March Joint Air Reserve Base

March Joint Air Reserve Base (IATA: RIV, ICAO: KRIV, FAA LID: RIV) is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 4th Air Force (4 AF) Headquarters and the 452d Air Mobility Wing (452 AMW), the largest air mobility wing of the 4th Air Force. In addition to multiple units of the Air Force Reserve Command supporting Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces, March ARB is also home to units from the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and the California Air National Guard. For almost 50 years, March AFB was a Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War.

March is one of the oldest airfields operated by the United States military, being established as Alessandro Flying Training Field in February 1918. The airfield was renamed March Field the following month for 2nd Lt Peyton C. March, Jr., the recently deceased son of then-Army Chief of Staff Peyton C. March, who was killed in an air crash in Texas just fifteen days after being commissioned.

The March Field Airfest, also known as Thunder Over the Empire, is a biennial air show held at March. The air show is among the largest events in the Inland Empire and Riverside County. The show has featured such performers as the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, the F-22 Raptor and many other military and civilian demonstrations. 2010 saw the Patriots Jet Team as the highlight demonstration team of the show. Attendance for the 2010 show was estimated at over 150,000.

Ramona Airport

Ramona Airport (ICAO: KRNM, FAA LID: RNM, formerly L39) is a public airport located two miles (3 km) west of the central business district of Ramona, in San Diego County, California, United States. It is owned by the County of San Diego.

The airport is mostly used for general aviation, the California Department of Forestry (CDF) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) jointly operate a fire attack base.

The Ramona Air Fair is a popular airshow held every year in June.

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, Ramona Airport is assigned RNM by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA.

Ramona Airport covers an area of 342 acres (138 ha) which contains one runway (9/27: 5,001 x 150 ft.) and one helipad (H1: 340 x 66 ft).

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2005, the airport had 82,133 aircraft operations, an average of 225 per day: 98% general aviation, 1% air taxi and 1% military. There are 195 aircraft based at this airport: 86% single engine, 8% multi-engine, 1% jet aircraft and 5% helicopters.

Petaluma Municipal Airport

Petaluma Municipal Airport (FAA LID: O69) is a public airport located one mile (1.6 km) northeast of the central business district (CBD) of Petaluma, a city in Sonoma County, California, USA. The airport covers 220 acres (89 ha) and has one runway 3601 x 75 feet. It is mostly used for general aviation.

Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County

Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (IATA: PAO, ICAO: KPAO, FAA LID: PAO) is a general aviation airport in the city of Palo Alto in Santa Clara County, California, USA, near the south end of San Francisco Bay on the western shore.

Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County covers 102 acres (41 ha) and has one asphalt paved runway (13/31) measuring 2,443 x 70 ft. (745 x 21 m).

First time pilots should familiarize themselves with the complex SF Bay Area airspace, especially the overlying SFO Class B and the abutting SJC Class C airspace. Landing pilots should also watch out for bird and jackrabbit activity.

Palo Alto airport has two approaches, both to runway 31 with 460' MDA/ 1-mi visibility minimums:

GPS Runway 31

VOR/DME Runway 31 from San Jose VOR

The VOR approach is almost impossible to get from ATC if you are GPS-equipped, because of the conflict with airline traffic in San Jose International.

Comparison of the aerial photographs indicate that no development had begun in the vicinity prior to 1956 other than the Palo Alto Airport and the Regional Water Quality Control Board Plant (terminus of Embarcadero Way). Between 1956 and 1960, no new development had taken place in the area; however, by 1973, the Harvey Gum Factory was on the subject site and structures were either completed or under construction at 1890 Embarcadero Road and 2440-2450 Embarcadero Way.

Marin County Airport

Marin County Airport, formerly O56, is a public airport located two miles (3.2 km) northeast of Novato, serving Marin County, California, USA. The airport covers 90 acres (360,000 m2) and has one runway and one helipad. It is used mostly for general aviation.

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, Marin County Airport/Gnoss Field is assigned DVO by the FAA and NOT by the IATA (which assigned DVO to Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, Philippines). The airport's ICAO identifier is KDVO.

There is currently a plan to extend the length of Gnoss' sole runway by 1100' to a length of 4400'. The county of Marin is currently commissioning an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to explore the impact of such an extension.

Napa County Airport

Napa County Airport (IATA: APC, ICAO: KAPC, FAA LID: APC), also known as Napa Valley Airport, is a public airport located five miles (8 km) south of Napa, in Napa County, California, USA. It has three runways.

During 2008, the airport's 1960-era control tower received extensive radio, plumbing and electrical upgrades and renovations funded by the federal government. At the time of these renovations, airport officials claimed that the airport had about 122,000 flights take off or land at the facility annually.

The airport was built by the United States Army Air Force about 1942, and was known as Napa Flight Strip. It was an emergency landing airfield for military aircraft on training flights. It was expanded later in the war and was re designated as Napa Army Airfield, becoming an auxiliary airfield of the Fourth Air Force Hamilton Army Airfield.

In 1971 International Air Services Company and Japan Airlines opened a flight training school at the airport.  In June 2010 Japan Airlines announced that it would be closing its training facility as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan.

Whiteman Airport

Whiteman Airport (IATA: WHP, ICAO: KWHP) is a general aviation airport located in the Pacoima district of Los Angeles, California, United States.

Located in the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood celebrities sometimes use this airport; however, Van Nuys Airport is used more often.

Whiteman Airport is home to Squadron 35 of the Civil Air Patrol.

Whiteman Airport covers 184 acres (74 ha) and has one runway:

Runway 12/30: 4,120 x 75 ft (1,256 x 23 m), Surface: Asphalt

Barton Heliport of the LACoFD

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations unit is based at Barton Heliport, a heliport in the southeast corner of this airport.

Lincoln Regional Airport (California)

Lincoln Regional Airport (ICAO: KLHM, FAA LID: LHM, formerly O51), also known as Karl Harder Field, is a public airport located three miles (5 km) west of the central business district of Lincoln, a city in Placer County, California, United States. It is owned by the City of Lincoln.

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the Federal Aviation Administration and International Air Transport Association, Lincoln Regional Airport is assigned LHM by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA.

For the 12-month period ending June 10, 1993, the airport had 71,000 aircraft operations, an average of 194 per day: 96% general aviation and 4% air taxi. There are 207 aircraft based at this airport: 92% single engine, 7% multi-engine, 1% jet aircraft and <1% helicopters

Brackett Field

Brackett Field (IATA: POC, ICAO: KPOC) is a public airport located one mile (2 km) southwest of La Verne, in Los Angeles County, California, USA. It was named after Dr. Frank Parkhurst Brackett (1865–1951).

