Stockton Metropolitan Airport

Stockton Metropolitan Airport
(former Stockton Army Airfield)
(former Sharpe Army Depot)

Airport terminal
IATA: SCK – ICAO: KSCK – FAA LID: SCK
– WMO: 72492
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner County of San Joaquin
Serves Stockton, California
Location San Joaquin County, California
Elevation AMSL 33 ft / 10 m
Coordinates 37°53′39″N 121°14′18″W / 37.89417°N 121.23833°W / 37.89417; -121.23833Coordinates: 37°53′39″N 121°14′18″W / 37.89417°N 121.23833°W / 37.89417; -121.23833
Website www.sjgov.org/airport/
Maps

FAA airport diagram
SCK
SCK
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11L/29R 10,650 3,246 Asphalt
11R/29L 4,448 1,356 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 70 21 Concrete
H2 70 21 Concrete
Statistics (2011)
Aircraft operations 47,054
Based aircraft 160

Stockton Metropolitan Airport (IATA: SCK, ICAO: KSCK, FAA LID: SCK) is three miles southeast of downtown Stockton, a city in San Joaquin County, California. It is owned by the County of San Joaquin.[1]

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems categorized it as a primary commercial service airport.[2] Federal Aviation Administration records say it had 36,935 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008,[3] 28,368 in 2009 and 50,632 in 2010.[4]

History

In the months preceding World War II, the U.S. Army entered into the first of many lease agreements with the City of Stockton (on August 15, 1940) to build and operate an Army training facility at Stockton Municipal Airport.

World War II

Stockton Army Airfield was initially garrisoned by the 68th Air Base Group (Special) under the Air Corps Advance Flying School. Between 1940 and 1945, Stockton Field served as a training installation under the West Coast Training Center (later Western Flying Training Command) headquartered at Santa Ana Army Air Base. Known sub-bases and auxiliaries of Stockton AAF were:

In May 1944 all of the facility was consolidated into the 3033rd Army Air Forces Base Unit. Given the airfield's proximity to logistical facilities under the Army Air Forces and Army Service Forces, the site soon became a logistical hub for the U.S. Army in general and the Army Air Forces in particular. This resulted in an increased number of transport aircraft passing through Stockton Field.

On March 2, 1945 the final class completed training and Stockton AAF was transferred from the control of the Western Flying Training Command to the Air Transport Command. With this transfer, the 3033rd AAFBU was redesignated as the 591st AAFBU.

Postwar use

In October 1946 Stockton AAF was declared surplus. As 1,044.18 acres were in the process of being transferred to the War Assets Administration for disposal, 71.36 acres, consisting of a major portion of the former cantonment area including housing, storage facilities, and a sewage disposal plant, were leased to U.S. Army's Stockton General Depot located to the south in nearby Lathrop.

The City of Stockton and the County of San Joaquin resumed operating the former Stockton Municipal Airport on December 16, 1946 under a joint (interim) license. On the 1,044.18 acres of leased land (950 acres of which comprise the airport now under license) there were approximately 175 buildings, including 50 airport-related structures which were included in the above described license. The buildings were primarily the Quartermaster 700-series and 800-series type construction with concrete foundations, wood floor, composition roof, and wood lap siding.

United States Army use

On January 29, 1947 the 71.36-acres of former Stockton Field retained by the U.S. Army was officially named the "Stockton General Depot Field Annex," then renamed "Sharpe General Depot Field Annex" in 1948, when Stockton General Depot was redesignated as Sharpe General Depot. The U.S. Army, with the exception of the Sharpe General Depot Field Annex, left Stockton Field by January 31, 1948; the same date that the City of Stockton and the County of San Joaquin jointly assumed administration over the airport (Stockton Record 1964).

Korean War use

Sharpe General Depot Field Annex was formed from two parcels of land adjacent to the southwest portion of the current Stockton Metropolitan Airport. Sharpe General Depot Field Annex was operated by the U.S. Army as a separate, self-contained military post under Sharpe General Depot. With the rapid expansion of depot operations and facilities that occurred with the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, Sharpe General Depot Field Annex's name was changed to Sharpe General Depot Troop Field Annex to reflect its support mission. During this period, the Site was used primarily for family housing, recreational, and other support facilities for Sharpe General Depot. One of the tenants was the 164th Field Artillery Battalion, California Army National Guard, who occupied a small part of the Sharpe General Depot Troop Field Annex until the new National Guard Armory was built on State-owned land south of the Site in 1952.

