Aircraft for Sale in Clearwater FL | KPIE Tampa Bay Gulf Coast Florida Aviation

Aviation in Clearwater, Florida

Clearwater is a major city on Florida's Gulf Coast in Pinellas County, home to approximately 120,000 residents in the city and part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area — one of Florida's largest with over 3 million people. Situated on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater is world-famous for Clearwater Beach, consistently rated among America's best beaches, and is a major tourism and residential destination. The city is also the global headquarters of the Church of Scientology. Clearwater-area pilots enjoy access to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (KPIE) and the broader Tampa Bay aviation network. Airplane-Trade.com connects Clearwater and the Tampa Bay Gulf Coast aviation community with the Florida and national aircraft marketplace.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (KPIE)

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (FAA: PIE, ICAO: KPIE) is the primary aviation gateway for the Pinellas County peninsula, serving both commercial airline operations and an extensive general aviation community. The airport features a primary runway of 8,800 feet with ILS approaches, supporting operations from light GA to commercial jets. Multiple FBOs, maintenance facilities, and charter operations make PIE the hub for Pinellas County aviation. The airport's position on the peninsula, surrounded by Tampa Bay to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west, creates unique coastal flying conditions and spectacular approach scenery.

KPIE Airport Facts

FAA/ICAO: PIE / KPIE
Elevation: 11 feet MSL
Primary Runway: 18/36 at 8,800 feet paved
Services: Commercial airlines, multiple FBOs, maintenance, charter
Setting: Pinellas Peninsula, Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico views

Tampa Bay Gulf Coast Flying

Clearwater and the Pinellas Peninsula offer some of Florida's most scenically rewarding flying. The peninsula's narrow width means pilots are rarely more than a few miles from water, with Tampa Bay's protected waters to the east and the Gulf of Mexico's open blue to the west. Tampa International (KTPA) lies to the northeast and its Class B airspace requires navigation awareness. The Tampa Bay area also includes Tampa Executive Airport (KVDF), Albert Whitted Airport (KSPG) in St. Petersburg, and Sarasota/Bradenton International (KSRQ) to the south. Florida's afternoon thunderstorm season requires careful weather monitoring from late spring through early fall, but the winter flying season is outstanding.