Brackett, located about an hour east of the studios in Hollywood, California, has been used for location filming of scenes for a number of TV series and movies. These include Wings of Fire, Airport 1975, Spencer's Pilots (CBS, 1974–1975) The Tim Conway Show and others.

Actor Kent McCord worked for a Fixed Base Operator on the north side of Brackett in the late 1950s.

A large, wooden hangar was built on the north side of the field, to house such operations as a Piper dealership and aircraft repair. The hangar burned down circa 1960, was rebuilt, then burned down again about 10 years later, was again rebuilt, then demolished a few years after that to make way for more modern facilities.

Hayward Executive Airport

Hayward Executive Airport (IATA: HWD, ICAO: KHWD) is a general aviation towered airport located in Hayward, California, USA, near the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay.

he airport was built in 1942 during World War II for use as a fighter base as an auxiliary field to Chico Army Air Field and was originally named Hayward Army Airfield. The primary aircraft stationed at the field were Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft. This post may have also been named "Russell City Army Air Field" for the unincorporated area outside of the Hayward city limits where it was located. The airfield was assigned to the United States Army Air Forces Fourth Air Force.

After the war ended, the airport was declared surplus property by the federal government.

Hayward Executive Airport covers 543 acres (220 ha) and has two runways:

Runway 10R/28L: 5,024 x 150 ft. (1,531 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

Runway 10L/28R: 3,107 x 75 ft. (947 x 23 m), Surface: Asphalt

Hawthorne Municipal Airport (California)

Hawthorne Municipal Airport (IATA: HHR, ICAO: KHHR), also known as Jack Northrop Field, is a small public airport located one mile (2 km) east of the central business district (CBD) of Hawthorne, a city in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport covers 80 acres and has one runway:

Runway 7/25: 4,956 x 100 ft (1,511 x 30 m), Surface: Concrete

During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Force Army Air Forces Training Command.

Half Moon Bay Airport

Half Moon Bay Airport, is a county-owned public use airport in San Mateo County, California, United States. It is located five nautical miles (9 km) northwest of the central business district of Half Moon Bay, California. The airport is on the Pacific Coast, south of San Francisco.

Half Moon Bay Airport covers an area of 325 acres (132 ha) at an elevation of 66 feet (20 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 12/30 with an asphalt/concrete surface measuring 5,000 by 150 feet (1,524 x 46 m).

Half Moon Bay Airport provides a variety of emergency service and response functions including: Air-Ambulance and Medevac flights; law enforcement and homeland security patrols; Coast Guard sea-rescue operations; and use as a disaster relief staging site for the airlifting of emergency supplies in the event that roads are closed during a disaster or emergency.

The Half Moon Bay Airport is home to approximately 80 aircraft and several aviation related businesses. The Airport is self-funded through airport user and business fees and receives no money from the County’s General Fund.

For the 12-month period ending September 11, 2008, the airport had 60,150 aircraft operations, an average of 164 per day: 99.8% general aviation and 0.2% air taxi. At that time there were 40 aircraft based at this airport: 93% single-engine, 5% multi-engine and 3% helicopter.

Fullerton Municipal Airport

Fullerton Municipal Airport owned and operated by the City of Fullerton, is the last strictly general aviation airfield still operating in Orange County, California.

The airport is located in the southwestern corner of Fullerton on Commonwealth Avenue, northeast of the junction of the Santa Ana and Riverside Freeways. The airport and its industrial park are surrounded by residential areas. It is popular among private pilots traveling to nearby attractions such as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm.

Fullerton Municipal Airport covers 86 acres (350,000 m2) and has one runway and three heliports:

Runway 6/24: 3,121 × 75 ft (951 × 23 m), Surface: Asphalt

Heliport H1: 37 × 37 ft (11 × 11 m), Surface: Concrete

Heliport H2: 37 × 37 ft (11 × 11 m), Surface: Concrete

Heliport H3: 37 × 37 ft (11 × 11 m), Surface: Concrete

Its control tower handles an average of 262 flight operations per day.

The airport and surrounding areas have seen their share of aircraft accidents. Residents have complained that pilots often deviate from their mandated approach to the airport, following the BNSF Railway tracks. Pilots, in turn, complain that Fullerton and the neighboring city of Buena Park have permitted too much dense residential development in the area, which had been almost entirely agricultural when the airport was first constructed.

Since 1962, no fewer than 121 planes have crashed at or near the airport, killing a total of 19. Most noteworthy of these was on September 25, 2004 when a 1985 Stout Bushmaster 2000 (a spinoff of a Ford Tri-Motor) crashed during an airport exhibition. The plane's rudder locked to a left position during the takeoff roll, causing the plane to veer left off the runway. The pilot was able to get the plane airborne before rolling into a crowd of spectators; the plane then narrowly missed the airport's control tower, rolled hard left and crashed onto a busy thoroughfare. In all, four were injured: the 2-person flight crew and two in a moving car. The cause of the accident was due to failure of the flight crew to remove a gust lock--improvised from a nylon cargo strap--from the plane's empennage before flight.

Fresno Chandler Executive Airport

Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (IATA: FCH, ICAO: KFCH, FAA LID: FCH) is a public use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) west of the central business district of Fresno, a city in Fresno County, California, United States. It is owned by the City of Fresno.

Chandler is a general aviation airport serving the central San Joaquin Valley. Scheduled airline service is provided at the city owned airport, Fresno Yosemite International Airport, located 6 miles (8 km) northeast. Sierra Sky Park Airport, a privately owned airport opened to the public, is located 22 km (14 mi) north.

Fresno Chandler Executive Airport covers an area of 200 acres (81 ha) at an elevation of 279 feet (85 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 12/30 that measures 3,630 by 75 feet (1,106 x 23 m).

For the 12-month period ending March 2, 2007, the airport had 25,000 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 68 per day. At that time there were 126 aircraft based at this airport: 83% single-engine, 6% multi-engine, 1% jet, 4% helicopter, 6% ultralight.

Buchanan Field Airport

Buchanan Field Airport, is located in Concord and Pacheco, California, USA, 27 nautical miles (50 km) northeast of San Francisco International Airport, in Contra Costa County. The airport has a control tower and a high volume of general aviation traffic, with over 500 aircraft based on the field (mostly single-engine).

In 1942 Contra Costa County, California purchased land to build an airport in Central County for $88,000. The airport was being developed by the County when World War II broke-out and the United States Army Air Forces Fourth Air Force expropriated the site. The Army added additional land and built the airport facilities. They also built a training base for pilots and the base was known as Concord Army Airfeld.

