VFR Arrival Guidance KSMO local VFR procedures
Not for navigation. Verify against the official sources linked below before flight.
vfr arrival Airport sponsor published verified 2026-08-27 (43 d ago)
Published by the airport sponsor; voluntary unless ATC assigns it. If ATC assigns this route to you in Class B, C or D airspace, that assignment is an ATC instruction and compliance is required (14 CFR 91.123) — and “unable” remains available to the pilot in command.
Maintain pattern altitude or above as long as practical; SFRA arrivals contact SMO Tower for a north midfield crossing to right traffic.
The route
- Runways 3/21: maintain pattern altitude or above as long as practical
- Special Flight Rules Area arrivals: contact SMO Tower for a north crossing midfield to enter right traffic
When it applies
- Arriving 3 or 21 — all arrivals Stated for "Runways 03/21"
Source text, verbatim
VFR Arrivals Runways 03/21 Maintain pattern altitude or above as long as practical. Special Flight Rules Area Arrivals Contact SMO Tower for north crossing midfield to enter right traffic (see map.)
The text above is the published source wording and is authoritative over any summary on this page.
Sources
- City of Santa Monica — SMO VFR Pilot's Guide, Fixed-Wing Propeller Aircraft (2023) City of Santa Monica · retrieved 2026-08-27