Sixth Army & Army Material Command use

On July 8, 1957 the City of Stockton transferred half of its interest in the Stockton Municipal Airport by Grant Deed, and San Joaquin County assumed administration over the airport (subject to certain reservations, restrictions and conditions according to the "Agreement" with the United States of America dated December 23, 1948 (Appendix A). The end of the Korean War caused more mission changes at Sharpe General Depot and the Sharpe General Depot Troop Field Annex. In 1958, the Sharpe General Depot received a Fourth Echelon Air Maintenance Support mission on U.S. Army aircraft within the Sixth U.S. Army Area. The Site then served as home to the Sixth U.S. Army Aircraft Field Maintenance Activity operated by Detachment 3, 6932nd Service Unit. This unit provided maintenance support to U.S. Army rotary and fixed wing liaison aircraft in the Sixth U.S. Army area and Buildings 1000, 1001, and 1003. The Site also was the home of the 30th Engineer Group (Topographic) and the 521st Engineer Company (Topographic, Aviation). During 1959 and 1960, construction of a new airstrip, hangar and shop at Sharpe Army Deport curtailed the military's use of Stockton Airport. In June 1961, the Aircraft Field Maintenance Activity was transferred to Fort Ord, California. By July 1962, the Army Material Command was established with several sub-commands, including the Supply and Maintenance Command. This brought about another name change when Sharpe General Deport became Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex.

Vietnam War use

On July 11, 1964, Stockton Municipal Airport was officially renamed the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, reflecting its changing role as a civil airport. Thirty new family housing units were also built in 1964 at Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex, resulting in the closure of family housing units at the Site.

In the last months of 1965, support to Army Aviation expanded again as a result of the U.S. Army's role in Southeast Asia. As the Vietnam War continued, so did Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex's mission. In April 1966, the first units of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 56th Quartermaster Depot began to arrive at the Site, followed by units of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 58th Field Depot in July.

By 1967 the Headquarters Commandant of Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex had the responsibility to command troops assigned to Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex. This included the supervision of all attached and tenant units, Special Services, Annex Services, Education Center, Officer Open Mess and Non-commissioned Officers Club, including support for Reserve, National Guard and Transient Units.

In January 1966 an Army Clothing Sales Store was transferred from Sacramento Army Depot and reopened in Building T-88 at the Site. A Branch Exchange of the Presidio of San Francisco was also established in Building T-137. On-post housing at Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex was limited, causing 44 sets of "inadequate quarters" to be established at the Site, whereby old barracks buildings were converted into "apartment-type quarters" with two apartments upstairs and two downstairs. To further accommodate the increase in soldiers now stationed at Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex, the Site now provided many additional services such as laundry, dry cleaning, and medical facilities.

In the early 1970s the need for soldiers garrisoning Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex also decreased as military positions were converted to Civil Service positions. Due to the shift in staffing, Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex determined that it no longer the Field Annex site and began the process of disposing of the Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex.

Deactivation

Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex was vacated in 1973, ending the U.S. Army's presence on the field with all of the land and buildings reverting to San Joaquin County. A few original World War II structures still remain including the American Legion Sharpe General Depot Post 632 currently occupying a World War II era mess hall on the Sharpe Army Depot Field Annex property located at Building 372, 1700 Northrop Street. Otherwise the only military presence that has remained is the California Army National Guard's Armory, Field and Combined Support Maintenance Shop, and the Army Aviation Support Facility just south of the Site.

Civil use: airline service

United Airlines served Stockton from 1946 until 1980. Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and successor USAir operated service from 1971-72 until 1980 and again 1984-91. The original Frontier Airlines (1950-1986) followed by Continental Airlines flew from the airport to Denver from 1980 to 1988. Southwest Airways and successors Pacific Air Lines, Air West and Hughes Airwest served Stockton from 1955 until the late 1970s. The last commuter turboprop airline flights ended in 1995. America West Express, the regional affiliate of America West Airlines, started Canadair CRJ-200 regional jet flights to Phoenix in 2000-2001 but then ceased service and left the terminal empty in 2003.

Past jet service

United Airlines operated Boeing 727-200s and 737-200s, PSA flew Boeing 727-100s, 727-200s, 737-200s, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s and British Aerospace BAe 146-200s, Hughes Airwest operated McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s, USAir flew British Aerospace BAe 146-200s, Continental and Frontier operated Boeing 737s and Pacific Express flew British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Elevens.

Allegiant Air jet service

In June 2006 Allegiant Air began round trip flights to Las Vegas with McDonnell Douglas MD-80s and this service continues at the present time.

On October 26, 2007 Allegiant Air began MD-80 flights to Phoenix-Mesa and on July 1, 2010 to Long Beach; however, both routes were then discontinued.

July 2009 oblique photo

On October 28, 2011 Allegiant Air began twice weekly MD-80 flights from Stockton to Palm Springs but then discontinued this service as well.