Commuter airline flights to San Francisco (Beech 99s, Islanders) started in 1969, but were gone by 1980. Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) offered service from Buchanan Field to Los Angeles International Airport, beginning May 1, 1986. PSA offered four to five daily roundtrips on the route with 100-seat BAe 146 aircraft. USAir continued the service after purchasing PSA in 1987, but replaced the 146s with Dash 8s in 1991. That year USAir announced that it was dismantling most of the West Coast network that it had acquired from PSA, including Concord, where flights ended in 1992. Buchanan Field has had no airline flights since.

Compton/Woodley Airport

Compton/Woodley Airport (IATA: CPM, ICAO: KCPM, FAA LID: CPM) is a county-owned public-use airport located two miles (3 km) southwest of the central business district of Compton, a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2007–2011, it is categorized as a reliever airport.

The airport opened on May 10, 1924. It is used exclusively for general aviation, as an alternative to Los Angeles International Airport which is about 8 miles (13 km) to the west.

Compton/Woodley Airport covers an area of 77 acres (31 ha) which contains two asphalt paved runways (7L/25R and 7R/25L), each measuring 3,322 x 60 ft (1,013 x 18 m). For the 12-month period ending June 25, 2007, the airport had 66,000 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 180 per day. There are 209 aircraft based at this airport: 90% single-engine, 5% multi-engine, 3% helicopter, <1% jet and <1% glider.

The Compton Airport is mentioned in the opening bars of Dr. Dre's "Big Egos" on his multi-platinum album 2001 (album).

Chino Airport

Chino Airport, is a county-owned public-use airport located three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district of Chino, a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2007–2011, it is categorized as a reliever airport, due to its proximity to LA/Ontario International Airport and John Wayne Airport.

Cal-Aero Academy was an independent flying school at Chino Airport when World War II started. The Army Air Forces contracted with the school to provide primary flight training for Army Air Cadets. During the war, Cal-Aero operated the training base with Stearmans and BT-13s. The name Cal-Aero is preserved at the airport and can be seen on several buildings.

Chino Airport covers an area of 1,097 acres (444 ha) which contains three asphalt paved runways:

Runway 3/21: 6,023 x 150 ft (1,836 x 46 m)

Runway 8L/26R: 4,858 x 150 ft (1,481 x 46 m)

Runway 8R/26L: 7,000 x 150 ft (2,134 x 46 m)

For the 12-month period ending March 27, 2006, the airport had 168,393 aircraft operations, an average of 461 per day: 99.9% general aviation and <1% military. There are 947 aircraft based at this airport: 77% single-engine, 18% multi-engine, 4% jet and 1% helicopter.

Camarillo Airport

Camarillo Airport, is a public airport located three miles (5 km) west of the central business district of Camarillo, a city in Ventura County, California, United States. It is roughly equidistant from Los Angeles, CA and Santa Barbara, CA although it is inland. The airport has one runway and exclusively serves privately-operated general aviation and executive aircraft with no scheduled commercial service.

Before 1970, the airport was known as Oxnard Air Force Base.

According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2007–2011, it is categorized as a reliever airport.

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, Camarillo Airport is assigned CMA by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA (which assigned CMA to Cunnamulla Airport in Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia).

Camarillo Airport was the filming location for an episode of the TV series 24.

Camarillo Airport covers an area of 650 acres (263 ha) and contains one runway (8/26) which measures 6,013 x 150 ft (1,833 x 46 m). For 12-month period ending June 5, 2006, the airport had 153,360 aircraft operations, an average of 420 per day: 98% general aviation, 2% air taxi and <1% military. There are 600 aircraft based at this airport: 84% single engine, 8% multi engine, 5% ultralights, 3% jet aircraft and 1% helicopters. It is an FAA-towered facility and there are three Fixed Base Operators are headquartered at the airfield.

The Waypoint Cafe is a restaurant that is adjacent to the runway on the airport property, which was reopened in March 2009 after being closed for refurbishment.

Civil Air Patrol Camarillo Composite Squadron 61 is based at this airfield, located near Sky Blue Air, at the east end of the airport.

Channel Islands Aviation Channel Islands Aviation is a Cessna Pilot Center and a FAA Approved Part 141 Flight School. The FBO is located near the end of Taxiway Alpha and has been at Camarillo since the beginning of the facility as a public use airport in 1976. On behalf of the Channel Islands National Park, CIA provide a year round charter service for hikers and campers to Santa Rosa Island.

Sun Air Jets built in 2005, is a full-service corporate jet FBO facility on the north-end of the airport near the end of the Charlie taxiway.

Byron Airport

Byron Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located two miles (3 km) south of the central business district of Byron, a community in Contra Costa County, California, United States. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2007–2011, it is categorized as a reliever airport.

On the lee side of the Diablo Range mountains, Byron regularly experiences variable 10-30 knot winds and thermals in the vicinity. Local student pilots often use Byron to practice crosswind landings. Uncontrolled and relatively isolated, Byron supports organizations for skydiving and soaring. For skydiving, the popular drop zone is on the north end of the airport and serviced by Bay Area Skydiving. For soaring, the Northern California Soaring Association offers instructions on weekends in flying gliders. All pilots should be mindful of the variable wind and thermals, rising terrain, and traffic without radios.

Byron Airport covers an area of 1,421 acres (575 ha) which contains two asphalt paved runways: 12/30 measuring 4,500 x 100 ft (1,372 x 30 m) and 5/23 measuring 3,000 x 75 ft (914 x 23 m).

For the 12-month period ending January 29, 2004, the airport had 60,050 aircraft operations, an average of 164 per day: 99.9% general aviation and <1% military. There are 130 aircraft based at this airport: 69% single-engine, 15% glider, 8% multi-engine, 5% jet and 3% ultralight.

Imperial County Airport

Imperial County Airport (IATA: IPL, ICAO: KIPL, FAA LID: IPL), also known as Boley Field, is a public airport located partially in the city of Imperial and partially in an unincorporated area in Imperial County, California, United States. The airport is located 0.94 miles (1.5 km) south of the central business district (CBD) of Imperial. The airport serves nearby communities, including El Centro. The airport covers 429 acres (174 ha) and has two runways. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is served by one commercial airline. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

Airlines Destinations

United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines Los Angeles, Yuma

Stockton Metropolitan Airport

Stockton Metropolitan Airport (IATA: SCK, ICAO: KSCK, FAA LID: SCK) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district (CBD) of Stockton, a city in San Joaquin County, California, US

United Airlines served Stockton from 1946 until 1980, PSA/USAir from 1971-72 until 1980 and 1984 until 1991, Frontier/Continental from 1980 to 1988, and Southwest Airways and its successors from 1955 until 1978-79. The last prop airliner flights ended in 1995; America West's regional affiliate tried CRJ flights to Phoenix starting in 2000-2001 but left the airport and the terminal empty in 2003.

