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)
  • Sierra Crest conditions - NWS Remote Mtn Sites or Sierra Avalanche Center
  • Wildfire smoke can dramatically decrease visibility
  • Airfield can close for multiple days for heavy snow – plan accordingly

    • Our KTRK Airfield Cam provides 360 coverage of the field and links to area Wildfire Cameras.

    Visit KTRK on the FAA's Weather Cam Page - very rich data set with loads of info.

    Aviation Weather Center

    Passengers

    Recommend you arrive during airfield operations 7am to 9pm (Summer) 7am to 8pm (Winter).

  • 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 pax can walk through terminal
  • After hours 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 9pm (Summer) 7am to 8pm (Winter)
  • 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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