The City wanted a new Airport and put in for a Works Progress Administration project that was called the Stillwater Airfield. Before Stillwater Airfield was built in 1942, the site was acquired by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for the United States Army Air Forces and built the Redding Army Airfield. Initially Redding AAF was a sub-base for Chico AAF and garrisoned by the 433d Army Air Force Base Unit. It was under IV Fighter Command at Hamiltion AAF. The mission of Redding Army Air Field was advanced flight training of new airmen prior to their deployment overseas into the combat zones of the Pacific, China, Mediterranean or European Theaters. The USAAF 399th Fighter Squadron, 369th Fighter Group operated P-39 Airacobras from the airfield for that mission. On 1 November 1944 control of Redding AAF was transferred from the Fourth Air Force to the Sacramento Area Command of the Army Air Forces’ Air Technical Service Command headquartered at McClellan Field near Sacramento. The host unit was redesignated as the 4191st Army Air Force Base Unit. The mission was changed from training air crews to that of a refueling and maintenance facility for transient aircraft. Redding AAF was sporadically used by the Army Air Forces’ Air Transport Command as a refueling and service stop. On 19 December 1945 the military declared Redding AAF excess and on 18 November 1946 it was turned over to the city for a civil airfield. Final transfer was in 1949, ending military ownership. The City of Redding continues to operate the airport and has started a major commercial development. Hughes Airwest flew Douglas DC-9-10s and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle. Frontier Boeing 737-200s flew to Denver via Sacramento. United Airlines flew 737s nonstop and direct to San Francisco for several years starting in 1983. Pacific Express BAC One-Elevens flew nonstop to San Francisco and on to Los Angeles and also to Portland. In addition, American Eagle turboprops operating for American Airlines flew nonstop to San Jose, San Francisco, Eureka/Arcata, and Klamath Falls until late 1993. On July 17, 2008 President George W. Bush and staff landed at Redding in Air Force One to allow the president to see the damage done by wildfires.
Facilities
Redding Municipal Airport covers and has two asphalt runways: 16/34, 7,003 x 150 ft and 12/30, 5,067 x 150 ft. In 12 months through April 2012 the airport had 104,674 aircraft operations, average 287 per day: 46% local general aviation, 17% transient general aviation, 36% air taxi, <1% scheduled commercial and <1% military. 222 aircraft are based at this airport: 175 single-engine, 27 multi-engine, 15 helicopter and 5 jet.
Ground transportation
The airport is southeast of Redding along Airport Road at Knighton Road. Interstate 5 can be reached to the west via Knighton Road, and California State Route 44 can be reached to the north via Airport Road. Both long-term and short-term parking are available, as well as car rental and taxi services.
Expansion plans
The City of Redding's remodel and expansion of the Terminal Building is complete, as of November 11, 2014, when the Grand Opening took place. The project cost approximately $9.8 million with the majority of funds coming from the FAA Airport Improvement Program. The Terminal Building was expanded from 20,000 sq. ft. to approximately 30,000 sq. ft. The secure passenger holding area increased its holding capacity from 70 passengers to over 200 passengers. The holding area now has restrooms; a convenience for passengers who previously had to leave the sterile area if they wished to visit the restroom. This project was constructed by the general contractor, Danco Builders Northwest, out of Arcata, CA.