In June 2006 Allegiant Air began flying round trips to Las Vegas and that service continues to this day. On July 1, 2010 Allegiant Air began service to Long Beach but unfortunately Allegiant discontinued that service on December 12, 2010.

Aeromexico had expressed interest in starting service at the airport in 2006 to provide flights to Guadalajara and Morelia. However, the airport was unable to secure a customs facility. Federal officials saw no need for such facility as they already existed at nearby airports in Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose.

Local officials later filed an appeal and Congressman Richard Pombo also persuaded officials to approve of a facility. Federal officials then reconsidered and approved the plans for the facility. Despite the Federal approval, San Joaquin County Supervisors decided against financing the project. The supervisors claimed that the taxpayers dollars would be better spent elsewhere.

Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport

Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (IATA: STS, ICAO: KSTS, FAA LID: STS) is a county-owned public-use airport located 6 nautical miles (11 km) northwest of downtown Santa Rosa, a city in Sonoma County, California, United States. It serves the county and surrounding areas of Wine Country in California.

The airport is named after Charles M. Schulz, the famed cartoonist of the Peanuts comic strip, who lived and worked in Santa Rosa for more than 30 years. The airport's logo features Snoopy in his "World War I Flying Ace" attire, taking to the skies on top of his "Sopwith Camel" (i.e. his doghouse).

The Sonoma Air Attack Base was established in 1964 and is located at the northeast corner of the Sonoma County Airport. Sonoma responds to an average of 300 calls per year. Staff at the base consists of one battalion chief and one fire captain (Air Tactics Group Supervisors), one fire apparatus engineer (Base Manager), and six firefighters. The complement of aircraft located at Sonoma includes one OV-10 Bronco (Air Attack 140) and two Grumman S-2 Tracker air tankers (classified as S-2T's, Tankers 85 and 86.)

On average, the base pumps about 300,000 US gallons (1,000 m3) of retardant a year. With the base’s pumps, four loading pits and equipment, Sonoma has a possible peak output of 120,000 US gallons (450 m3) of retardant each day. The base’s immediate response area covers 4,000 square miles (10,000 km2) and includes Marin County and portions of the CDF Sonoma-Lake-Napa, Santa Clara, San Mateo-Santa Cruz, and Mendocino Units.

Santa Maria Public Airport

Santa Maria Public Airport, also known as the Capt. G. Allan Hancock Field, is an airport located three miles (5 km) south of the central business district of Santa Maria, a city in northern Santa Barbara County, California, United States

The airport hopes to expand one of its runways in the hope to attract new airlines. Allegiant Air has also expanded air service from Las Vegas to Santa Maria, adding a Monday flight to its schedule. Airport officials have recently opened the new, approximately 4,000-square-foot (370 m2) baggage claim facility, and have repaired the cracks in the floor. It is one of the first airports on the Central Coast to use a state of the art baggage carousel (in a smaller scale) to deliver luggage to passengers.

A new passenger terminal holding room was recently opened. The old area was able to accommodate only 30 passengers. To handle the larger crowds of passengers that Allegiant Air flights bring, the new holding room accommodates 200 passengers and has enough room for a new cafe.

Nov 2007 to October 2008: 56,553 passengers (SkyWest), 53,294 passengers (Allegiant), total 109,847 passengers.Nov 2008 to October 2009, 48,117 passengers (SkyWest), 37,570 passengers (Allegiant), total 85,687 passengers.

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport

Santa Barbara Airport (IATA: SBA, ICAO: KSBA, FAA LID: SBA), also known as Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, is a public airport located 7 miles (11 km) west of downtown Santa Barbara, California, United States.

The airport is adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara and the city of Goleta. However, the land that the airport sits on was annexed to the city of Santa Barbara by a 7 miles (11 km) long, 300 feet (90 m) wide corridor, most of which lies under the Pacific Ocean. This a shoestring annexation. Much of the airport is between 10 and 15 feet above sea level, and it is bordered by the wetland area known as the Goleta Slough.

Six airlines serve the Airport as of July 2009 with nearly 40 daily departures to nine U.S. cities (see below). In 2005, an estimated 900,000 passengers used the airport. It is also a popular training airport. The field is home to three flight schools, Above All Aviation, flight school and FAA approved Aerial Scenic Tour Facility, Red Baron Aviation, an FAA certified test center and Cessna Pilot Center, as well as Spitfire Aviation.

In early 2007, Santa Barbara executives tentatively approved a $60 million project to expand the terminal, while keeping the "Santa Barbara Airport Experience" by building around the original 1942 terminal. Some of the features of the redesign are passenger loading bridges, making it so everything is contained in one building including car rentals, security, gates and the baggage tents

John Wayne Airport

John Wayne Airport, is an airport in an unincorporated area in Orange County, California, with its mailing address in the city of Santa Ana, which is also the county seat, hence the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code. The main entrance to the airport is off of MacArthur Blvd in Irvine, the city that abuts the airport from the north and east. Newport Beach and Costa Mesa form the southern and western boundaries, respectively, together with a small unincorporated area along the Coronoa del Mar (73) Freeway. Santa Ana lies just north, not actually touching the airport directly. Originally named Orange County Airport, the county Board of Supervisors renamed it in 1979 to honor the actor John Wayne, who resided in neighboring Newport Beach and died that year. It also became the first airport to be named after an entertainer.

The main runway, at 5,701 feet (1,738 m), is one of the shortest of any major airport in the United States, resulting in most passenger aircraft operating from the airport to be no larger than the Boeing 757. However, some larger cargo aircraft, such as the FedEx A310/300, fly from SNA. Some gates are built to handle planes up to the size of a Boeing 767, which can operate with payload/fuel load restrictions. No wide-body passenger aircraft are currently in scheduled service at the airport.

John Wayne Airport Runway

John Wayne Airport is the sole commercial airport within Orange County. General aviation operations outnumber commercial operations and several facilities at the airport serve the general aviation and corporate aviation community. The other general aviation airport within the county is Fullerton Municipal Airport. Other commercial airports within close proximity are Long Beach Airport, followed by Los Angeles International Airport and LA/Ontario International Airport. In 2008, John Wayne Airport was the second busiest airport in the area (by passenger count) with almost 9 million total passengers.

The largest airlines at John Wayne Airport are Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines.

John Wayne Airport is 14 miles (23 km) from Orange County's signature attraction - the Disneyland Resort. By contrast, Los Angeles International Airport is 35 miles (56 km) from Disneyland.

A statue of the airport's namesake welcomes passengers passing through the arrivals area on the lower level.

