11th of 56, KSAF

[SkyHog]

Santa Fe Municipal Airport (KSAF)

If you ask non New Mexican people about cities in New Mexico, they are likely to know of 2 cities: Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Albuquerque, because of Buggs Bunny and his infamous wrong turn, and Santa Fe, because it is the capitol of this great state.

Santa Fe has become a haven for older people who like arts and cultural stuff. It still has a night life, and its actually a good night life, but the bread and butter of Santa Fe is the museums and performing arts displays. I'll touch on those a little bit later, but first, the airport.

Santa Fe Municipal Airport is easy to pick out, because of its odd runway layout. All of the runways meet at a point, making an asterisk shape that sticks out in the middle of the desert and mountains. Two of the runways are black, while the other one is brown. At one point in the past, I had heard an ATIS message that reminded folks that the runway in use was brown, not black. That was a funny message.

Regardless of which way you approach Santa Fe, North, South, East or West, there are mountains you must cross to get there. They are not difficult to navigate, but at times, the winds can get pretty rowdy. As you near the airport, the winds are generally calmer than they are as you come in over the mountains.

Santa Fe Municipal Airport is only one of only five towered airports, and only one of four class D areas. The controllers are always nice and willing to accomodate GA, even though the airport does have airline services. The taxiways and runways are very straightforward and easy to figure out as well.

The Santa Fe Jet Center is my preferred FBO of choice at this airport. Million Air is more concerned with their jet crowd to be worried about a plane that only drinks 100LL, and the people seem to always be in a hurry to get you off their ramp. The fuel prices at Santa Fe Jet Center are outlandish though: $4.37/gallon when I arrived, and yes, I did need fuel.

If you are in the mood for a good musem while in town, I would strongly suggest the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. It is no where near the airport, but a courtesy car is available at the Santa Fe Jet Center, and the museum is worth visiting.

If you want to do some gambling, The Downs at Santa Fe may be the place for you. It is pretty close to the airport, and has slot machines, table games, and horse racing. It is pretty close to the best gambling places in New Mexico, next to the Santa Ana Casino in Bernalillo (quite a bit south, Albuquerque has a better choice of airports for that casino).

To the northwest of the airport is some pretty nasty Restricted airspace, but its easy to avoid if you just don't go northwest. That is the infamous Los Alamos National Labs, where if you followed the news a few years ago, the name Wen Ho Lee has some meaning to you.

The only bit of unpublished advice I can give is to avoid walking near the terminal building. There is a yellow line painted on the ground, so its easy to see, but they don't mess around with people violating this area on foot. I haven't done it, but I've been warned by locals!

I almost forgot the crowning jewel of Santa Fe - unfortunately, I didn't get a picture. I'll have to plan another trip up just to get a picture of this. In the warbirds hangar right next to Million Air is an exact replica of Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra. It is absolutely stunning. I almost cried.

So - Santa Fe is a fun city with lots to do, and the airport is located fairly close to the downtown area. Whoever designed this city and airport combo did a great job, and I heartily suggest visiting this airport someday. Just fuel up elsewhere, unless you like getting raked for very expensive fuel.

SANTA FE MUNICIPAL QUICK FACTS:
Airport Elevation: 6348 Ft
Runways 2/20: 8342'x150ft, Asphalt in OK Condition
Runways 15/33: 6307'x150ft, Asphalt in OK Condition
Runways 10/28: 6300'x75ft, Asphalt in Great Condition
Tower: 119.5
Ground: 121.7
ATIS: 128.55
UNICOM: 122.95
Nick's NOTAMS: Do not walk through the TSA Terminal Area.

PHOTOS:
1) Approach to runway 20
2) Jemez Mountains to the West
3) Old Santa Fe Jet Center Hangar
4) The tower and beacon beyond the plane, about to depart at night.

 

[4CornerFlyer]

Don't forget about the excellent cafe right in the terminal building at Santa Fe. While the city may be better known for its eclectic cuisine, I get excited about the green chile cheeseburgers at the airport. I was last there over Thanksgiving, and the cafe was closed the whole holiday weekend, a big disappointment.

I wouldn't be so hard on Million Air. Every time I've been there a lineman has parked me right in front, helped with unloading, brought a rental car out to the plane, then tied the plane down for me. That's for a Mooney, not a jet, for the cost of 10-15 gallons of expensive fuel (about the same full-serve price as the Jet Ctr). Both FBO's will collect $6 per night parking fee, which is a city fee not waived with fuel purchase. Neither FBO charges a landing or ramp fee. I would say both FBO's are excellent.

Jon

 

[SkyHog]

Don't forget about the excellent cafe right in the terminal building at Santa Fe. While the city may be better known for its eclectic cuisine, I get excited about the green chile cheeseburgers at the airport. I was last there over Thanksgiving, and the cafe was closed the whole holiday weekend, a big disappointment.

