Pilot Essentials

The Basics

KTRK is a challenging airfield.

  • Set your personal limits before arriving
  • Be prepared to divert
  • Non-radar environment
  • Expect mechanical turbulence inbound
  • Afternoon winds are typically gusty and windshear is common
  • You will land in a bowl of mountains at 5,901 MSL
  • No precision approaches and high minima
  • Diverse fleet mix of: jets, turbines, piston, flight instruction, gliders
  • Density Altitudes commonly exceed 9,000’ in the summer
  • ADS-B ground station at KTRK provides great air picture
  • Be cautious of wildlife at night; no 24 hr tower

    • Weather

    Dynamic weather, be prepared for changes in flight.

  • Weather in the Sierras changes rapidly
  • High Density Altitude dramatically decreases aircraft performance
  • Winds are squirrely – our 4 wind socks can be 4 different directions
  • Summer afternoon winds from the Southwest can be strong
  • Expect x-winds on RWY 11/29 on summer afternoons (~220@15G25)
  • Check winds over Sierra Crest – near SWR VOR Sierra Crest Wx
  • Wildfire smoke can dramatically decrease visibility
  • Airfield can close for multiple days for heavy snow – plan accordingly

    • We have a live KTRK Cam that provides 360 coverage and there are also Wildfire Cameras in the area.

    Visit the FAA's Live Weather Cam. Enter KTRK in the Search Box for current weather information.

    Aviation Weather Center

    Passengers

    Recommend you arrive during airfield operations (7a- 9p).

  • Ramp secured with fence and gates – key card access
  • Aircrew & airport authorized drivers can drive on ramp
  • Pax not allowed to drive on the ramp unless they’re the aircraft owner
  • See transportation link for driving companies with 24 hour gate access
  • During FBO operations (7a– 9p) pax can walk through terminal
  • After hours (9p-7a) pax will need to walk to/from parking lot

    • IFR

    Be ready to circle.

  • Read NTSB Safety Alert on circling
  • No approach control, hand-off is directly from Oakland center to tower
  • Terrain & IFR procedures drives a high number of circling approaches
  • Plan your circling maneuver before you depart – don’t wing it
  • Use solid pilotage and leverage on-board sensors to fly your circle
  • High TAS often catch pilots off guard; you’ll have a large turning radius
  • Overshooting turns to final are common – exercise extreme caution
  • Variable & gusting winds exacerbate circling
  • Be prepared for a missed approach on your circle – terrain is close
  • Don’t hesitate to go-around
  • Tower will provide your IFR clearance
  • All serious IFR accidents at KTRK in the past 23 years were during circling maneuvers

    • For local pilots we offer a free simulator for IFR proficiency on the airport, and we’ll pay for one hour of CFI time for any pilot to get a familiarization of the area.

    VFR

    Set your personal limits before you arrive.

  • Be well versed in our traffic patterns and Noise Abatement Procedures
  • Consider landing a bit long on RWY 20 due to common downdrafts
  • Common downdrafts on the downwind of RWY 29
  • Density altitude has a huge impact on aircraft performance
  • Do NOT push aircraft performance; weight & balance are critical here
  • Great refresher on high density altitude at this AOPA video
  • Most common VFR accidents: high DA with gusty wind takeoffs

    • Hours

    Recommend you arrive during airfield operations.

  • FBO operates 7am to 9 pm all year
  • Class-D Tower Hours fluctuate by time of year
  • Airfield reverts to CTAF & Class-E airspace when tower closes
  • Airfield access after operating hours can be challenging

    • Tower and Fuel Hours

    Peak Operations

    July is peak month.

  • All holiday weekends see an uptick
  • Friday and Sunday afternoons are always busy
  • Christmas to New Years weekends are always busy
  • Sunny days following a big snow storm get busy

    • Noise

    We are a very NOISE SENSITIVE community.

  • Curfew is 2200L to 0700L
  • Please read more about our Noise Abatement Procedures &
  • Fly Quiet Program
  • Quietest departures: RWY 02 & RWY 11
  • Quietest arrivals: Brockway Summit via North Lake Tahoe

    • Noise Abatement Procedures

    FBO

    The airport special district is the FBO, there is no concessionaire.

  • Services are basic, but you will receive phenomenal costumer service
  • Sierra Aero has on-field maintenance facilities
  • No de-icing available at KTRK
  • Preheating service and overnight hangars are very limited
  • FBO services may be suspended during snow events
  • Snow clearing is often done by mid-day unless it’s actively snowing
  • Our team are all long-time locals and take great pride in what they do

    • Services & Pricing

    An Important reminder about Winter Operations: Preheating service and overnight hangars are very limited. During snow events, FBO services may be suspended while the operations team clears the airfield. Visit our Snow Day page for real-time updates during inclement weather.

    Fuel

    KTRK sells both 100LL and SAF JET-A.

  • SAF is expensive
  • Our SAF prices are cost competitive to SAF – not Jet-A
  • KTRK is an early adopter of SAF, goal to sell 100% SAF in 2024
  • Let your owner, client, pax know they’re reducing carbon footprint
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