San Diego FSDO

8525 Gibbs Drive, Suite 120
San Diego, CA 92123

Phone: (858) 502-9882
Fax: (858) 502-9985

New hours of operation

Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday
Monday - No public appointments
Tuesday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
Friday - No public appointments
Office hours by appointment only.

San Diego FSDO Service Area Map (PDF)
Feedback Form

Directions to this Office

Local FSDO Information

Hazards to Flight

Carefully plan flights around Julian VORTAC, San Diego County.

During winter months, strong onshore flow following passage of cold front storms often result in severe downdrafts and turbulence within a 5 NM radius of the VOR. During summer months, strong easterly winds with dry, hot conditions known as “Santa Ana winds” can cause moderate to severe turbulence in and around mountain canyons and passes.

Pilot Cautions
Pilots should study:

Convective airmets
Convective sigmets
Turbulence reports

Flight Service Stations request PIREPS when you experience any of the above conditions.

Deep Coastal Fog
Expect instances of deep coastal fog obscuring visual flight operations during May, June, part of July, late October and November. These conditions are especially prevalent in June. Coast airports such as McClellan-Palomar, Montgomery Field, Oceanside Airport often have ceiling and visibility conditions well below ILS landing minimums.

Contact FSS to determine temperature-dew point spreads and forecast spreads before departing for the San Diego metropolitan area.

Noise Complaints

FAA certification regulations for aircraft noise affect the design of an aircraft, but not its operation. Airports in our district establish operating procedures to reduce noise. Each airport handles its own enforcement procedures.

You must determine whether noise abatement operating procedures are safe. You should also know that varying weather may affect which noise abatement procedures are in use at any particular time.