McClellan-Palomar Airport is the crown jewel of North County airports.
It's one of eight airports and airparks owned and operated by the county of San Diego. We like being in the airport business and do an excellent job running them in a profitable way that benefits the community and the county.
The airport is home to nearly 400 aircraft, ranging from small fixed-wing, single-engine planes to sophisticated, state-of-the-art corporate jets. In 2006, there were more than 200,000 operations at Palomar.
The airport is in the middle of a $24 million improvement and modernization project. Ten projects have been combined into one integrated project that includes a new terminal building, restaurant, federal inspection facility, terminal access roads, terminal apron, vehicle parking lots, automated parking lot control systems, passenger movement facilities, airport security system, taxiway, infield drainage and a blast fence.
None of the projects will make the airport larger, just safer and more efficient. Once the improvement is complete, which it should be sometime around the end of this year, more than $1.25 million in potential new yearly revenue is expected.
Fifty years ago, the county picked Carlsbad as the site to replace the Del Mar Airport. Del Mar may be where the “surf meets the turf,” but it was decided that airplanes needed to meet the runway somewhere else. A year later, construction began and the new airport opened in Carlsbad for daytime operations in 1959.
The airport is named for aviator Gerald McClellan, a North County community leader who at one time was president of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.
In 1960, Palomar Airport's terminal building was constructed, the airport runway was extended to 4,700 feet in 1961 and in 1962 the terminal was expanded. An FAA control tower was placed into operation in 1973, followed in 1977 with an instrument landing system and installation of approach lights. In 1978, the city of Carlsbad annexed the airport into its fold.
In years to come, regularly-scheduled commercial jets would begin serving Palomar and several ambitious building programs enhanced the facilities, including the one that is currently underway on the airport's 487 acres. The upgrades may help attract more airlines and possibly expand service to markets such as Dallas, Denver, Sacramento and Salt Lake City.
We continue to have excellent cooperation with city of Carlsbad leaders. Mayor Bud Lewis, the city council and city staff recognize the benefits of Palomar Airport and work closely with John Snyder, the county's public works director; Peter Drinkwater, the county airport director; Willie Vasquez, manager of Palomar Airport and his assistant Olivier Brackett.
There is a huge economic “cha-ching” from Palomar Airport, which brings in more than $108 million to the local economy. However, it's more than dollars and cents. Palomar is a prestigious gateway to and from North County. Its proximity to business and recreation has attracted major corporations to our region and with world-class resorts just minutes away, it brings thousands of tourists to North County. And we put a bigger smile on their faces when they find out there is no charge for parking.
Palomar Airport also is a key to the county's commitment to disaster preparedness. It provides a central point for bringing in emergency supplies or evacuating people during a crisis.
We continue to polish the jewel that is McClellan-Palomar Airport. Last month, the U.S. Customs Office at Palomar began operations. The opening is the completion of a project I worked on for several years, and thanks to excellent cooperation from Congressman Brian Bilbray, the FAA, Drinkwater and companies like Western Flight, Jet Source, Premier Jet and Magellan Aviation, the aviation operations in North County have greatly improved.
Customs user fees are charged to those wishing to use the service at Palomar Airport, instead of clearing customs with no charge at port-of-entry airports. The users are willing to pay a fee for the service because it saves time, fuel and maintenance on their aircraft by eliminating the need to stop at another airport, usually Brown Field, to clear customs when Palomar Airport is their final destination. For now, customs will only be for non-commercial flights because there are currently no commercial international flights scheduled at Palomar Airport.
For 50 years, Palomar Airport has been taking us to new heights.
Editor's note: The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce worked diligently to help secure the customs office and is proud to support Palomar Airport.
It's one of eight airports and airparks owned and operated by the county of San Diego. We like being in the airport business and do an excellent job running them in a profitable way that benefits the community and the county.
The airport is home to nearly 400 aircraft, ranging from small fixed-wing, single-engine planes to sophisticated, state-of-the-art corporate jets. In 2006, there were more than 200,000 operations at Palomar.
The airport is in the middle of a $24 million improvement and modernization project. Ten projects have been combined into one integrated project that includes a new terminal building, restaurant, federal inspection facility, terminal access roads, terminal apron, vehicle parking lots, automated parking lot control systems, passenger movement facilities, airport security system, taxiway, infield drainage and a blast fence.
None of the projects will make the airport larger, just safer and more efficient. Once the improvement is complete, which it should be sometime around the end of this year, more than $1.25 million in potential new yearly revenue is expected.
Fifty years ago, the county picked Carlsbad as the site to replace the Del Mar Airport. Del Mar may be where the “surf meets the turf,” but it was decided that airplanes needed to meet the runway somewhere else. A year later, construction began and the new airport opened in Carlsbad for daytime operations in 1959.
The airport is named for aviator Gerald McClellan, a North County community leader who at one time was president of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.
In 1960, Palomar Airport's terminal building was constructed, the airport runway was extended to 4,700 feet in 1961 and in 1962 the terminal was expanded. An FAA control tower was placed into operation in 1973, followed in 1977 with an instrument landing system and installation of approach lights. In 1978, the city of Carlsbad annexed the airport into its fold.
In years to come, regularly-scheduled commercial jets would begin serving Palomar and several ambitious building programs enhanced the facilities, including the one that is currently underway on the airport's 487 acres. The upgrades may help attract more airlines and possibly expand service to markets such as Dallas, Denver, Sacramento and Salt Lake City.
We continue to have excellent cooperation with city of Carlsbad leaders. Mayor Bud Lewis, the city council and city staff recognize the benefits of Palomar Airport and work closely with John Snyder, the county's public works director; Peter Drinkwater, the county airport director; Willie Vasquez, manager of Palomar Airport and his assistant Olivier Brackett.
There is a huge economic “cha-ching” from Palomar Airport, which brings in more than $108 million to the local economy. However, it's more than dollars and cents. Palomar is a prestigious gateway to and from North County. Its proximity to business and recreation has attracted major corporations to our region and with world-class resorts just minutes away, it brings thousands of tourists to North County. And we put a bigger smile on their faces when they find out there is no charge for parking.
Palomar Airport also is a key to the county's commitment to disaster preparedness. It provides a central point for bringing in emergency supplies or evacuating people during a crisis.
We continue to polish the jewel that is McClellan-Palomar Airport. Last month, the U.S. Customs Office at Palomar began operations. The opening is the completion of a project I worked on for several years, and thanks to excellent cooperation from Congressman Brian Bilbray, the FAA, Drinkwater and companies like Western Flight, Jet Source, Premier Jet and Magellan Aviation, the aviation operations in North County have greatly improved.
Customs user fees are charged to those wishing to use the service at Palomar Airport, instead of clearing customs with no charge at port-of-entry airports. The users are willing to pay a fee for the service because it saves time, fuel and maintenance on their aircraft by eliminating the need to stop at another airport, usually Brown Field, to clear customs when Palomar Airport is their final destination. For now, customs will only be for non-commercial flights because there are currently no commercial international flights scheduled at Palomar Airport.
For 50 years, Palomar Airport has been taking us to new heights.
Editor's note: The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce worked diligently to help secure the customs office and is proud to support Palomar Airport.