Oxnard Airport
Encyclopedia
Oxnard Airport 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.
. In the 1930s, aviator
Howard Hughes
erected a tent at the airport to shelter his famous H-1 monoplane racer
, which he tested from the dirt strip. In 1938, Ventura County paved the dirt runway and constructed a large hangar
to attract more business. The year following, James McLean opened the Oxnard Flying School with a Piper J-3 Cub
and a Kinner 2-seat airplane. Housing was constructed nearby to accommodate instructors and students for the school.
In late 1941, war was declared. The airport was assigned to the U.S. Navy until the Naval Air Station
at Point Mugu could be completed. The Navy moved to NAS Point Mugu in 1945 and the Oxnard Flying School returned to the airport. Ventura County officially regained control of the airport from the federal government in 1948 by receiving a final quitclaim deed
. The state of California
issued the airport an operating permit in 1949.
Scheduled airline passenger service was established in 1946 by Southwest Airlines
with Douglas DC-3
airplanes. Oxnard Airport has been the only airport in the Ventura County area to support continuous airline passenger service since World War II
.
The airport has been previously served by American Eagle
, America West Express
, California Air Shuttle and most recently United Express
which ended service to LAX on June 8, 2010
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located one mile (1.6 km) west of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
(CBD) of Oxnard
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
, a city in Ventura County
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airport covers 216 acres (87 ha) and has one runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. Oxnard Airport is managed by the Ventura County Department of Airports.
History
Ventura County opened Oxnard Airport in 1934 by clearing a 3,500 ft dirt runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. In the 1930s, aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
erected a tent at the airport to shelter his famous H-1 monoplane racer
Hughes H-1 Racer
The Hughes H-1 was a racing aircraft built by Hughes Aircraft in 1935. It set a world airspeed record and a transcontinental speed record across the United States...
, which he tested from the dirt strip. In 1938, Ventura County paved the dirt runway and constructed a large hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
to attract more business. The year following, James McLean opened the Oxnard Flying School with a Piper J-3 Cub
Piper J-3
The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time...
and a Kinner 2-seat airplane. Housing was constructed nearby to accommodate instructors and students for the school.
In late 1941, war was declared. The airport was assigned to the U.S. Navy until the Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station
A Naval Air Station is a military airbase, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of their Navy...
at Point Mugu could be completed. The Navy moved to NAS Point Mugu in 1945 and the Oxnard Flying School returned to the airport. Ventura County officially regained control of the airport from the federal government in 1948 by receiving a final quitclaim deed
Quitclaim deed
A quitclaim deed is a legal instrument by which the owner of a piece of real property, called the grantor, transfers his interest to a recipient, called the grantee. The owner/grantor terminates his right and claim to the property, thereby allowing claim to transfer to the...
. The state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
issued the airport an operating permit in 1949.
Scheduled airline passenger service was established in 1946 by Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
with Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
airplanes. Oxnard Airport has been the only airport in the Ventura County area to support continuous airline passenger service since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The airport has been previously served by American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
, America West Express
America West Express
America West Express was the name for America West Airlines commuter and regional flights operated by Mesa Air Group's Mesa Airlines under a code share agreement...
, California Air Shuttle and most recently United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
which ended service to LAX on June 8, 2010
Airport today
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.Facilities
- Aspen Helicopters is a FBOFixed base operatorA Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
located at the airport, and is also known as the ‘’’Oxnard Jet Center’’’ - Golden West Jet Centers: Oxnard is an Oxnard-based FBOFixed base operatorA Fixed-base operator or commonly abbreviated FBO is a term developed in the United States after the passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926...
.
- Light Helicopter Depot: Oxnard is an Oxnard-based Robinson Helicopter Overhaul Facility.