Santa Maria Airport - Present Day

The Santa Maria Public Airport's development began in 1940. In 1942, it was accepted by the Fourth Air Force for the base, for training in World War II. The airport at that time owned over 3,000 acres on which three runways ran near the military delta and connected to taxiways.

The Santa Maria Public Airport had an area of 400 square miles extending from the Santa Maria/Cuyama River at the north, to a point three miles south of the community of Los Alamos. In the east/west direction, the District begins at Point Sal, on the Pacific Ocean, and extends eastward a distance of thirty miles, or ten miles east of the Twitchell Dam Reservoir.

Planes' Rules

Between 1950 and 1960 higher tech planes began landing in Santa Maria. Passengers using these planes could only carry twenty-five pounds of luggage. If luggage weighed over that amount, then passengers would have to pay an additional bill. This was due to the fact that planes could only carry so much weight. Today commercial flights observe the same rules.

Existing Airport

Currently the Santa Maria Airport includes approximently 2550 acres, two active runways. The airport serves as a homebase for over 150 general aircrafts. The primary 12-30 is 150 feet wide 6300 feet long and is used by aircarrier aircraft. The other runways 2 though 20 are 150 feet wide and 5270 feet long and is used when 12 through 30 are not avalible.The 27,000 square feet terminal building provides space for the two airlines, 4 car rental angencies, the National Weather Service office which closed last year, a restaurant/coffe shop/bar, and the district office. There are preasantly 18 world war 2 buildings still in use which generate income for the district, used the commertioal and indrustial users and avaition related buisnesses.For the most of theseis the 38,947 square feet main hangar buildings, leased exlusivly to avaition related buisnesses since the transfer of the airline facilities and district offices , to the terminal buildings in 1971.It is presently occupied by an avionics firm, several helicopters operaters invovled in off-shore oil exploration exploration support, and a bank messanger/air cargo operation.

The airport is still growing with incoming taxi ways, new hangarsand expansion of the terminal. The public parking space will also expand in the near future. The second phase of the Skyway entrance into the industrial park is presently under construction by the buyer, as is another office building.On one of the plans was the construction of a hotel complex, near the terminal, which is now the hilton. Between the Hilton and the Terminal is a county fire department station. In between the Hilton and the fire station there is a small donated building which houses the Santa Maria Valley District Boy Scout Office.

Return to Santa Maria Aviation Homepage