runwayinuse

KSQL San Carlos — local VFR procedures

The current flow at KSQL is uncertain right now (WIND_INFERRED) — all procedures are shown without filtering. Live runway page →

Not for navigation. These are locally published VFR routes, reproduced with sources; verify against the official documents linked from each procedure before flight.

Noise sensitive areas lie south through northeast of the field. Fixed-wing traffic is RIGHT for runway 30 and LEFT for runway 12 — helicopters are the opposite (right runway 12, left runway 30). Calm-wind runway is 12. Pattern altitude 800' MSL.

VFR arrivals

Either runway — 12 / 30

  • Cement Plant Arrival — Inbound from the east over Coyote Hills, arrive via the Cement Plant (VPWFR).
  • KNBR Arrival — Inbound from the northeast via the KNBR radio tower, keeping it off your right, then downwind as advised.
  • Overhead Arrival — Arriving from the west, cross overhead the control tower at or above 1,200' MSL and enter the downwind as advised.
  • Straight-In Arrival — From Woodside VOR toward SLAC, at or above 1,000' MSL until past Kaiser Hospital, then straight-in 30 or left downwind 12.

VFR departures

Runway 30

  • Hillsdale Departure — Runway 30: straight out parallel to Highway 101 for 2.75 NM to abeam Hillsdale Mall, then left to a southwesterly heading, clear of the SFO Class B.
  • Oracle Departure — Runway 30: straight out past the diamond-shaped waterway, right crosswind, follow the Belmont Slough toward the Bay with KNBR tower off the right.
  • Coyote Hills Departure — Runway 30: straight out past the diamond-shaped waterway, right downwind, then left at midfield toward Coyote Hills.
  • Woodside Departure — Runway 30: straight out past the diamond-shaped waterway, right downwind until abeam Woodside Road, then right toward the southwest.

Runway 12

  • Woodside Departure — Runway 12: left 20° to heading 100° as soon as safe, upwind until abeam Woodside Road, then right toward the southwest.

Other local procedures

Runway 30

  • Rotorcraft Operations — Helicopters use left traffic runway 30, TPA 800' MSL, delaying the crosswind turn to pattern altitude and remaining east of residential areas.

All operations — 12 / 30

  • Pattern Work & Quiet Hours — Voluntary: per-runway pattern technique, and requested hours — no touch-and-go before 0800 weekdays / 0930 weekends, or when the tower is closed.

These routes are advisory as published — none of them is a regulation. Assigned by ATC in Class B, C or D airspace, a route becomes an ATC instruction under 14 CFR 91.123; “unable” remains available to the pilot in command. Each procedure page shows its own authority level and links its primary sources.