Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) | Private Jet Hub Near Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara at a Glance

Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) is a towered, FAA small-hub commercial and general aviation field owned by the City of Santa Barbara, 7 miles west of downtown beside Goleta and UCSB. It operates three asphalt runways: primary 7/25 at 6,052 ft plus parallel crosswind strips 15R/33L (4,184 ft) and 15L/33R (4,180 ft). At 13 ft MSL, density altitude is rarely a factor. Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support handle private traffic. U.S. Customs is available, and a voluntary noise-advisory program designates preferred runways and routes.

Live Conditions

Current Weather at KSBA

Santa Barbara Airport, 500 James Fowler Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117

Airport Specifications

Airport Identity
Airport Name	Santa Barbara Airport
ICAO Code	KSBA
IATA Code	SBA
FAA Identifier	SBA
Address	500 James Fowler Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Elevation	13 ft MSL
Coordinates	34.4262° N, 119.8404° W
Owner / Operator	City of Santa Barbara
Phone	+1-805-967-7111
FAA Data	AirNav SBA

Operations & Facilities
Runways	07/25: 6,052 ft (Asphalt) 15R/33L: 4,184 ft (Asphalt) 15L/33R: 4,180 ft (Asphalt)
FBOs	Atlantic Aviation, Signature Aviation
Customs	Yes — U.S. Customs
Fuel	Jet-A, 100LL
Hours	24/7
Approaches	ILS, RNAV, VOR, Visual
Tower / Freq	118.7
Weight Limit	No curfew; voluntary noise-abatement program
Annual Operations	70,000+

Runways & Approaches

Santa Barbara's primary runway, 7/25, runs 6,052 ft by 150 ft of asphalt and is served by an ILS to Runway 7 plus RNAV (GPS) and VOR approaches. This length comfortably supports light, midsize, and most super-midsize jets such as the Phenom 300, Citation XLS+, Challenger 350, and Gulfstream G280. Heavy jets including the Gulfstream G550/G650 and Global Express can use KSBA, but crews must run full takeoff performance numbers for temperature, weight, and runway-available before committing, particularly on warm afternoons or with full fuel.

Two shorter parallel runways, 15R/33L at 4,184 ft and 15L/33R at 4,180 ft, provide crosswind capability and are used mainly by piston and turboprop traffic; jets generally plan on Runway 7/25. With a 13-ft field elevation directly on the coast, density-altitude penalties are minimal, but marine-layer fog and occasional Santa Ana wind events are the main weather drivers affecting approach minimums and runway selection.

FBOs & Ground Services

Full-service fixed-base operators handle private traffic here, offering Jet-A, hangarage, customs coordination, and concierge ground transportation. Arrange handling in advance for peak-season and after-hours arrivals.

Atlantic Aviation

Full-service FBO at KSBA offering Jet-A and 100LL, hangar and ramp parking, ground handling, customs coordination, and concierge services for business and charter traffic.

Signature Flight Support

Major-network FBO providing fueling, transient parking, crew and passenger amenities, line service, and ground-transportation arrangements at Santa Barbara.

Charter a Jet from Santa Barbara Airport

Charter from Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) connects the region to destinations nationwide. The Jet Finder matches the right aircraft to your mission and SBA's runway parameters — with direct Part 135 operator access and no markup.

Fly Private from KSBA

The Jet Finder coordinates charter flights from Santa Barbara Airport. Tell us your destination, dates, and passenger count. We source aircraft from FAA Part 135 operators matched to KSBA's runway and facilities.

Aircraft Registered in SANTA BARBARA (155)

155 aircraft are registered to owners in SANTA BARBARA, CA according to the FAA Aircraft Registry. Showing 20 of 155. Track live flights from SBA →

N102CT

FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW · 2006

N103SJ

CESSNA 206H · 2000

N110RP

COMPAGNIE DAHER TBM 700 · 2023

N110TN

PIPER PA-28-180 · 1972

N114CM

PIPER PA-18-150 · 1977

N115ST

SWEENEY THOMAS F STROJNIK S2A

N117B

TEXTRON AVIATION INC 525B · 2018

N124CB

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR22T · 2016

N124LT

PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD PC-12/47E · 2019

N127EZ

GRUNO RICHARD W VARIEZE

N129SB

NORTH WING APACHE

N1429E

CESSNA 172N · 1978

N1562B

BEECH F33A · 1989

N1563W

BEECH V35B · 1972

N1566K

BEECH 58 · 1989

N158WD

WILLIAM M OPRENDEK CARBON CUB CCK-1865 · 2017

N159SZ

PEZETEL SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2 · 1980

N1672R

CESSNA R182 · 1978

N176BG

SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS C

N178SB

MITSUBISHI MU-2B-40

Popular Routes from SBA

Fuel Prices & Landing Fees

FBO	Jet-A Price	Notes
Atlantic Aviation	$5.60 – $7.00/gal	Primary FBO
Signature Aviation	$5.80 – $7.20/gal

Aircraft Category	Estimated Fee
Light Jet (up to 12,500 lbs)	$30 – $75
Midsize Jet (12,500–25,000 lbs)	$75 – $150
Super-Mid Jet (25,000–45,000 lbs)	$150 – $250
Heavy Jet (45,000+ lbs)	$250 – $400

Private Aviation Briefing — History, Operations & Planning

Airport Overview

Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA/SBA) is a City of Santa Barbara-owned field 7 miles west of downtown, adjacent to Goleta and the UCSB campus. The FAA classifies it as a small-hub primary commercial airport, but its three-runway layout, U.S. Customs, control tower, and two full-service FBOs make it a practical and popular gateway for private jet traffic serving the Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Santa Ynez Valley markets.

