Southern California Logistics Airport
Encyclopedia
Southern California Logistics Airport , also known as Victorville Airport, is a public airport
located in the city of Victorville
in San Bernardino County
, California
approximately 20 mi (32.2 km) north of San Bernardino
. Prior to its civil usage, the facility was George Air Force Base
from 1941 to 1992 which was a front-line United States Air Force
base.
The airport is home to Southern California Aviation, a large transitional facility for commercial aircraft.
Southern California Logistics Centre, immediately adjacent to SCLA, offers a wide variety of new warehouse and distribution facilities, ranging from 2000 sq ft (185.8 m²) to over 1000000 sq ft (92,903 m²).
The SCLA Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility offers urban warfare training, and has served over 15,000 U.S. military personnel during the past ten years.
The federal government is responsible for helping the Victor Valley recover from the closure of George Air Force Base in 1992. The conversion of the former George Air Force Base to SCLA was designed to provide major corporations with logistics needs, access to a global intermodal logistics gateway to the Western United States. Located near Interstate 15 in California
's Victor Valley, the 5000 acre (2,023.4 ha) complete intermodal business complex is approximately 20 mi (32.2 km) north of downtown San Bernardino
, and 23 mi (37 km) north of San Bernardino International Airport
.
In July 2000 SCLA received foreign trade zone
status from the United States Department of Commerce
. The designation was intended to make it much easier for the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority to convince international carriers to use the airport as a base for shipping foreign products to Southern California. During that same period, the Department of Transportation
approved a $4.9 million grant for the SCLA to extend its main runway from 10050 ft (3,063.2 m) to 13050 ft (3,977.6 m) to accommodate international jet transports. The airport authority required the 3000 ft (914.4 m) extension to ensure that cargo planes could depart fully loaded in summer heat. The longer runway was also required for the efficient use of the facility as the main transportation hub for the 70,000 troops a year traveling to and from the Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin. At 15059 ft (4,590 m), SCLA's runway 17/35 is the second longest public-use runway in the United States, surpassed only by that of the Denver International Airport
16000 ft (4,876.8 m) runway 16R/34L.
The Fiscal Year 2002 military spending bill earmarked to allow the U.S. Army to continue using the SCLA to transport troops en route to training exercises at Fort Irwin. The airport has proven to be one of the most efficient and safest locations for travel to and from the Army's National Training Center for the troops who rotate through each year. Company D of the 158th Aviation Regiment is a general support aviation company that moved in under a five-year contract the Army signed with SCLA and the city of Victorville. The unit is part of the 244th Aviation Brigade of Fort Sheridan, Illinois
.
The airport has been used for many Hollywood movies, including Face/Off
and Jarhead
, and was namechecked (as Victorville) in The War of the Worlds
.
In late 2006, SCLA became home to Air Tanker 910
which is on contract to the California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE). Tanker 910 is the only wide-body jet currently in fire service and uses SCLA as its re-loading base for fires occurring anywhere in California
.
On August 9, 2007 the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) announced that for their 2007 Autonomous Vehicle Competition both the Urban Challenge NQE and final event would take place at the urban military training facility located on the former George Air Force Base. DARPA selected the location because its network of urban roads best simulate the type of terrain American forces operate in when deployed overseas. “The robotic vehicles will conduct simulated military supply missions at the site. This adds many of the elements these vehicles would face in operational environments,” explained Dr. Tether.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in the city of Victorville
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
approximately 20 mi (32.2 km) north of San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
. Prior to its civil usage, the facility was George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base
George Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located within city limits, 8 miles northwest of central Victorville, California, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. The facility was closed by the Base Realignment and Closure 1992 commission at the end of the Cold...
from 1941 to 1992 which was a front-line United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
base.
The airport is home to Southern California Aviation, a large transitional facility for commercial aircraft.
Facilities
Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) covers 2300 acres (930.8 ha) and has two runways:- Runway 17/35: 15050 foot, Surface: asphalt/concrete
- Runway 03/21: 9138 foot, Surface: asphalt/concrete
Southern California Logistics Centre, immediately adjacent to SCLA, offers a wide variety of new warehouse and distribution facilities, ranging from 2000 sq ft (185.8 m²) to over 1000000 sq ft (92,903 m²).
