Redding Municipal Airport

Coordinates: 40°30′32″N 122°17′36″W / 40.50889°N 122.29333°W

Redding Municipal Airport
Redding Army Airfield

USGS 2008 Orthophoto
IATA: RDD – ICAO: KRDD – FAA LID: RDD
– WMO: 72592
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Redding
Serves Redding, California
Location Redding, California, United States
Elevation AMSL 505 ft / 154 m
Coordinates 40°30′32″N 122°17′36″W / 40.50889°N 122.29333°W
Map
KRDD

Location in CA

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16/34 7,003 2,135 Asphalt
12/30 5,067 1,544 Asphalt
Statistics (2012)
Aircraft operations 104,674
Based aircraft 222
FAA Airport Diagram

Redding Municipal Airport (IATA: RDD, ICAO: KRDD, FAA LID: RDD) is six miles (10 km) southeast of Redding in Shasta County, California.[1] It is one of two airports in Redding, the other being Benton Airpark.[2] The airport is used for general aviation, but sees one airline.

History

In 1942 the site of Redding Army Airfield was acquired by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the United States Army Air Forces. Initially Redding AAF was a sub-base for Chico AAF and garrisoned by the 433d Army Air Force Base Unit. It was under IV Fighter Command at Hamiltion AAF.

The mission of Redding Army Airfield was advanced flight training of new airmen prior to their deployment overseas into the combat zones of the Pacific, China, Mediterranean or European Theaters. The USAAF 339th Fighter Squadron, 369th Fighter Group operated P-39 Airacobras from the airfield to perform that mission.

On 1 November 1944 control of Redding AAF was transferred from the Fourth Air Force to the Sacramento Area Command of the Army Air Forces’ Air Technical Service Command headquartered at McClellan Army Airfield near Sacramento. The host unit was redesignated as the 4191st Army Air Force Base Unit. The mission was changed from training air crews to that of a refueling and maintenance facility for transient aircraft. Redding AAF was sporadically used by the Army Air Forces’ Air Transport Command as a refueling and service stop.

On 19 December 1945 the military declared Redding AAF excess and on 18 November 1946 it was turned over to the City of Redding for a civil airfield. Final transfer of the facility was in 1949, ending military ownership.

Today the City of Redding continues to operate the airport and has started a major commercial development.[3]

Redding has had scheduled jet flights on four airlines. Hughes Airwest (previously Air West) flew Douglas DC-9s to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. Frontier Boeing 737-200s flew to Denver via Sacramento. United Airlines flew Boeing 737-200s nonstop and direct to San Francisco for a few years starting in 1983. Pacific Express BAC One-Elevens flew nonstop to San Francisco and on to Los Angeles and Portland. In addition, American Eagle turboprops operating for American Airlines flew nonstop to San Jose, San Francisco, Eureka/Arcata, and Klamath Falls until late 1993.

On July 17, 2008 President George Bush and staff landed at Redding in Air Force One. The trip was to allow the president to see the damage done by wildfires.[4]

SkyWest operating as United Express now has the only scheduled passenger flights at Redding Municipal, Embraer EMB-120s to San Francisco.[5]

Facilities

Redding Airport terminal in 2008
A view of the expansion from inside the current terminal as of June, 2013
Terminal expansion in progress in June, 2013. The temporary baggage claim can be seen at right.

Redding Municipal Airport covers 1,584 acres (641 ha) and has two asphalt runways: 16/34, 7,003 x 150 ft (2,135 x 46 m) and 12/30, 5,067 x 150 ft (1,544 x 46 m).[1]

In 12 months through April 2012 the airport had 104,674 aircraft operations, average 287 per day: 46% local general aviation, 17% transient general aviation, 36% air taxi, <1% scheduled commercial and <1% military. 222 aircraft are based at this airport: 175 single-engine, 27 multi-engine, 15 helicopter and 5 jet.[1]

Expansion plans

The City of Redding is in the process of expanding the passenger terminal. The result will be an estimated $6 million expansion and face-lift, with the majority of funds coming from the FAA Airport Improvement Program. The current terminal will be expanded from 20,000 sq. ft. to approximately 30,000 sq. ft. The secure passenger holding area will increase its holding capacity from the current 70 passengers to around 200 passengers. The holding area will also have restrooms; a convenience for passengers who currently must leave the sterile area if they wish to visit the restroom.[6] This project is being constructed by the general contractor, Danco Builders Northwest, out of Arcata, CA.

A view of the expansion from inside the current terminal as of June, 2013

Airlines and destinations

Airlines Destinations
United Express San Francisco, Sacramento (begins January 4th, 2016)

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 FAA Airport Master Record for RDD (Form 5010 PDF), effective 05/02/2013
  2. ↑ City of Redding: Airports Division
  3. ↑ "Historic California Posts, Redding Army Airfield". The California State Military Museum. Retrieved 2008-04-19.
  4. ↑ Sabalow, Ryan (2008-07-17). "Journal: Bush tours Redding to assess California wildfires". Redding Record Searchlight. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  5. ↑ "United Airlines U.S. Route Map 2013" (PDF). United Airlines. June 10, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Airport may add new fee". Redding Record Searchlight. April 2, 2007.

External links