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Visalia Municipal Airport (IATA: VIS, ICAO: KVIS, FAA LID: VIS) is a small airport located in Visalia, California, United States. It is primarily used for general aviation and military aircraft, with 95% of its aircraft operations being general aviation and 2% being military. The airport has one asphalt runway, 12/30, which is 6,562 by 150 feet, and one helipad that is 45 by 45 feet. While the airport is eligible for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, it currently has no scheduled air service and has experienced fluctuations in commercial service levels over the years.
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What You'll Learn
Visalia Municipal Airport's history
Visalia Municipal Airport (IATA: VIS, ICAO: KVIS, FAA LID: VIS) is located in Visalia, California, United States. It was the first airport in Tulare County, designated in 1929. The airport is about 5 miles (8 km) west of downtown Visalia.
The history of the airport began in 1927 when pilots Solomon "Sol" Sweet and his partner, Edwin Deeds, were flying from Porterville to Visalia’s Hyde Field (Green Acres Airport) when a water line broke, spraying them with hot water. Deeds made a forced landing in J.F. Putnam’s cow pasture west of Visalia. Such landings were not uncommon in the early days of aviation. Sweet and Deeds liked the fairly level pasture and leased it, and together they founded Sweet-Deeds Aircrafters. Sweet convinced the City of Visalia that the level land would make a good airport site, and in June 1928, the city approved a $50,000 bond measure to purchase the field. The first landing at the airport was made by Sweet and Deeds on April 27, 1927. The airport began as two grass strips in June 1928, and the first hangar was an oversized tent. However, members of the Building Trades donated their labour and a substantial hangar was soon built.
In 1930, the Curtis-Wright Company selected the Visalia Airport as one of its nationwide bases for crop dusting. That same year, planes making an air tour of California landed at the airport. Maddux Airlines operated a scheduled flying service using tri-motored Ford airplanes, and for a short time, Cardiff and Peacock Airlines also used the field. In 1931, Grover Weathers was appointed the first official manager of the airfield. In 1933, Colonel John R. White, superintendent of Sequoia National Park and Death Valley National Monument, started flying between the two parks, reducing the travel time from two days by automobile to just one hour by plane.
In 1936, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began several improvement projects at the airport, spending a total of $375,000 between 1936 and 1940. In 1937 and again in 1939, fleets of army planes, usually Douglass or DeHaviland, landed at the airfield. In February 1942, just weeks after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the airport was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces and renamed the Visalia Army Air Field (Visalia AAF). The field was used for light bombers and night fighters, and additional runways and protective revetments were built. During World War II, anti-submarine patrols were conducted from Visalia AAF using Lockheed A-29 Hudson and B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. The 425th Night Fighter Squadron was stationed at Visalia AAF for its entire training cycle from February until May 1944, when it was deployed to England as part of the Ninth Air Force.
After the war, the City of Visalia regained possession of the field in 1946-47, and federal funds were provided for the removal of revetments and repairing the field. United Airlines began operating scheduled flights carrying passengers and airmail in 1946, and these continued until November 1979. Since the deregulation of the airline industry in 1978, Visalia Municipal Airport has been eligible for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which provides funding to ensure small communities maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service. However, commercial service levels have fluctuated over the years, and the airport currently has no scheduled air service. Several airlines have served the airport with EAS funding support, including Air Midwest, Great Lakes Airlines, Scenic Airlines, SeaPort Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Swift Aire Lines, and Wings West Airlines, but none were successful in the long term. The most recent airline at Visalia was SeaPort Airlines, which operated nonstop round trips to Burbank and Sacramento from February 2015 until abruptly suspending service in January 2016.
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Aircraft operations
Visalia Municipal Airport (IATA: VIS, ICAO: KVIS, FAA LID: VIS) is a small, general aviation airport located in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley. It covers 821 acres of land at an elevation of 295 feet and features a single asphalt runway (12/30) measuring 6,562 by 150 feet, along with a helipad.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to its establishment as the first airport in Tulare County in 1929. Over the years, it has undergone various transformations, including serving as a training ground for the 425th Night Fighter Squadron during World War II. Today, the airport primarily caters to general aviation, with a smaller percentage of air taxi and military operations.
In the year ending March 22, 2022, Visalia Municipal Airport recorded 32,500 aircraft operations, averaging 89 per day. This included a range of aircraft types, from small private planes to larger commercial jets. The airport has a diverse aviation history, previously accommodating aircraft such as the Douglas P-70 "Nighthawk" and the Northrop P-61 "Black Widow" during World War II.
