Brown Field Municipal Airport
Daylight today(Jul 15, 2026, local time)
About 14h 5m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.
About Brown Field Municipal Airport
Brown Field Municipal Airport is in the Otay Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States, 13 miles (21 km) southeast of downtown San Diego and named in honor of Commander Melville S. Brown, USN, who was killed in an airplane crash in 1936. Its main runway is 7,972 feet (2,430 m) long. Its FAA/IATA airport code is SDM. Formerly Naval Auxiliary Air Station Brown Field, it is now a civilian reliever airport and a port of entry from Mexico. It is sometimes staffed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, but only upon request of incoming pilots to the Federal Aviation Administration. The development plans for the SDM airport have been announced on 4th Oct 2022, the development will occur in phases over 20 years. The plans include a new FBO terminal building and individual airplane hangars. There is also talk of adding a million square feet of retail and industrial buildings and possibly a hotel. Brown Field is also home to Chapter 14 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, and regularly hosts free Young Eagles events to introduce children to aviation.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
Live weather
KSDMLive departures & arrivals
Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.
Where you can fly from here
Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.
Map
Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.
Runways (2)
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08L / 26R | 7,972 ft / 2,430 m | 150 ft | Pem | Lighted | Open |
| 08R / 26L | 3,185 ft / 971 m | 75 ft | Asp | Unlit | Open |
Radio frequencies (8)
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| A/D | SOCAL APP | 124.350 MHz |
| ATIS | ATIS | 132.350 MHz |
| CLD | CLNC DEL | 124.400 MHz |
| CTAF | CTAF | 126.500 MHz |
| DEP | SOCAL DEP | 125.150 MHz |
| GND | GND | 124.400 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 126.500 MHz |
| UNIC | UNICOM | 122.950 MHz |
Navaids(1)
Instrument procedures & charts
Airport diagram (1)
Instrument approaches (2)
Departure procedures (SIDs) (2)
Arrivals (STARs) (1)
Takeoff & alternate minimums (2)
Charts published by the FAA (public domain) and updated each 28-day cycle. Always fly the current, official chart. Full charts page.
Airspace in this area(3)
| Name | Class | Type | Floor | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN DIEGO CLASS B AREA P | Class B | Controlled | 4800 ft MSL | 10000 ft MSL |
| SAN DIEGO BROWN FIELD MUNICIPAL CLASS D | Class D | Controlled | GND | 3000 ft MSL |
| DZ PCA040 MON-FRI 0800-1800 | Special use | Danger | GND | 14000 ft MSL |
Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all United States airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.
Tall obstacles nearby
| Obstacle | Height AGL | Top (MSL) | Lit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle on the Park II | 479 ft | 36 ft | — |
| Pinnacle on the Park I | 479 ft | 36 ft | — |
| Obstacle | 459 ft | 23 ft | — |
| Obstacle | 446 ft | 72 ft | — |
| Obstacle | 446 ft | 95 ft | — |
| Obstacle | 440 ft | 82 ft | — |
| The Grande South at Santa Fe Place | 420 ft | 26 ft | — |
| Savina Condominiums | 413 ft | 39 ft | — |
Tallest obstacles within ~10 nm. Data via OpenAIP. Reference only — consult official charts.
Nearby airports
Great-circle distance and true bearing from Brown Field Municipal Airport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICAO code for Brown Field Municipal Airport?
The ICAO code for Brown Field Municipal Airport is KSDM, and its IATA code is SDM.
Where is Brown Field Municipal Airport located?
Brown Field Municipal Airport is medium airport located in San Diego, United States, at an elevation of 526 ft (160 m).
How many runways does Brown Field Municipal Airport have?
Brown Field Municipal Airport has 2 runways, the longest being 7,972 ft / 2,430 m.
What time zone is Brown Field Municipal Airport in?
Brown Field Municipal Airport is in the America/Los Angeles time zone (UTC-07:00).
What is the magnetic variation at Brown Field Municipal Airport?
The magnetic variation (declination) at Brown Field Municipal Airport is approximately 10.8° E, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.
What airports are near Brown Field Municipal Airport?
The nearest airport to Brown Field Municipal Airport is General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport (TIJ), about 2 nm to the sse, followed by John Nichols Field Airport and Naval Outlying Field Imperial Beach (Ream Field).
Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?
No. Brown Field Municipal Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.