On February 17, 1981, Air California (AirCal) Flight 336 (a Boeing 737-200), flying from San Jose, California, to John Wayne Airport, crashed upon initiating a go-around. The crew was cleared for a visual approach to Runway 19R while the controller had cleared another flight to take off from 19R. Upon realizing the mistake, the controller ordered Air California 336 to go around and the other aircraft to abort its takeoff, which it did. The captain of the landing Air California aircraft delayed the go-around then initiated a gear up procedure before a positive rate of climb was achieved, causing the plane to stall. The 737 then banked left at low altitude causing the left wingtip to make contact with the runway. Then the nose came down and struck the ground and the airplane pirouetted and inverted and skidded down the runway before coming to rest in the margin. A fire started, four passengers sustained minor injuries, and 91 other passengers and 5 crew exited without incident. The aircraft, registration number N468AC, was damaged beyond repair and was written off.

On August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines Flight 255, (a McDonell-Douglas MD-82) flying from Detroit Metro Airport to John Wayne Airport with an intermediate stop at Phoenix, Arizona, crashed during takeoff from Detroit, killing 154 of 155 passengers and crew on board and two persons on the ground. One of the contributing factors in the crash was the crew's concern about arriving at John Wayne Airport before the 11:00 p.m. commercial airline arrival curfew.

On December 15, 1993, a chartered IAI Westwind business jet carrying two flightcrew members and three passengers (including Rich Snyder, president of In-N-Out Burger), crashed while on approach to John Wayne Airport. All five occupants were killed in the crash. The aircraft, which departed Brackett Field, thirty miles to the north in La Verne, California, followed a Boeing 757 for landing, became caught in the 757's wake turbulence, rolled into a deep descent and crashed near the intersection of State Route 55 and Edinger Avenue. The crash investigation led to the FAA requirement for an adequate period between heavy aircraft and following light aircraft to allow wake turbulence to diminish.

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (IATA: SBP, ICAO: KSBP, FAA LID: SBP), also known as McChesney Field, is an airport located in San Luis Obispo, California serving San Luis Obispo County. The airport is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by two commercial airlines.

Located just south of the City of San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport serves areas as far north as Southern Monterey County and as far south as Northern Santa Barbara County. The airport offers convenient access to and from the Central Coast. Residents and visitors have the choice of two commercial airlines with flights to Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The airport is also home to full service general aviation and corporate facilities.

From April 1 to the 4th, 2009, Boeing 737-700 and Airbus A319 charter aircraft from Alaska Airlines and Frontier Airlines arrived at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport with troops from the Oregon National Guard. With a longer wingspan and heavier weight than the Boeing 737, the Airbus A319 is currently the largest aircraft to land at San Luis Obispo Airport. Southwest Airlines 737 aircraft have also recently landed at San Luis Obispo Airport as part of military charter operations.

On January 23, 2009 an Alaska Airlines 737-400 arrived at San Luis Airport from Chico, California. This was the largest aircraft ever to land at the airport at that time. The flight was carrying 125 passengers who were members of the San Francisco Symphony arriving to perform at Cal Poly's Performing Arts Center.

On August 27, 2008 US Airways Express (Mesa Airlines) announced an expansion of service to San Luis Obispo Airport. Beginning October 2, 2008, flights to and from Phoenix will utilize the Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet 900 series (CRJ-900) as opposed the 200 series offering 36 more seats for its twice-daily flight.

San Diego International Airport

San Diego International Airport, sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and 20 mi (32 km) from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico. It is operated by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

San Diego International is the busiest single-runway commercial service airport in the United States, and second in the world after London Gatwick, with approximately 600 departures and arrivals carrying 50,000 passengers each day, and a total of 18.3 million passengers in 2007. San Diego is the largest metropolitan area of the United States which does not serve as a hub nor secondary hub for any airline, however the airport is a focus city for Southwest Airlines who is the largest operator.

The top five airlines in terms of market share for 2010 were Southwest Airlines (38.45%), United Airlines (17.05%), Delta Air Lines (10.73%), American Airlines (8.8%) and US Airways (5.94%)

On the morning of September 25, 1978, a Boeing 727-200 operating flight PSA Flight 182 on the Sacramento-Los Angeles-San Diego Route collided in mid-air with a Cessna 172 while attempting to land at San Diego Airport. The two aircraft collided over San Diego's North Park, killing all 135 people on Flight 182 and the two people on the Cessna, along with 7 people on the ground.

Airports Council International (ACI) ranked San Diego-Lindbergh Field the #4 best airport in North America in 2007. ACI also ranked SAN the #2 best airport in the world with 15-25 million passengers in 2007. ACI also ranked SAN the #3 best airport in the world with 15-25 million passengers in 2008.

Endangered species habitat

A portion of the southeast infield at San Diego International Airport is set aside as a nesting site for the endangered California Least Tern. The least tern nests on three ovals from March through September. Approximately 135 nests were established there in 2007.

Sacramento International Airport

Sacramento International Airport (IATA: SMF, ICAO: KSMF, FAA LID: SMF) is a public airport located 10 miles (16 km) northwest of the central business district (CBD) of Sacramento, in Sacramento County, California, USA. It is run by Sacramento County. Southwest Airlines currently accounts for about half of all airline passenger traffic.

Sacramento International Airport covers 6,000 acres (22 km²) and has two runways:

Runway 16L/34R: 8,601 x 150 ft. (2,622 x 46 m), Surface: Concrete

Runway 16R/34L: 8,600 x 150 ft. (2,621 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

All indoor public areas feature free public wi-fi (wireless Internet) provided by the Sacramento County Airport System.

Yolobus bus #42 connects the airport to downtown Sacramento and the nearby communities of Woodland and Davis. Sacramento light rail will also provide service to the airport when the Green Line is finished in 2011.

On the morning of September 25, 1978, a Boeing 727-200 operating flight PSA Flight 182 on the Sacramento-Los Angeles-San Diego Route collided in mid-air with a Cessna 172 while attempting to land at San Diego Airport. The two aircraft collided over San Diego's North Park, killing all 135 people on Flight 182 and the two people on the Cessna, along with 7 people on the ground.

On the afternoon of Thursday, August 26, 2010, JetBlue Airbus A320 Flight 262 arriving from Long Beach, CA blew four tires upon landing, creating a fire around the plane and causing passengers to evacuate. Out of the 87 passengers and five crew, 15 sustained injuries, although none of them were particularly serious. Five passengers were hospitalized, but none were killed. A JetBlue spokesman said that the flight reported an issue with the brakes.

On April 1, 2011, Southwest Airlines Flight 812 from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Sacramento International Airport operated with a Boeing 737-300 aircraft registered N632SW, was forced to declare an emergency and divert to Yuma International Airport after a hole appeared in the top of the aircraft fuselage. The aircraft landed approximately 40 minutes after takeoff from Phoenix.

