Cochran Airport: Commercial Airlines Availability And Accessibility

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, formerly known as Thermal Airport, is located in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California. Built during World War II, the airport has had a rich history, serving as a remote Army air base, a test site for record-setting pilots, and a hub for crop dusters and commercial aviation. Today, the airport caters to private jet services and general aviation, with plans for further development and expansion. With its central location and easy access to nearby highways, the airport provides convenient ground transportation options for passengers. While it is unclear if commercial airlines operate at the airport, it is known for its state-of-the-art aviation facilities and proximity to popular destinations in the region.

Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport's history

Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport in Riverside County, California, United States. It is located in the Coachella Valley, 23 miles southeast of Palm Springs, in Thermal, California. The airport was built during World War II and was used by both the US Army and US Navy as an air support command base as part of the Desert Training Center in the Mojave Desert.

The airfield, known as Thermal Ground Support Base or Thermal Army Air Field, was established in August 1942. It had two 5,000-foot runways and was assigned to the Fourth Air Force. In December 1943, it was reassigned to the California-Arizona Maneuver Area under the control of the Third Air Force. In addition to flight operations, the station served as a pre-embarkation training centre for aviation, construction, ordnance, and other units.

After the war, in 1947, the military airfield was turned over to civil control and renamed Thermal Airport. In 1998, the name was changed to Desert Resorts Regional Airport to better reflect its regional function. Finally, in 2004, the airport was renamed Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport to honour pioneering aviator and Indio resident Jacqueline Cochran.

Today, the airport covers an area of 1,850 acres at an elevation of 115 feet below mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways and sees consistently high passenger usage annually during the December to March period due to the Coachella Desert Circuit horse show. The airport is also located near world-class spas, PGA-rated golf courses, and tennis resort activities.

Commercial airlines at the airport

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (IATA: TRM, ICAO: KTRM, FAA LID: TRM) is a county-owned, public-use airport in Riverside County, California, United States. It is located in the Coachella Valley, 20 nautical miles southeast of Palm Springs, in Thermal, California. The airport is named after Jacqueline Cochran, a pioneering aviator and Indio resident.

The airport was built during World War II and was used by the US Army and US Navy as an air support command base for the Desert Training Center in the Mojave Desert. After the war, the airport was transferred to Riverside County and became a civilian facility, serving general aviation and commercial aviation needs in the region.

During the early post-war years, the airport was frequented by aviation pioneers such as Chuck Yeager and Jacqueline Cochran, the first woman to break the sound barrier. The airport also hosted commercial aviation services via Bonanza Airlines, a regional passenger flight service in the western United States that later became part of Delta Airlines. However, with the relaxation of aviation regulations in the late 1960s, commercial passenger flights began bypassing the Thermal airport in favour of Palm Springs.

Today, the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport continues to serve general aviation and sees consistently high passenger usage during the December-March period due to the Coachella Desert Circuit horse show. The airport covers an area of 1,850 acres at an elevation of 115 feet below mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 17/35, which is 8,500 by 150 feet, and 12/30, which is 4,995 by 100 feet.

The airport is served by three fixed-base operators (FBOs): Thermal Aviation, Desert Jet Center, and Atlantic Aviation. These FBOs provide fueling, storage, aircraft maintenance, and other services to general aviation and commercial aircraft. Desert Jet Center, in particular, caters to private jet clients and offers charter flight services.

In addition to commercial aviation activities, the airport also hosts law enforcement and medical aircraft services. The California Highway Patrol has a 12,000-square-foot air base at the airport, while Mercy Air operates a 7,000-square-foot medical transport base.

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport is easily accessible by ground transportation and is centrally located, with uncongested airspace providing easy departures to Arizona, Las Vegas, Mexico, and the Western United States. The airport is also just 45 flying minutes from Los Angeles and Van Nuys Airports, and 10 flying minutes from Palm Springs Airport.

Private jets at the airport

There are two airports with the name Cochran Airport: one in Kansas and the other in California. The former, Cochran Airport (1KS1), is a private jet airport in Kansas. The latter, Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, is a county-owned, public-use airport in Riverside County, California. It is also used by private jets.

