Sacramento Executive Airport
| Sacramento Executive Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| 2006 USGS Photo | |||
| IATA: SAC – ICAO: KSAC – FAA LID: SAC | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Sacramento County | ||
| Location | Sacramento, California | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 24 ft / 7.3 m | ||
| Coordinates | 38°30′45″N 121°29′36″W / 38.51250°N 121.49333°WCoordinates: 38°30′45″N 121°29′36″W / 38.51250°N 121.49333°W | ||
| Map | |||
 KSAC
|
|||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 2/20 | 5,503 | 1,677 | Asphalt |
| 12/30 | 3,836 | 1,169 | Asphalt |
| 16/34 | 3,485 | 1,062 | Asphalt |
| Helipads | |||
| Number | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| H1 | 60 | 18 | Asphalt |
Sacramento Executive Airport (IATA: SAC, ICAO: KSAC, FAA LID: SAC) is a public airport three miles (5 km) south of downtown Sacramento, in Sacramento County, California. The airport covers 540 acres (219 ha) and has three runways (2 lit) and a helipad.
Contents |
History [edit]
When it opened in 1930 Executive Airport was known as Sutterville Aerodrome. As the city-owned facility expanded, in 1941 construction was underway to pave and extend the airport's three runways.
The U.S. Army Air Corps took over the airport during World War II. After the war, control was returned to the city and the facility was renamed Sacramento Municipal Airport. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, improvements were made to parking and taxiway paving, water and sewer systems, and runway/taxiway lighting. The terminal building was built in 1955 along with some navigational aids and T-hangars.
During the airport's last summer of airline operations, the August 1967 Official Airline Guide (OAG) lists 22 weekday flights to San Francisco, 11 to Los Angeles, seven to Reno, two to Medford, two to Marysville, and one each to Lake Tahoe, Klamath Falls and Oakland. Flights by Pacific Air Lines to the north continued to other cities such as Chico, Eureka/Arcata, Crescent City and Portland, OR. Pacific Air Lines flight number 771 flew Reno-Lake Tahoe-Sacramento-San Francisco-San Jose-Fresno-Bakersfield-Burbank-Los Angeles-San Diego. United Airlines flight 224 was a Boeing 727 San Francisco-Sacramento-Reno-Denver-Chicago-La Guardia. Aircraft included Martin 4-0-4s and Fairchild F-27s (on Pacific Air Lines), Lockheed L-188 Electras (on Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and Western Airlines), Boeing 727-100s (on PSA and United Airlines) and Boeing 720B jets (on Western); Western had one 720B nonstop to LAX.
In October 1967 the airlines moved to the new Sacramento Metropolitan Airport (SMF) and Sacramento Municipal Airport was renamed Sacramento Executive Airport. The County of Sacramento became the operator of both airports. Since then Executive Airport has become Northern California's primary general aviation airport.
Executive Airport has always been an asset to the Sacramento area; it is self-supporting, receiving no city, county, or tax money. All operating expenses are paid for by the income it receives from businesses or individuals who use it.
1972 Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Crash [edit]
On September 24, 1972 a former military F-86 Sabre jet in civilian ownership with US registration N275X was set to perform air tricks at the Golden West Sport Aviation Show. Due to pilot error, the airplane failed to become airborne and crashed into Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour. The explosion killed 22 people, 12 of those children. The tragedy prompted closure of a runway to all aircraft, stricter regulations at the airport, and the opening of the Sacramento Firefighter's Burn Institute. The shopping center that housed the ice cream parlor was closed and rebuilt as the Sacramento Public Safety Center, which is the main center for the Sacramento Fire Department and Sacramento Police Department. A memorial was constructed at the crash site.[1]
Facilities [edit]
Sacramento Executive Airport is a general aviation airport with many facilities and services. In addition to an FAA tower, the airport has three paved runways (two lighted) and has tie-downs and hangar rentals.
Over 20 businesses are located at Executive, providing: air charters; aircraft sales, rentals and repairs; flight training; pilot supplies; computer-based testing; and car rentals.
Located 10 minutes from downtown Sacramento, Executive is close to tourist attractions such as Old Sacramento, the State Capitol, Cal Expo State Fairgrounds and Power Balance Pavilion (home of the Sacramento Kings). The airport is also located near three public golf courses and major shopping areas. It is easy to see why in 2004 the average aircraft operations per day were 370.[2]
Executive has three runways, two lighted: Runway 2/20 is 5,503 x 150 feet. A Medium Intensity Approach Light System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights is installed on Runway 2. REIL and VASI are on Runway 20. The FAA contract control tower operates 0600-2100 (local).
Fuel is available from trucks or 24-hour self-serve credit card pumps and plenty of tie down and transient parking is available, the first six hours of which are free. There is plenty of automobile parking in front of the terminal and is also free for the first 72 hours.
Amenities [edit]
Amenities at Sacramento Executive Airport include:[3]
- Pilot's Lounge
- SACjet terminal with available meeting rooms
- Executive Airport terminal with available meeting rooms
- Disabled access, accommodations, and services throughout the facilities
- Restaurant in the terminal building
- Self-serve 100 LL Avgas, Jet A, tie-downs, hangar space, FBO and line services
- Contract control tower 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (SERCO)
- Free, short-term (72-hour) auto parking
Restaurants
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Aviators overlooks the airfield and can hold up to 190 people. They are available for banquet use and other events.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- ^ Farrell's Crash as retrieved from Check-Six.com on December 13, 2006.
- ^ AirNav info for Sac Executive
- ^ About Executive Airport
External links [edit]
- Executive Airport (official Sacramento County Airport System site)
- FAA Airport Master Record for SAC (Form 5010 PDF)
- FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective May 2, 2013
- Resources for this airport:
- AirNav airport information for KSAC
- ASN accident history for SAC
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KSAC
- FAA current SAC delay information