While the airport currently has no scheduled commercial air service, it has seen fluctuations in commercial service levels over the years. Past airlines that have served the airport include Air Midwest, Great Lakes Airlines, Scenic Airlines, and SeaPort Airlines. The airport remains eligible for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which ensures that small communities maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service.
For the most up-to-date information on aircraft operations and services, it is recommended to contact the airport directly or refer to their official website.
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Airlines that have served the airport
The Visalia Municipal Airport has had several airlines serve the airport over the years, some with more success than others. The airport's history with commercial airlines dates back to 1946 when United Airlines began mainline flights, which lasted until November 1979. Following the deregulation of the airline industry in 1978, the airport became eligible for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.
Since then, numerous airlines have attempted to establish successful operations at the airport, including Air Midwest, Great Lakes Airlines, Scenic Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Swift Aire Lines, and Wings West Airlines. All of these airlines received EAS funding support, but ultimately none were able to sustain their services.
SeaPort Airlines was the most recent airline to serve the airport, beginning operations in February 2015 with 12 nonstop round trips per week to Burbank and Sacramento. However, their services were abruptly suspended in January 2016.
Despite the cancellation of commercial air service, the airport remains eligible for the EAS program and continues to seek proposals from airlines interested in providing services to the community.
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Nearby attractions
Visalia Municipal Airport is located in the heart of California's agricultural San Joaquin Valley. The airport is a gateway to many natural and cultural attractions in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada foothills. The city centre of Visalia is approximately 5.8 miles (9.3 km) west of the airport, a short drive of around 10 to 15 minutes.
Downtown Visalia is known for its charming streets, local shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. It is a hub for community events and cultural activities. The Taste of Downtown Visalia is a popular event that showcases local restaurants and wineries. The annual Visalia Farmers Market offers fresh produce, handmade crafts, and live entertainment.
Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the nearby Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which offer breathtaking landscapes, including giant sequoias, rugged foothills, deep canyons, and diverse wildlife. These parks provide excellent opportunities for hiking and camping. The Crystal Cave is another natural wonder located near the airport.
Other attractions in the area include the Visalia Convention Centre, Mooney Grove Park, and Lake Kaweah. The College of the Sequoias and the Palace Casino are also nearby.
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Flight tracking and schedules
Flight tracking and schedule information for Visalia Municipal Airport can be found on various websites and platforms. One option is Flightradar24, which provides live flight arrival and departure information, flight delays and cancellations, weather conditions, route maps, and schedules for flights to and from Visalia Municipal Airport. It is important to note that Flightradar24 relies on data from various sources, including flight scheduling systems, airline booking systems, airports, airlines, and third-party data providers. Therefore, while it is a popular and useful tool, the accuracy and currency of the information cannot be guaranteed.
Another option for flight tracking and schedule information is to refer directly to the airport's official website or contact the airport for the most current details. This is recommended because commercial service levels at Visalia Municipal Airport have fluctuated over the years due to various factors, including changes in the airline industry, economic conditions, and community needs. The airport has a history of commercial service fluctuations, with airlines such as Air Midwest, Great Lakes Airlines, Scenic Airlines, SeaPort Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Swift Aire Lines, Wings West Airlines, and United Airlines (which ended its service in 1979) previously serving the airport.
Visalia Municipal Airport (IATA: VIS, ICAO: KVIS, FAA LID: VIS) is a relatively small airport primarily serving general aviation. It is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, approximately 5-6 miles west of downtown Visalia, California. The airport covers 821 acres at an elevation of 295 feet and features one asphalt runway (6,562 by 150 feet) and one helipad (45 by 45 feet).
In terms of flight operations, the year ending March 22, 2022, saw 32,500 aircraft operations, averaging 89 per day. The breakdown of these operations was 95% general aviation, 3% air taxi, and 2% military. The airport has been eligible for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which ensures minimal scheduled air service for small communities. However, it is important to check the latest information as the eligibility and availability of commercial air services can change.
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Frequently asked questions
VIS/KVIS.
The airport is primarily used for general aviation, with some air taxi and military flights also operating there.
Airlines that have served the airport include Air Midwest, Great Lakes Airlines, Scenic Airlines, SeaPort Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, Swift Aire Lines, Wings West Airlines, and United Airlines.
The airport has an elevation of 295 feet (90 m).
The airport is located in Visalia, California, approximately 5-6 miles west of the city centre.