Cochran Airport, Kansas

Cochran Airport (1KS1) in Kansas is a private jet airport. To charter a private jet to or from this airport, you can call Victor on +44 (0)20 7384 8550.

Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, California

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in California is a public-use airport that is also used by private jets. The airport has two asphalt runways: 17/35, which is 8,500 by 150 feet (2,591 x 46 m), and 12/30, which is 4,995 by 100 feet (1,522 x 30 m). The airport is located in the Coachella Valley, 20 nautical miles (23 mi, 37 km) southeast of the central business district of Palm Springs.

The airport has three fixed-base operators (FBO) on the field: Thermal Aviation, Desert Jet Center, and Atlantic Aviation. Desert Jet Center provides private jet air charter services and aircraft management solutions. It is also the only FAA Certified Part 145 Repair Station in the Coachella Valley, offering onsite aircraft maintenance, repair, and inspections.

Airport transport links

Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport is located in the Coachella Valley, in the Desert Resorts Region, California. The airport is 20 nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Palm Springs, in Thermal, California. The airport is easily accessible by road, situated one mile west of the California State Route 86 expressway and six miles south of Interstate 10. It is also close to three major commercial boulevards: Airport Boulevard, Harrison Avenue, and Highway 86. The airport is 45 flying minutes from Los Angeles and Van Nuys Airports, and just 10 flying minutes from Palm Springs Airport.

The airport is served by several fixed-base operators (FBOs), including Thermal Aviation, Desert Jet Center, and Atlantic Aviation. These FBOs provide fueling, storage, and other services for aircraft. Desert Jet Center also offers private jet air charter services and aircraft management solutions, as well as being the only FAA Certified Part 145 Repair Station in the Coachella Valley. Affordable Avionics, the only avionics company at the airport, operates out of Atlantic Aviation.

In addition to air transport, the airport offers ground transportation options. Visitors can opt for short-term parking, or use ride-sharing services like taxis or cabs for a hassle-free arrival and departure.

The airport is surrounded by several communities, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, Coachella, Indio, and Thermal. These communities provide easy access to the airport for residents and visitors alike.

Airport facilities

Cochran Airport, also known as Red Curtis Field, is a city-owned, public-use airport located four nautical miles (6.4 km) east of the central business district of Cochran, Bleckley County, Georgia, United States. Covering an area of 125 acres (51 ha) at an elevation of 377 feet (115 m) above mean sea level, the airport has two runways with an asphalt surface. Runway 11/29 is the longer of the two, measuring 4,400 by 75 feet (1,341 x 23 m), while Runway 5/23 measures 3,202 by 75 feet (976 x 23 m). In addition to general aviation facilities, Cochran Airport serves as a satellite campus to Middle Georgia State University's aviation program, which primarily operates out of Heart of Georgia Regional Airport in Eastman.

For the 12-month period ending on July 3, 2011, there were 16 aircraft based at this airport. The airport was named Red Curtis Field in March 2008 to honour flight instructor and aerial applicator H.D. "Red" Curtis.

On the other hand, the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (IATA: TRM, ICAO: KTRM, FAA LID: TRM) is a county-owned, public-use airport in Riverside County, California, United States. Located in the Coachella Valley, 20 nautical miles (23 mi, 37 km) southeast of the central business district of Palm Springs, the airport covers an area of 1,850 acres (749 ha) at an elevation of 115 feet (35 m) below mean sea level. It has two asphalt-paved runways: 17/35, which measures 8,500 by 150 feet (2,591 x 46 m), and 12/30, measuring 4,995 by 100 feet (1,522 x 30 m).

For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2023, the airport recorded 57,093 aircraft operations, averaging 156 per day, with 80% general aviation and 20% air taxi. There were 94 aircraft based at this airport: 50 single-engine, 16 multi-engine, 18 jet, and 10 helicopter. The airport hosts an annual air show in late November, featuring full-scale aircraft and radio-controlled models flown by members of the Coachella Valley Radio Control Club.

Frequently asked questions