KSBD

MikeD

MikeD

Administrator
Staff member
What's going on with that airport, in terms of air carrier/passenger operations? It has a pax terminal with 3 jetways, but all that's parked at the jetways are a couple of derelict former AA 727s, and there's no one in the terminal area, no vehicles in the short/long term parking area, no cars driving through the terminal area, no one manning the ATC tower, and nothing going on at that part of the airport. It's creepy and reminds me of the Walking Dead tv show when I went through there a month or so ago. Any idea what the current standing of the place is?

I remember SBD as a bustling airfield when it was Norton AFB and hosted the 63rd Military Airlift Wing and 3 squadrons of C-141s. Now, it's a VERY quiet place....a little bit of maintenance going on, a forest service air attack base, and a CFR/ARFF training facility, among a few other goings on.

SBD can be seen in the first movie of the "Fast and the Furious" series, where the "Race Wars" car racing and show competition is being held.
 
"Race wars" . Nice. IIRC, didn't that airport have grass growing through so much of the runway it might as well be a soft field runway?
 
KHanson said:
"Race wars" . Nice. IIRC, didn't that airport have grass growing through so much of the runway it might as well be a soft field runway?
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No, actually. The airfield itself is in pretty good shape. Very good shape actually.
 
On the google 45 degree aerial view, it looks like they towed the 727s south of those 4 hangars that are west of the tower, and it looks like they're breaking up the concrete ramp. That's never a good sign... As far as I know the air attack base was the only thing going on there for a while. When I started flight training the tower was closed and the airport was a Class E surface area. Later the tower was re-opened and it became Class D again. Looking at airnav/skyvector, it appears the tower is still open and still Class D. I think the current occupant of the 4 large hangars is Aviation & Defense Inc. (ADI). Apparently they're a maintenance contractor for Virgin America, Allegiant and Spirit.
 
Nothing is goingnon there. There was plans for expansion, airline service, etc. But it's to close to other airports that do the same, so... SBD is a derelict step child that will never go anywhere and will likely be closed and turned into houses eventually.
 
Was in there on a charter trip a couple of weeks ago. It happened to be the day after the Million Air FBO there went out of business and shut the doors. We parked at the new "FBO" which is really just a double-wide that was set up by the fuel provider on the field to handle GA.

The word I got was that the airline terminal was built, but has never been used. Actually, here's an article I just found that sums everything up nicely:

http://www.sbsun.com/ci_21871295/san-bernardino-airport-finalizing-dealings-scot-spencer
 
Used to love taking my students there who had trouble with landing. I've also been the source of more than a few simulated engine failures over Big Bear Lake dam. (Looks at student) "Boy that breakfast in Big Bear just hit the spot didn't it? ...uh oh..." (Student rolls eyes). "And by the way you don't get the engine back this time so you better figure out where where we're landing quick." (Student's eyes get BIG)

Haha Ahhh, good times. But those were when it was uncontrolled, before a certain lady (and I use the term loosely) controller moved there from another nearby tower. Lol
 
There's a hangar there that is used as a blimp hangar. Other than that, not much going on. It was a total joke that I had to take a class to be able to drive from the gate to the hangar this summer.
 
I know they built the terminal with a customs facility hoping to attract airline service, and California Pacific was in talks with the airport, but no one has shown concrete interest in flying to SBD. I'm not sure how hard the county is pushing for airline service these days, but they must be doing something after building all the facilities. I would expect to see service from a Mexican LCC like Volaris, interjet, or Viva Aerobus serve SBD before any domestic carriers.
 
ChasenSFO said:
I know they built the terminal with a customs facility hoping to attract airline service, and California Pacific was in talks with the airport, but no one has shown concrete interest in flying to SBD. I'm not sure how hard the county is pushing for airline service these days, but they must be doing something after building all the facilities. I would expect to see service from a Mexican LCC like Volaris, interjet, or Viva Aerobus serve SBD before any domestic carriers.
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CLD-SBD would be pointless, assuming you can carry anything of value in the 175 out of CLD to begin with.
 
spoolinup22 said:
It seems very similar to KBLV. Brand new terminal, but sits empty. Very sad.
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Funny you mention that - on departure out of STL the other day I noticed that field and looked it up. Thought it was an interesting layout with the giant ass taxiway splitting the airport in two.
 
Murdoughnut said:
Funny you mention that - on departure out of STL the other day I noticed that field and looked it up. Thought it was an interesting layout with the giant ass taxiway splitting the airport in two.
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Yeah one half is the civilian side, the other is the military. Although a co-worker went there the other day and got to use the military side. Weird.

It can be a fun airport. I've seen a bunch of 75's in the AF1 paint scheme doing touch and goes before.
 
Before the economy crashed everyone from Rialto was going to move over there paid for by the county. A developer was going to build shopping area on the Rialto airport.

They have really tried to get UPS/FedEx types to move from Ontario but why would they?
 
I like that airport. Shoot the ILS under the cloud layer and transition to KREI VFR along the dry river bed. You can't miss it!
 
[quote="fholbert, post: 2003475, member: 17278"They have really tried to get UPS/FedEx types to move from Ontario but why would they?[/quote]
Seeing as UPS and FedEx have almost half the airport to themselves and practically have their own runway, I don't see any logic behind that really. Unless they wanted to expand upon the existing ONT service with a few flights to SBD.
 
The biggest issue I have with the place is how hard it is to get to driving, from a major highway. Very little signage, on city streets, isn't exactly the most customer friendly way to get to an airport
 
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