Redding Municipal Airport

Redding Municipal Airport (IATA: RDD, ICAO: KRDD, FAA LID: RDD) is a city-owned public-use airport located six miles (10 km) southeast of the central business district of Redding, a city in Shasta County, California, United States. It is one of two airports located in the City of Redding, the other being Benton Airpark. The airport is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline.

Redding Municipal Airport covers an area of 1,584 acres (641 ha) which contains two asphalt paved runways: 16/34 measuring 7,003 x 150 ft (2,135 x 46 m) and 12/30 measuring 5,067 x 150 ft (1,544 x 46 m).

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 77,211 aircraft operations, an average of 211 per day: 80% general aviation, 16% air taxi, 3% scheduled commercial and 1% military (781). There are 181 aircraft based at this airport: 75% single-engine, 15% multi-engine, 7% helicopter and 3% jet.

The City of Redding is looking into expanding Redding Municipal Airport. City officials plan to give the airport an estimated $6 million dollar face-lift, with a majority of funds coming from the FAA Airport Improvement Program. Airport staff have previously made efforts to arrange United Express service to Denver and Delta Connection service to Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, recent efforts to bring new service to Redding Municipal have fallen through.

Palm Springs International Airport

Palm Springs International Airport (IATA: PSP, ICAO: KPSP, FAA LID: PSP) is a public airport located two miles (3 km) east of the central business district (CBD) of Palm Springs, California, serving the Inland Empire Metropolitan Area of Southern California. The airport covers 940 acres (380 ha) and has two runways. It is highly seasonal, in that many flights do not operate during the summer.

PSP was originally constructed as a United States Army Air Forces airfield in 1939 on land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The City of Palm Springs purchased the land in 1961 and converted it for commercial use, which began in 1964 as the Palm Springs Municipal Airport.

On December 30, 2006, Air Force One left Palm Springs International Airport with the body of the 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. The body of the President was flown to Washington, D.C., for official federal services.

Oxnard Airport

Oxnard Airport (IATA: OXR, ICAO: KOXR, FAA LID: OXR) is a public airport located one mile (1.6 km) west of the central business district (CBD) of Oxnard, a city in Ventura County, California, USA. The airport covers 216 acres (87 ha) and has one runway. Oxnard Airport is managed by the Ventura County Department of Airports.

Today Oxnard Airport has a contract air traffic control tower handling approximately 100,000 arrivals and/or departures a year, and is home to over 180 individual aircraft. As of February 2007, two Fixed Base Operators, an authorized overhaul facility for Robinson helicopters, Light Helicopter Depot, and an authorized FAA Medical Examiner.

Aspen Helicopters is a FBO located at the airport, and is also known as the ‘’’Oxnard Jet Center’’’

Golden West Jet Centers: Oxnard is an Oxnard-based FBO.

Light Helicopter Depot: Oxnard is an Oxnard-based Robinson Helicopter Overhaul Facility.

Ontario International Airport

LA/Ontario International Airport (IATA: ONT, ICAO: KONT, FAA LID: ONT), formerly Ontario International Airport, is a public airport located 2 NM (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) east of the central business district (CBD) of Ontario, a city in San Bernardino County, California, USA. This airport is owned and operated by the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), an agency of the city of Los Angeles. In 2008, 6.2 million passengers used the airport, a decline of 13.5 % compared to 2007.

The airport is dominated by Southwest Airlines who carried 49.38% of passengers in 2007. The other four airlines in the top five were United Airlines/United Express (8.64%), Delta Air Lines (7.93%), US Airways (7.08%), and American Airlines (6.18%). UPS uses the airport as their gateway for packages to and from Southern California. Expressjet formerly operated a hub at the airport.

Ownership and control of the airport became an issue in late 2010 when the City of Ontario, supported by the Southern California Association of Governments, criticized and questioned LAWA's operation of the airport.

In 1946, an airplane "graveyard" located at the airport, containing surplus and retired aircraft from the recent war, was used for a memorable scene in the Samuel Goldwyn film The Best Years of Our Lives, starring Myrna Loy, Fredric March and Dana Andrews.

In 1961, the exterior terminal building portrayed "Lincoln Airport" in the film Back Street starring Susan Hayward and John Gavin.

In 1968, the airport's terminal was seen in the film The Counterfeit Killer starring Jack Lord and Shirley Knight.

The interior and exterior of the old main terminal and the adjacent parking lot were used to portray Miami International Airport in the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can and the 2001 Johnny Depp movie Blow.

The interior and exterior of Terminal 1 and the adjacent parking lot were used in the 2003 film Confidence.

The airport was used in Kanye West's 2004 music video All Falls Down.

The airport was used as a stand-in for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in the 2004 film Meet the Fockers.

Ontario International Airport was used in the 2005 film Red Eye.

In 2005, LA/Ontario Airport was featured in a Season 2 episode of HBO's hit show Entourage, depicting the airport in Utah at which the guys arrive to attend the Sundance Film Festival.

In January 2006, LA/Ontario Airport was featured, by name, in Season 5 of the television drama series 24, in which terrorists took control of the airport (then known as Ontario Airport) and took several hostages.

LA/Ontario Airport was featured in a 2006 commercial for Hyundai's Santa Fe SUV.

The airport and its original terminal building were featured in the final scenes of the 2007 film Zodiac.

The airport's interior was used in a 2007 Jack in the Box breakfast commercial.

The airport's old Delta Air Lines terminal was used in the 2008 movie College Road Trip.

LA/Ontario Airport was featured in Season 4, Episode 12 of Prison Break in November 2008.

The airport served as the interior for the airport scene in the 2008 Jim Carrey movie Yes Man.

The airport appeared in a Walmart commercial during holiday season 2009.

The airport was featured in the movie Due Date as the stand-in airport for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

The old main terminal was used to portray Heathrow International Airport in Frost/Nixon (film).