I wouldn't be so hard on Million Air. Every time I've been there a lineman has parked me right in front, helped with unloading, brought a rental car out to the plane, then tied the plane down for me. That's for a Mooney, not a jet, for the cost of 10-15 gallons of expensive fuel (about the same full-serve price as the Jet Ctr). Both FBO's will collect $6 per night parking fee, which is a city fee not waived with fuel purchase. Neither FBO charges a landing or ramp fee. I would say both FBO's are excellent.

Jon

OMG - how could I have forgotten the CAFE?? Unfortunately, its been closed almost every time I try to go, but when it is open, that place has the greatest Green Chile Cheseburgers....oh yeah.

There is a comment on AirNav saying that the "Green Chile Hamburger" is not that great. I assume he didn't get the cheeseburger, or he's a yankee. Not sure.

I'll have to find a place to edit in some information about the cafe. Thanks for the additional view on the FBOs, but I hold my ground on Million Air. The Jet Center has actually waived my tie down fee, but only when I got stuck there for weather.

 

[AdamZ]

Good write up Nick! Some beautiful country. Its funny to see your altimeter on approach and the runway altitude higher than I often cruise.

 

[Anthony]

Don't forget Tucumcari! Lee Van Cleef mentions it and passes through a Spanish facsimile of Tucumcari in "For a Few Dollars More" the 2nd movie in the Sergeo Leone "Dollars" trilogy staring Clint Eastwood.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

A very good description of saf. Except don't you usually mention when there are cuties behind the counter?
I am going to saf next in March.

 

[Richard]

Good write up Nick! Some beautiful country. Its funny to see your altimeter on approach and the runway altitude higher than I often cruise.

Speaking of that, Nick's altimeter shows 7,543, it looks like he's about 500 agl, and the fld elev is 6,348.

My first landing at an aprt over 3,000msl was pretty shakey. I just couldn't get it through my head that I was at TPA when the altimeter was indicating 4,800. It wouldn't compute so all I could do was trust my eyes. It was just before the flare that I began to feel comfortable.

 

[SkyHog]

Speaking of that, Nick's altimeter shows 7,543, it looks like he's about 500 agl, and the fld elev is 6,348.

My first landing at an aprt over 3,000msl was pretty shakey. I just couldn't get it through my head that I was at TPA when the altimeter was indicating 4,800. It wouldn't compute so all I could do was trust my eyes. It was just before the flare that I began to feel comfortable.

it does look like I'm pretty low, but I think thats about right. I was still a ways away from the airport at that time. 500AGL would have put me way too low for the glideslope at that point.

How can you be so exact with an altimeter, btw? 7543ft?

 

[SCCutler]

First time I flew to SAF, a gust front came through about 5 minutes before I landed; 24G37 and way off of the runway. Tower said, "One-six whickey, traffic you are following is the twin Cessna coming out of the dust cloud on final." I thought he was joking, but he was not.

White knuckles, but it worked out fine. Later that day, though, a heli ambulance pilot scratched one Agusta. Bad career move.

 

[Richard]

it does look like I'm pretty low, but I think thats about right. I was still a ways away from the airport at that time. 500AGL would have put me way too low for the glideslope at that point.

How can you be so exact with an altimeter, btw? 7543ft?

I was wondering what kind of pattern you're flying there, Nick. You look about 20 degrees off the extended centerline but neither the horizon or AI show any bank.

WRT the altimeter: the little hand is 'tween 7 and 8, the big hand is 'tween the 5 and 6--each tick represents 20 feet, it looks like you are just past the tick representing 40'.

Do you remember what was set in the Kollsman window? If you were 600 agl in the pic you would have been 595 too high for std press.

BTW: nice pics, Nick. I really do enjoy your posts. I'm rooting for you to complete your goal this year.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Richard, it sounds like you are nitpicking poor Nick.
It was a good report, lets leave it at that. He can fly the damn plane, I say leave him alone.

 

[SkyHog]

I was wondering what kind of pattern you're flying there, Nick. You look about 20 degrees off the extended centerline but neither the horizon or AI show any bank.

Must have been checking for wind drift I really don't know what happened there - it does look like I'm off the centerline, but that could be perspective also. Couldn't tell ya. Also - no pattern, tower told me to enter straight in.

WRT the altimeter: the little hand is 'tween 7 and 8, the big hand is 'tween the 5 and 6--each tick represents 20 feet, it looks like you are just past the tick representing 40'.

Ahh - so just an educated guess - still, you're more precise than I could be. Heh.

Do you remember what was set in the Kollsman window? If you were 600 agl in the pic you would have been 595 too high for std press.

I'm fairly certain that I adjusted the Kollsman window for the ATIS, but to be honest, once I'm established on final, I don't use the altimeter for anything since I can see the runway (No Instrument Rating yet), so it is possible that the info was old and the pressure was wrong. Not sure. It looks like the Kollsman is reading 30.10 or something close to that. Hard to see since its so blurry.

BTW: nice pics, Nick. I really do enjoy your posts. I'm rooting for you to complete your goal this year.

Well thank you Richard. I am actually back on track to get it done on time now, I still have a few more to post in the next few days. It feels good to not be behind anymore