Roberta Aguirre
Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA), also known as Victorville Airport, is a public airport in Victorville, California. It is located in the southwestern edge of the Mojave Desert, about 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The airport was previously known as George Air Force Base, which was decommissioned in 1992. SCLA is a popular destination for aviation enthusiasts and businesses, offering aircraft maintenance, storage, and scrapping facilities. It also provides a unique setting for the movie and television industry, with its desert landscapes, runways, and warehouses. SCLA caters to a diverse range of aviation needs, including flight testing, aircraft research, and aircraft asset management.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) |
| Other Names | Victorville Airport |
| Location | Victorville, San Bernardino County, California |
| Distance from San Bernardino | 20 miles (32 km) north of downtown San Bernardino |
| Distance from San Bernardino International Airport | 23 miles (37 km) north of San Bernardino International Airport |
| Distance from Los Angeles | 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles |
| Area | 2,200 acres (some sources state 2,300 acres or 5,000 acres) |
| Former Name | George Air Force Base (GAFB) |
| Purpose | Business, military, and freight use |
| Runways | 2 |
| Runway 17/35 | 13,051 ft × 150 ft (3,978 m × 46 m), asphalt/concrete surface |
| Runway 03/21 | 9,138 ft × 150 ft (2,785 m × 46 m), asphalt/concrete surface |
| Foreign Trade Zone Status | Yes |
| Aircraft Storage Capacity | Over 500 aircraft |
| Aircraft Maintenance | Yes |
| Film Industry Usage | Popular filming location for movies, TV episodes, and commercials |
| Opening Days | Monday to Sunday |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
History of Southern California Logistics Airport
The Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA), also known as Victorville Airport, is located in the city of Victorville in San Bernardino County, California. The airport is about 7 miles northwest of downtown Victorville, 50 miles (80 km) north of San Bernardino, and 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
The airport was established on the site of the former George Air Force Base, which was in active service from 1941 to 1992. The base was created by the United States Army Air Corps as an Advanced Flying School in June 1941 and remained operational until the end of World War II. It was reactivated at the start of the Korean War in November 1950 and served as a training facility for Tactical Air Command pilots throughout the Cold War until its closure in 1992. The federal government supported the conversion of the base into a logistics airport to aid the Victor Valley's recovery from the base's closure and provide major corporations with access to a global intermodal logistics gateway to the Western United States.
The Southern California Logistics Airport opened shortly after the Air Force leased the former base in October 1994. In February 1995, the airport received a FAA Part 139 Certificate to serve passenger and cargo operators. The airport is designed for business, military, and freight use, with no commercial passenger services except for FBO and charter flights. SCLA covers approximately 2,200 to 2,300 acres and features two runways, state-of-the-art hangars, and a rail complex. The dry desert environment at SCLA is ideal for long-term aircraft preservation.
SCLA has served as a base for various aviation-related businesses. It is home to Southern California Aviation, a large transitional facility for commercial aircraft, and Company D of the 158th Aviation Regiment. Aircraft maintenance and storage companies, such as ComAv Technical Services, operate open storage facilities at SCLA with capacities of over 500 aircraft. The airport has also been utilised for aircraft storage during events like the 2015 emissions scandal and the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet. Additionally, SCLA has been a popular filming location for movies, television episodes, and commercials due to its diverse venues and desert scenes.
Denver's Airport: An Enormous Hub With an Intriguing History
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$123.5
Southern California Aviation
SCLA is a public airport designed for business, military, and freight use, with no commercial passenger services except for FBO and charter flights. It features two runways, the longest being a precision instrument runway with a length of 15,050 feet (or 13,051 feet according to another source), capable of accommodating any aircraft flying today. The airport also offers 24-hour US Customs service.
The dry desert environment at SCLA is conducive to aircraft preservation and storage. Aircraft maintenance and storage companies operate facilities at the airport, with capacities of over 500 aircraft. SCLA has been utilised for aircraft storage by airlines and aircraft manufacturers, such as Southwest Airlines and Boeing. Additionally, Volkswagen leased land at SCLA for vehicle storage in 2015.
