Stockton Metropolitan Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Stockton Metropolitan Airport
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =

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image-width =
caption =
IATA = SCK
ICAO = KSCK
FAA = SCK
type = Public
owner =
operator = County of San Joaquin
city-served =
location = Stockton, California
elevation-f = 33
elevation-m = 10.1
coordinates = Coord|37|53|39|N|121|14|18|W|type:airport_region:US|display=inline,title
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 11L/29R
r1-length-f = 10,650
r1-length-m = 3,246
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 11R/29L
r2-length-f = 4,454
r2-length-m = 1,358
r2-surface = Asphalt
h1-number = H1
h1-length-f = 70
h1-length-m = 21
h1-surface = Concrete
stat-year =
stat1-header =
stat1-data =
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footnotes =

Stockton Metropolitan Airport Airport codes|SCK|KSCK|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, USA.

History

The airport was once a major hub for air-travel in the San Joaquin Valley, but like so many other American airports of similar size, massive deregulation eventually eliminated commercial service to the airport. As for commercial air, America West Express left the airport and the terminal empty in 2003. In June 2006, Allegiant Air began flying round trips to Las Vegas.

Flights to Mexico

Aeromexico had originally planned to start flying from the airport sometime in 2006. However, the airport was unable to secure a customs facility. Federal officials claimed that there was no need for such a facility, since they already existed at airports in Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. Local officials filed an appeal and then-Congressman Richard Pombo also asked officials to approve the facility. Federal officials reconsidered and approved the facility.

Despite the Federal approval, San Joaquin County Supervisors decided against financing the project, feeling taxpayer dollars could better be spent elsewhere. It is possible the facility could be reconsidered in the future, but in the interim the county wants airport officials to work on securing domestic service.

Even if the facility eventually is approved, Aeromexico may still decide against coming to the airport, due to possible housing developments planned for the area. Houses may be built close enough to the airport's runways, forcing larger commercial jets out. Airport officials are hoping to build a buffer zone around the airport, that would keep homes from encroaching on the runways and keep it a viable option for commercial aircraft.

Future growth

Allegiant's success at the airport could help draw other carriers to the airport. Load factors for Allegiant have neared 90 percent during the Summer months of 2007, well above the necessary level to maintain profitable service.

Airport director Barry Rondinella hopes to give area residents more options for flights from the airport. Rondinella has been hoping to secure airline service to Seattle and the Los Angeles area. Horizon Air has often been mentioned by Rondinella as a possible tenant at the airport.

San Joaquin County Supervisors are asking Rondinella to work on securing more domestic flights at the airport, rather than international service.

In late May 2007, the "Record" (Stockton's daily newspaper) reported that the airport is in discussions with Delta Airlines for two daily non-stop flights to Delta's hub in Salt Lake City. The Manteca Bulletin offered a similar report in August 2007.

With the addition of an Allegiant focus city/hub in Phoenix, the airline has indicated it might add service to Phoenix from Stockton. America West previously offered daily non-stop service to Sky Harbor International Airport, but the airline industry downturn after 9/11 prompted the airline to cut back, then eventually discontinue service.

On August 21, 2007, Allegiant Air announced new service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The new service operates twice a week (Mondays and Fridays), and began on October 26, 2007. [ [http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=31874 Allegiant announces new service to Mesa/Phoenix] ]

Virgin America

In early 2007, the airport secured a deal to start up airline Virgin America to park four planes on an empty cargo ramp at the airport, opening the door for other start up airlines to park their planes at the airport in the future.

Despite the parking deal, there are no plans for Virgin America to serve the airport. Virgin America plans to serve Northern California from its headquarters at San Francisco International Airport and in the future at Sacramento International Airport.

Airlines and destinations

* Allegiant Air (Las Vegas)

Facilities

Stockton Metropolitan Airport covers convert|1552|acre|ha|0|lk=on and has two runways and one helipad:
* Runway 11L/29R: 10,650 x 150 ft. (3,246 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
* Runway 11R/29L: 4,454 x 75 ft. (1,358 x 23 m), Surface: Asphalt
* Helipad H1: 70 x 70 ft. (21 x 21 m), Surface: Concrete

World War II

Stockton Field was dedicated on January 11th, 1941 as an United States Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School. Thousands of airmen were trained here before and during WWII. Late in the war the field was taken over by the Military Air Transport Service and was used as a hub for war material transportation. [Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1575100517]

ee also

* California World War II Army Airfields

References

*FAA-airport|ID=SCK|use=PU|own=PU|site=02314.*A

External links

* [http://www.tracypress.com/local/2006-07-26-zone.php Courting Aeromexico with a buffer zone]
* [http://www.stocktonfield.com/history.html World War II History Of Stockton Field]

*FAA-diagram|00407