The SCLA Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) facility offers urban warfare training, and has served over 15,000 U.S. military personnel during the past ten years.
Airport overview
Interstate 15 in California
In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 15 is a major north–south route through the San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and it has a length of in the state. It is a major thoroughfare for traffic between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as points beyond...
's Victor Valley, the 5000 acre (2,023.4 ha) complete intermodal business complex is approximately 20 mi (32.2 km) north of downtown San Bernardino
Downtown San Bernardino
Downtown San Bernardino is a district in San Bernardino, California, United States. It is home to city and county government buildings, as well as the city's central business district...
, and 23 mi (37 km) north of San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport
San Bernardino International Airport is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of San Bernardino, California, in San Bernardino County, California, USA. The airport covers and has one runway. It is currently a general aviation and cargo airport located on...
.
In July 2000 SCLA received foreign trade zone
Foreign trade zone
A foreign-trade zone in the United States is a geographical area, in United States Ports of Entry Ports of Entry, where commercial merchandise, both domestic and foreign receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States...
status from the United States Department of Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
. The designation was intended to make it much easier for the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority to convince international carriers to use the airport as a base for shipping foreign products to Southern California. During that same period, the Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
approved a $4.9 million grant for the SCLA to extend its main runway from 10050 ft (3,063.2 m) to 13050 ft (3,977.6 m) to accommodate international jet transports. The airport authority required the 3000 ft (914.4 m) extension to ensure that cargo planes could depart fully loaded in summer heat. The longer runway was also required for the efficient use of the facility as the main transportation hub for the 70,000 troops a year traveling to and from the Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin. At 15059 ft (4,590 m), SCLA's runway 17/35 is the second longest public-use runway in the United States, surpassed only by that of the Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
16000 ft (4,876.8 m) runway 16R/34L.
The Fiscal Year 2002 military spending bill earmarked to allow the U.S. Army to continue using the SCLA to transport troops en route to training exercises at Fort Irwin. The airport has proven to be one of the most efficient and safest locations for travel to and from the Army's National Training Center for the troops who rotate through each year. Company D of the 158th Aviation Regiment is a general support aviation company that moved in under a five-year contract the Army signed with SCLA and the city of Victorville. The unit is part of the 244th Aviation Brigade of Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan, Illinois
Fort Sheridan is a residential neighborhood spread among Lake Forest, Highwood, and Highland Park in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It was originally established as a United States Army Post named after Civil War Cavalry General Philip Sheridan, to honor his services to Chicago...
.
Face/Off
Face/Off is a 1997 action thriller film directed by John Woo, starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage. The two both play an FBI agent and a terrorist, sworn enemies who assume the physical appearance of one another....
and Jarhead
Jarhead (film)
Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama war film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 1991 Gulf War memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with co-stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to...
, and was namechecked (as Victorville) in The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds (1953 film)
The War of the Worlds is a 1953 science fiction film starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. It was the first on-screen loose adaptation of the H. G. Wells classic novel of the same name...
.
In late 2006, SCLA became home to Air Tanker 910
Tanker 910
Tanker 910 is the call-sign of a wide-body jet air tanker currently in fire service. The aircraft, operated by 10 Tanker Air Carrier, is a converted McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft used for fighting wildfires, typically in rural areas...
which is on contract to the California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE). Tanker 910 is the only wide-body jet currently in fire service and uses SCLA as its re-loading base for fires occurring anywhere in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
On August 9, 2007 the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of new technology for use by the military...
(DARPA) announced that for their 2007 Autonomous Vehicle Competition both the Urban Challenge NQE and final event would take place at the urban military training facility located on the former George Air Force Base. DARPA selected the location because its network of urban roads best simulate the type of terrain American forces operate in when deployed overseas. “The robotic vehicles will conduct simulated military supply missions at the site. This adds many of the elements these vehicles would face in operational environments,” explained Dr. Tether.
External links
- Global Access at Southern California Logistics Airport (official site)
- Southern California Aviation
- Southern California Logistics Airport / George Air Force Base (GlobalSecurity.org)
- Airliners.net