state range 26–7,543 ft
At 670 ft, CPO sits higher than 64% of the 33 Chile fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 7,218 ft
- 17/357,218 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 7,218 ft
CPO's 7,218 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.
- 57nmCNRChañaral AirportChañaral
- 79nmESRRicardo García Posada AirportEl Salvador
- 80nmVLRVallenar AirportVallenar
- 104nmTTCLas Breas AirportTaltal
- 161nmLSCLa Florida AirportLa Serena-Coquimbo
- 230nmANFAndrés Sabella Gálvez International AirportAntofagasta
Location
Open the full mapSCAT · Desierto de Atacama Airport · Copiapo, Chile
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CPO on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | 3,233 nm | 7h 55m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 3,283 nm | 8h 2m |
| Houston (HOU) | 3,695 nm | 9h 0m |
| Austin (AUS) | 3,779 nm | 9h 11m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 3,903 nm | 9h 29m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 3,911 nm | 9h 30m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 3,993 nm | 9h 41m |
| New York (TEB) | 4,094 nm | 9h 55m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CPO?
- Desierto de Atacama Airport's longest paved runway is 7,218 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 CPO?
- Desierto de Atacama Airport has one runway; the longest measures 7,218 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CPO?
- The closest alternate is Chañaral Airport (CNR), about 57 nm away, followed by Ricardo García Posada Airport (ESR) at 79 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CPO to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Miami about 7h 55m (3,233 nm), Palm Beach about 8h 2m (3,283 nm), Houston about 9h 0m (3,695 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.