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Modesto City-County Airport
History
Modesto
City-County Airport (MOD) was the nation's first municipally-owned
airport, opening for general aviation operation in 1910, relocating
in 1929 to the current location.
During World War II, Modesto Airport was used as a military
auxiliary airbase to train U.S. Air Corps pilots.
The airport started with only a single runway; a second
runway was added in the 1950’s.
Originally, the airport was named Modesto Municipal Airport. On May 25, 1955
the City of Modesto partnered with Stanislaus County to enable
expansion of the Airport and the name was changed to Modesto City-County Airport. In
October 1974, Harry Sham Field was added to the name to honor the
Airport Manager who served between 1949 and 1968.
Air
carrier service was first offered to the community in 1946 when
United Airlines opened its newly-constructed terminal and began the
Valley Queen service. Modesto has had continuous air service
since then to Bay Area airports. United
flew either DC-3s or B-737s
until 1978 when the airline industry was deregulated.
In
the 1990’s, corporate and business aviation became the fastest-growing segment of activity for the
Airport. Corporate jets
provide their owners with convenient point-to-point service. Taxes
from over 200 aircraft based at MOD bring the community
over $1 million a year.
On
October 12, 1991, the Modesto City Council and Stanislaus Board of
Supervisors rededicated the remodeled 8,900 s.f. passenger terminal
as
R. C. Smith Terminal, in honor of the Airport Manager (1969-1989)
who was nationally-known for convincing the Federal Aviation
Administration that small commercial service airports should receive
higher levels of funding and support.
For the scheduled United Express/SkyWest
Airlines flights between Modesto and San Francisco see
Passenger Services. |
P.O. Box 642, Modesto, CA 95353