On November 18, 2012 Allegiant Air began flying twice weekly Boeing 757-200 nonstop flights from Stockton to Honolulu. This service has since been cancelled. The Boeing 757 was the largest aircraft ever to serve the airport with scheduled passenger flights.

Allegiant Air remains the only air carrier at Stockton with one or two flights on average per day to Las Vegas. Allegiant also recently resumed non-stop service to Phoenix-Mesa with two weekly flights on Sundays and Thursdays, and also serves San Diego from the airport.

Load factors for Allegiant are reported to be about 90 percent for their flights from Stockton.

Flights to Mexico

Aeromexico had expressed interest in starting service in 2006 to Guadalajara and Morelia, but the airport was unable to secure a customs facility. Federal officials saw no need for such facility as they already existed in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, San Francisco and San Jose.

Local officials filed an appeal and Congressman Richard Pombo also persuaded officials to approve a facility. Federal officials then reconsidered and approved the plans. Despite the approval, San Joaquin County Supervisors decided against financing the project[5]

In June 2015, the airport was seeking funding for construction of a temporary customs inspection station at the airport, to allow for possible service on Mexican airlines Volaris and Aeromexico.[6]

Cooperation Agreement with Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

In August 2015, airport officials signed a statement with visiting counterparts from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, promising "strategic cooperation" between the two airports.[7] The agreement mentions the possibility of air services between the two airports,[8] but no such services currently exist or are planned.

Cargo Flights

In February 2016, Amazon.com began daily chartered air cargo flights into Stockton Metropolitan Airport as part of their Project Aerosmith, a project by Amazon.com to test the idea of starting their own air cargo operation.[9] The flight are operated daily to Airborne Airpark by Air Transport International on behalf of Amazon, now known as Prime Air utilizing a Boeing 767-300 aircraft. The trial flights from Wilmington, OH were originally operated into Oakland International Airport at the start of Project Aerosmith, but soon after operations were shifted over to Stockton airport.

As of October 2, 2016, there are up to 4 daily flights and 6 destinations to the airport on behalf of Amazon, now branded as Prime Air: two daily flights operate from Airborne Airpark with one continuing on to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport by Air Transport International, while ABX Air operates one daily flight originating from Charlotte Douglas International Airport continues onto Lehigh Valley International Airport and one daily from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport going on to Chicago Rockford International Airport.[10]

Facilities

The airport covers 1,552 acres (628 ha) at an elevation of 33 feet (10 m). It has two asphalt runways: 11L/29R is 10,650 by 150 feet (3,246 x 46 m) and 11R/29L is 4,448 by 75 feet (1,356 x 23 m). It has two concrete helipads, H1 and H2, both 70 by 70 feet (21 x 21 m).[1]

The airport also has a 44,355 sq. ft. terminal building, capable of holding almost 400 passengers in its hold room, as well as up to 5 aircraft at a time once upgrades of the apron are complete. The airport is also seeking to add customs facilities to attract new international flights to Mexico.

In the year ending December 31, 2015, the airport had 66,367 aircraft operations, average 182 per day: 80% general aviation, 15% military, 3% air taxi, and 2% airline. 173 aircraft were then based at this airport: 64% single-engine, 13% military, 12% multi-engine, 8% jet, 2% helicopter, and 1% ultralight.[1]

Airlines and destinations

An Allegiant Air MD-82 awaiting departure to Las Vegas

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa, San Diego

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Amazon.com
operated by Air Transport International 		Wilmington (OH), Dallas/Fort Worth
Amazon.com
operated by ABX Air 		Allentown (PA), Charlotte, Rockford (IL)

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from SCK
(Dec 2014 – Nov 2015)[11]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Las Vegas, Nevada 66,000 Allegiant
2 Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona 14,000 Allegiant

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Master Record for SCK (Form 5010 PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 15, 2012.
  2. ↑ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011.
  5. ↑ Firpo, Eric (2007-03-28). "Supes nix flight plan: No AeroMexico at Stockton Airport". Lodi News-Sentinel. San Joaquin News Service. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Fujii, Reed (19 June 2015). "Stockton airport looks to fly to Mexico". Recordnet.com. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "Stockton airport signs agreement with Chinese airport". Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Stockton and Chinese Airport Administrators Mark Cooperation Between Airports in Ceremony". flystockton.com. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. ↑ Meza, Melinda. "Amazon deal means good things for Stockton airport". KCRA3.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  10. ↑ https://www.flightradar24.com/airport/sck/arrivals. Retrieved 15 September 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ "Stockton, California: Stockton Metropolitan (SCK)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. May 2011.
  •  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
  • Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
  • Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
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