SCLA has been recognised as one of the most efficient and safest locations for travel to and from the Army's National Training Center. It has also served as a base for firefighting aircraft, with Air Tanker 910 using the airport as its reloading base for fires in California. Furthermore, the airport has been a popular filming location for movies, television episodes, and commercials due to its diverse venues, including desert scenes, open spaces, runways, and warehouses.
Airport Security and Stents: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Aircraft maintenance and storage
SCLA is home to aviation businesses, including aircraft maintenance and storage companies. One notable operator is ComAv Technical Services, which manages a vast 240-acre open storage facility capable of holding over 500 aircraft, with additional hangar space. The dry desert environment is ideal for long-term aircraft preservation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several airlines contracted ComAv to store and maintain their grounded fleets. In another instance, Southwest Airlines used SCLA to store its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after they were grounded by the FAA.
SCLA's state-of-the-art hangars accommodate various aircraft maintenance and repair programs. These programs include maintenance, repair, and painting services for large wide-body aircraft, such as the Boeing 747-8, 777-300, and the 787 Dreamliner.
The airport also offers aircraft end-of-life cycle services, providing a complete picture of aircraft maintenance and storage capabilities.
Airport Extreme: A Good Router Choice?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Location and access
The Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) is located in the city of Victorville, in San Bernardino County, California. It is about 7 miles northwest of downtown Victorville, and approximately 50 miles (80 kilometres) north of San Bernardino. The airport is about 90 miles northeast of Los Angeles, in the southwest corner of the Mojave Desert.
SCLA is accessible by road, with driving directions available online. While you can drive through some of the streets and roads within the airport, most business and industry areas are restricted. There are no organised tours of the airport.
The airport is located near Interstate 15 in California's Victor Valley, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) north of downtown San Bernardino and 23 miles (37 kilometres) north of San Bernardino International Airport. It is just north of Air Base Road (Air Expressway).
SCLA is also accessible by rail, with a rail complex on the property.
The airport is open 7 days a week. However, there are no commercial passenger services at this facility except for FBO and charter flights.
Airport Express and Switches: A Compatible Combo?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Film and television
The Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA), also known as Victorville Airport, is located in the city of Victorville in San Bernardino County, California. The airport is a popular filming location for the movie and television industry.
SCLA has been used as a filming location for everything from small independent productions to high-end commercials and major Hollywood blockbusters. The airport offers a wide range of desert scenes, open spaces, runways, warehouses, and other venues that are easily accessible to the film industry. The old military facilities outside the airfield also offer unique filming opportunities. For instance, filmmakers can access hangar space for large shot sequences, runway or taxiway access, a remote desert background, or a deserted urban area.
Many major motion pictures, television shows, and commercials have been filmed at SCLA, including a television commercial for Southwest Airlines' new plane designs. The airport's secluded location makes it an ideal filming spot as it causes no harm or disruption to local properties or residents.
SCLA is home to several aviation-related businesses, including ComAv Technical Services, a large transitional facility for commercial aircraft. The airport covers around 2,200 to 2,300 acres and includes a precision instrument runway of 15,050 feet and a secondary runway of 9,138 feet.
Gucci at Sydney Airport: Cheaper or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) is a public airport located in Victorville, San Bernardino County, California. It is a logistics airport designed for business, military, and freight use.
The airport is located on the site of the former George Air Force Base, which was in active service from 1941 to 1992. The base was created by the United States Army Air Corps as an Advanced Flying School and was later activated by the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. The Southern California Logistics Airport opened in October 1994.
The airport includes two runways, a rail complex, state-of-the-art hangars, and a 24-hour U.S. Customs service. It caters to a variety of aviation-related businesses and offers aircraft maintenance, storage, and repair services. The airport also has adjacent warehouse and distribution facilities.
No, there are no commercial passenger services at this airport except for FBO and charter flights. However, it is a popular destination for planespotters and has been featured in movies and television productions.
