Big Bear City Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner | Big Bear Airport District | ||||||||||
| Serves | San Bernardino andBig Bear Lake | ||||||||||
| Location | Big Bear City, California | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 6,752 ft / 2,058 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 34°15′50″N116°51′22″W / 34.26389°N 116.85611°W /34.26389; -116.85611 | ||||||||||
| Website | BigBearCityAirport.com | ||||||||||
 Interactive map of Big Bear City Airport | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2004) | |||||||||||
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| Source:Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||||||||||
Big Bear City Airport (IATA:RBF,FAALID:L35) is a high-elevation publicairport, operated by the Big Bear Airport District,[2] located in theSan Bernardino Mountains inBig Bear City, California, United States.[1]
Big Bear City Airport covers an area of 117 acres (47 ha) which contains oneasphalt pavedrunway (8/26) measuring 5,850 x 75 ft (1,783 x 23 m).[1]
In 2004, the airport had 30,000 aircraft operations, an average of 82 per day: 93%general aviation and 7% military. There are 141 aircraft based at this airport: 94% single engine, 3% multi-engine, 2%ultralight and 1%glider.[1]
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Big Bear City Airport has published specific flight rules for aircraft.[3] Currently, the established procedure is for inbound traffic to fly in over the ski slopes at 9,500 feet, and for departing traffic to fly at or below 8,500 feet. As this airport is at fairly high altitude and routinely experiencesdensity altitudes of 9,000 feet or higher, it is important (perhaps more than usual) for pilots to double-check the performance tables in their aircraft manuals to ensure that they will be able to take off. The flight rules also contain noise abatement procedures that help the airport, its tenants, and its guests to be better neighbors to the community.[4]
The calm wind runway (26) ends at the eastern terminus of Big Bear Lake. There is no suitable landing area for several miles, as the terrain is covered almost completely with coniferous trees and houses. If an airplane can make it over the lake and past the dam, its pilot will enjoy "instant altitude" - there is a deep fissure between mountain ridges that leads roughly south towards San Bernardino. One must be cautious of possibleturbulence andmountain wave/rotor activity in this area, but aside from that, it is an option for pilots who are having trouble climbing or maintaining altitude.
In 1947,Los Angeles Air Service had scheduledDouglas DC-3 service fromLos Angeles Municipal Airport (today's LAX) to Big Bear.[5]
In 1988, Alpha Air, a commuter airline based in southern California which subsequently became aTrans World Express air carrier flying on behalf ofTWA, was operating nonstop service from the airport toLos Angeles International Airport (LAX).[6]
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