Runway Capability

Primary Runway 7/25 provides 6,052 ft of asphalt with an ILS to Runway 7. This accommodates the bulk of the light-to-super-midsize charter fleet without issue. Heavy and ultra-long-range jets are feasible but performance-limited at higher weights, so crews should plan tankering and payload around the available 6,052 ft rather than assuming an unrestricted departure.

Charter Considerations

Both Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support offer ramp-to-curb access, fueling, and ground-transport coordination. Downtown Santa Barbara is roughly a 15-20 minute drive; Montecito and the Santa Ynez wine country are 25-45 minutes. The Jet Finder sources Part 135 aircraft positioned near KSBA to minimize repositioning costs.

Safety & Planning

The most significant local factor is the coastal marine layer, which can push the field to IFR or LIFR on summer mornings before burning off midday. The ILS to Runway 7 and RNAV approaches mitigate this, but alternate planning is prudent during fog season. Occasional Santa Ana wind events bring strong, gusty offshore flow and elevated fire-weather conditions.

Operational Factors

KSBA has no mandatory curfew, but the City runs a voluntary aircraft noise-advisory program with preferred runways and routes, including a request that Runway 25 arrivals route over the More Mesa Open Space to avoid noise-sensitive neighborhoods. Operating 24/7, the airport asks pilots to follow these procedures and minimize nighttime engine run-ups.

Regional Context

KSBA is the principal coastal field between Los Angeles and the Central Coast. Nearby alternates include Santa Ynez (KIZA, 16 NM) for the wine country, Camarillo and Oxnard to the southeast, and the high-capacity Van Nuys complex about 70 NM down the coast for repositioning or larger-aircraft staging.

Nearby Airports

Airports within 150 nautical miles of Santa Barbara Airport. Useful for alternate planning, repositioning, or comparing FBO options.

Crawford Airport

0CA3 · 13 NM from KSBA

Santa Ynez Airport

KIZA · 16 NM from KSBA

New Cuyama Airport

KL88 · 32 NM from KSBA

Lompoc Airport

KLPC · 34 NM from KSBA

Frequently Asked Questions

The airport code for Santa Barbara Airport is KSBA. This identifier appears on sectional charts, in the Airport/Facility Directory, and in electronic flight planning tools.

Santa Barbara Airport is situated in Santa Barbara, CA, at coordinates 34.4262° N, 119.8404° W. Field elevation is 13 feet above mean sea level.

Santa Barbara's primary runway, 7/25, is 6,052 ft long by 150 ft wide (asphalt). Two shorter parallel crosswind runways, 15R/33L and 15L/33R, measure 4,184 ft and 4,180 ft. The airport has three runways in total.

Yes. With 6,052 ft of primary runway and a 13-ft sea-level elevation, KSBA handles light, midsize, and most super-midsize jets routinely. Heavy and ultra-long-range jets can operate but should run takeoff performance numbers for weight, temperature, and the available runway length.

Yes. Two full-service FBOs operate at KSBA: Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support. Both provide Jet-A fuel, ramp and hangar parking, ground handling, and concierge and ground-transportation coordination. Calling ahead for parking is advisable during peak periods.

Santa Barbara Airport has a field elevation of 13 feet above mean sea level. This affects aircraft performance calculations, particularly during hot weather when density altitude increases.

Yes. KSBA is served by an ILS to Runway 7, plus RNAV (GPS) and VOR approaches. These are important given the coastal marine layer, which can lower ceilings and visibility on summer mornings. Verify current procedures through FAA charts before each flight.

Charter from Santa Barbara Airport through The Jet Finder. We source FAA Part 135 aircraft matched to KSBA's 6,052-ft primary runway and your mission, with direct operator access and no middleman markup. Share your dates, destination, and passenger count for a quote.

The 6,052-ft Runway 7/25 supports turboprops, light jets, midsize jets, and most super-midsize jets such as the Phenom 300, Citation XLS+, Challenger 350, and Gulfstream G280. Heavy jets are possible at reduced payload after a performance check.

Yes. KSBA has an FAA air traffic control tower. The airport operates 24/7 and also offers U.S. Customs for international arrivals. Confirm current tower and approach frequencies via the FAA Chart Supplement before flight.

Confirm fuel availability at KSBA before arrival. Santa Barbara Airport may offer 100LL, Jet-A, or both. Pricing is set by the FBO. AirNav provides crowd-sourced fuel price reports from visiting pilots.

Customs and Border Protection services are required for international operations at Santa Barbara Airport. Contact the airport for CBP availability at KSBA. The Jet Finder assists with eAPIS filing and customs coordination.

Current conditions at KSBA: check METAR/TAF on aviationweather.gov or your EFB. Santa Barbara Airport is subject to CA's regional weather, which may include convective activity, low ceilings, or seasonal wind patterns.

Santa Barbara Airport sits about 7 miles west of downtown Santa Barbara, adjacent to Goleta and the UCSB campus, roughly a 15-20 minute drive. Montecito and the Santa Ynez wine country are 25-45 minutes. The Jet Finder can arrange ground transportation.

Aircraft parking at Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA) typically includes tiedown space and may include hangar availability. Rates vary by facility. Contact the FBO or airport manager for current parking options.

Get a quote for private charter from KSBA: visit thejetfinder.com/contact.html or call directly. Share your itinerary and passenger details. We handle aircraft sourcing from Santa Barbara Airport to your destination.

Ready to Fly from SBA?

Experience private aviation at Santa Barbara Airport.

Santa Barbara Airport (KSBA)