Oakland International Airport

Oakland International Airport, also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is a public airport located 4 NM (7.4 km; 4.6 mi)[1] south of the central business district of Oakland, a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is owned by the Port of Oakland.
One of three international airports in the San Francisco Bay Area, airlines serving Oakland International provide service to numerous destinations in the United States, as well as Mexico. Oakland is a focus city--with the airport as a crew base and the 10th busiest—for Southwest Airlines. (SWA) currently has as many as 104 daily flights on peak-travel days of the week. Alaska Airlines (combined with sister-carrier Horizon Air) is a distant-yet-growing 2nd busiest with as many as 11 flights, while Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and US Airways each offer up to 5 non-stops each way to their respective focus cities and hubs.
OAK has proven a popular alternative to San Francisco International. In 2008, 11.5 million passengers used the airport. Another convenience of OAK over SFO—in relation to the success of Southwest—is OAK's history of a high, on-time arrival percentage (of total flights inbound), despite many days of rainy and foggy weather for some months in each city. For 2009, OAK had the highest on-time arrival percentage among the 40 busiest North American airports.
Oakland International is popular with low cost airlines. Until the economic downturn became worse in 2008, along with fuel prices beginning to soar, OAK was one of the nation's fastest growing airports for much of the decade. A $300 million expansion and renovation project was completed in spring 2008. The project included the addition of five gates to Terminal 2; enhanced food, beverage and retail concessions; a new baggage claim area; expanded areas for ticketing and security screening; and significant improvements to the roadways, curbsides and parking lots.
Terminal 1 is currently undergoing a $200 million upgrade. This building will be renovated and seismically retrofitted over the next few years. Future improvements include larger restrooms; replacing concourse carpeting with terrazzo floors; new airline ticketing and check-in areas; food, beverage and retail concession improvements; and improved universal access and overall comfort and convenience enhancements.
In addition to airline operations, Oakland International is a large general aviation airport. Airline operations use the South Field (runway 11/29), while general aviation uses the North Field (runways 9R/27L, 9L/27R, and 15/33). In 2008, OAK had 269,631 aircraft movements (take-offs or landings), and was the 35th busiest among the major North American airports.

San Jose International Airport

Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (IATA: SJC, ICAO: KSJC, FAA LID: SJC) is a city-owned public-use airport serving the city of San Jose in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is named for San Jose native Norman Yoshio Mineta, who was Transportation Secretary in the Cabinet of George W. Bush, and Commerce Secretary in the Cabinet of Bill Clinton, although the airport is also named to recognize Mineta's service as a Councilman for, and Mayor of, San Jose. It is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection international Port of entry. It is located two nautical miles (4 km) northwest of Downtown San Jose, near the intersections of three major freeways, U.S. Route 101, Interstate 880, and State Route 87. The airport's dominant carrier is Southwest Airlines. Alaska Airlines, along with its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, is the second largest carrier at the airport. Alaska Airlines also operates most of its departing flights from the Bay Area out of SJC. The airport offers free Wi-Fi in all its terminal buildings.

A 2010 study by J.D. Power and Associates revealed that San Jose Airport has the lowest passenger satisfaction rating of any comparable small airport in the United States.[23][24] San Jose Airport ranked the lowest in each of the six categories surveyed: accessibility, baggage claim, check-in, terminal facilities, security check, and food/retail services; however, this survey was conducted before the new Terminal B was opened and before the renovation of Terminal A was completed.

February 17, 1981 - Air California (AirCal) Flight 336 (a Boeing 737-200), flying from San Jose, California to John Wayne Airport, crashed upon initiating a go around. The crew was cleared for a visual approach to Runway 19R while the controller had cleared another flight to take-off from 19R. Upon realizing the mistake, the controller ordered Air California 336 to go-around and the other aircraft to abort its take-off, which it did. The Captain of the landing Air California aircraft delayed the go-around then selected the gear up before a positive rate of climb was achieved. The 737 with the gear up skidded down the runway before coming to rest. A fire started, 4 passengers sustained minor injuries, 91 other passengers and 5 crew exited without incident. The aircraft N468AC was damaged beyond repair and was written off.

April 7, 1994 - FedEx Flight 705, operated by a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 identified as N306FE, was flying from Memphis International Airport to San Jose International Airport and experienced an attempted hijacking by a soon to be terminated employee. Auburn Calloway, the hijacker, planned to use the aircraft for a kamikaze attack on FedEx Corporation Headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. The crew of Flight 705 were able to fight off Calloway and land the plane safely. This incident was featured on the National Geographic television show, Mayday (Air Crash Investigation or Air Emergency). The episode (Season 3, Episode 4) was titled "Fight for Your Life (Suicide Attack)"

Monterey Peninsula Airport

Monterey Peninsula Airport (IATA: MRY, ICAO: KMRY, FAA LID: MRY) is a regional airport located three miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district (CBD) of Monterey, a city in Monterey County, California, USA. It was created in 1936.

The airport is owned by the several municipalities that make up the Monterey Peninsula Airport District. It is a public entity, and its five-member board of directors is publicly elected.

Monterey-Salinas Transit is the public ground transit organization serving the airport.

Monterey Peninsula Airport covers 597 acres (242 ha) and has two runways:

Runway 10R/28L: 7,616 x 150 ft (2,321 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

Runway 10L/28R: 3,513 x 60 ft (1,071 x 18 m), Surface: Asphalt

MRY has built a new baggage claim and a centralized screening area.

Modesto City-County Airport

Modesto City-County Airport (IATA: MOD, ICAO: KMOD, FAA LID: MOD), also known as Harry Sham Field, is located two miles (3 km) southeast of the central business district (CBD) of Modesto, a city in Stanislaus County, California, USA.

Mid-2006 saw a change to MOD Airport. United Express/SkyWest Airlines added four flights a day to/from LAX and an additional flight to SFO to total 5 flights a day to/from San Francisco. As a result, passenger counts have continued to grow. In 2002, passenger counts averaged 3,035 per month; over the first six months of 2007, that amount has grown to an average of 7,739 passengers per month.

In June 2008, Utah based Skywest Airlines (United Express) stopped service to Los Angeles citing high fuel prices as one reason for discontinuing service. In 2007 Modesto set a record number of boarding passengers with 51,587 taking flights from the airport.

In January 2010, the airport attracted periodic leisure charter flights, operated with 130-150 passenger B737-400 and MD80 jet airliners, to Laughlin and West Wendover, NV.

Facilities

Modesto City-County Airport has two runways:

Runway 10L/28R: 5,911 x 150 ft (1,802 x 46 m) asphalt, Pavements 60/200/400, HIRL, MALSR, PCL 9:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. (Freq 125.3) VASI - RW 10L.

Runway 10R/28L: 3,459 x 100 ft (1,054 x 30 m) asphalt, Pavements 30/-/-, MIRL, not available when tower closed, PAPI - RW 10R/28L.

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving Los Angeles, California, the second-most populated metropolitan area of the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually (el-a-ex). LAX is located in southwestern Los Angeles in the neighborhood of Westchester, 16 mi (26 km) from the downtown core.

In 2009 LAX was the sixth busiest airport in the world, with 58,915,100 passengers. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines and a focus city for Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, Air New Zealand, Qantas, and Virgin America. It also serves as an international gateway for Delta Air Lines. Following United's merger with Continental Airlines, the airport will be the seventh largest hub for United.

The airport also functions as joint civil-military facility, providing a base for the United States Coast Guard and its Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles facility, operating 4 HH-65 Dolphin helicopters.

LAX is the busiest airport in California in terms of flight operations, passenger traffic and air cargo activity, followed by San Francisco International Airport (SFO). LAX is also the only U.S. airport to serve 3 or more international destinations with ridership of 1 million passengers or more per year (Tokyo-Narita, London-Heathrow, Taipei).[citation needed]

Although LAX is the busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles Area, the region relies on a multiple airport system because of its vast size. Many of the area's most well-known attractions are closer to alternative airports than to LAX; for example, Hollywood and Griffith Park are closer to Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, while Disneyland, the Honda Center, Angel Stadium of Anaheim, and other Orange County attractions are closer to John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Long Beach Airport is closer to some of the coastal attractions known to Southern California like Palos Verdes and Huntington Beach, and LA/Ontario International Airport is closer to the major cities of the Inland Empire, Riverside and San Bernardino.

The airport occupies some 3,500 acres (5 sq mi; 14 km2)[2] of the city on the Pacific coast, about 15 mi (24 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. LAX is one of the most famous locations for commercial aircraft spotting, most notably at the so called "Imperial Hill" area (also known as Clutter's Park) in El Segundo from which nearly the entire South Complex of the airport can be viewed. Another famous spotting location sits right under the final approach for runways 24 L&R on a small grass lawn next to the Westchester In-N-Out Burger restaurant, and is noted as one of the few remaining locations in Southern California from which spotters may watch such a wide variety of low-flying commercial airliners from directly underneath a flightpath.[5] The airport's coastal location renders it liable to low lying cloud or fog conditions requiring flights to be occasionally diverted to LA/Ontario International Airport, 47 mi (76 km) to the east.

Flight Path Learning Center is a museum located at 6661 Imperial Highway and was formerly known as the "West Imperial Terminal." This building used to house some charter flights (Condor Airlines) and regular scheduled flights by MGM Grand Air. It sat empty for 10 years until it was re-opened as a learning center for LAX.

The center contains information on the history of aviation, several pictures of the airport, as well as aircraft scale models, flight attendant uniforms, and general airline memorabilia such as playing cards, china, magazines, signs, even a TWA gate information sign.

The museum claims to be "the only aviation museum and research center situated at a major airport and the only facility with a primary emphasis on contributions of civil aviation to the history and development of Southern California". However, there are other museums at major airports including the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum adjacent to Washington Dulles Airport, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum at Don Muang Airport, the Suomen ilmailumuseo (Finnish Aviation Museum) at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, the Frontier of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field, and others.

Long Beach Airport

Long Beach Airport, also known as Daugherty Field, is located in Long Beach, California, and serves Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The airport has four smaller runways and one long runway for jets (10,000 ft), plus nine taxiways, and occupies 1,166 acres (472 ha). It was formerly known as Long Beach Municipal Airport.

After years of controversy and a court battle involving local schools, the Long Beach Airport is moving ahead with a $136-million improvement project designed to modernize the facility without sacrificing its historic Art Deco terminal or reputation among travelers for convenience.

Plans call for a new 1,989-space parking structure, ramp improvements and a concourse with a central garden and 11 gates that will replace the temporary trailers where travelers now wait for flights. About $2 million will be spent to refurbish the old terminal, which was built in 1941 and declared a historic landmark by the city decades later.

The project, however, will retain the open-air feeling of the current terminal complex, and passengers will still walk across the tarmac when boarding or leaving their planes. Baggage claim also will be partially enclosed as it is today.

On March 16, 2011, a privately-owned Beechcraft King Air crashed shortly after takeoff, killing five people and injuring another. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

Inyokern Airport

Inyokern Airport, is a public airport located in Inyokern, California, United States, serving the Indian Wells Valley area of Kern County. It is owned by the Indian Wells Valley Airport District. The airport is mostly used for general aviation, but is served by one commercial airline.

In the wake of the drag strip's closing, the airport has been actively promoting its use for film shoots,with the Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission marketing it (Runway 28) as "the region's #1 filming location". A notable example of this new use is a television advertisement titled "Gravity", for the Lexus IS.The airdrop "target" featured in the commercial, where the falling automobile hits the ground, was painted on the old drag strip; however, many of the vehicle shots preceding the car drop actually feature the Lexus rolling down runway 20. Other notable automotive television ads shot here include most spots from Saab's "Born from Jets" campaign, as well as commercials for Volkswagen.

Inyokern Airport covers an area of 1,640 acres (664 ha) which contains three asphalt paved runways: 2/20 measuring 6,275 x 75 ft. (1,913 x 23 m), 10/28 at 4,150 x 75 ft. (1,265 x 23 m), and 15/33 at 7,100 x 75 ft. (2,164 x 23 m).

For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2007, the airport had 39,632 aircraft operations, an average of 108 per day: 86% general aviation, 6% air taxi, 5% scheduled commercial and 3% military. At that time there were 120 aircraft based at this airport: 79% single-engine, 8% multi-engine, 5% jet, 5% glider and 3% ultralight.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport

Fresno Yosemite International Airport, often called FYI, formerly known as Fresno Air Terminal, is a joint civil-military public airport located in eastern Fresno, in Fresno County, California. The airport is more than 60 miles (97 km) south of Yosemite National Park on California State Route 41. The airport covers 2,150 acres (870 ha) and has two runways and one helipad. It is the major air transportation center for the San Joaquin Valley, with major air carrier service to airline hubs throughout the Western United States. Direct international flights to Guadalajara, Mexico, are available through Aeromexico and Volaris. Fresno was the ninth (9th) busiest international route out of Guadalajara International Airport in 2009. It is also home to Fresno Air National Guard Base and the 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) of the California Air National Guard.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport covers an area of 1,728 acres (699 ha) at an elevation of 336 ft (102 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 11L/29R is 9,227 by 150 ft (2,812 by 46 m) and 11R/29L is 7,205 by 100 ft (2,196 by 30 m). It also has one helipad, designated H1, that measures 70 by 70 ft (21 by 21 m).

For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2009, the airport had 143,945 aircraft operations, an average of 394 per day: 65% general aviation, 18% air taxi, 10% scheduled commercial, and 8% military. At that time there were 195 aircraft based at this airport: 47% single-engine, 23% multi-engine, 6% jet, 11% helicopter and 13% military.

Fresno completed 2006 with 1.281 million passengers traveling through Fresno Yosemite International Airport, an increase of 7.54% over 2005.

Fresno completed 2007 with 1.382 million passengers traveling through Fresno Yosemite International Airport, an increase of 3.13% over 2006.

The most prominent airlines at Fresno are Skywest Airlines for United Express and Delta Connection (36.29%), Mesa Airlines for US Airways Express (16.97%), American Airlines (12.77%), and Horizon Air (9.92%)