Chapman Farms Airport — Chowchilla, California (67CA)

Chapman Farms Airport (FAA identifier: 67CA) is a private-use general aviation facility located in Chowchilla, Madera County, in California's central San Joaquin Valley. Situated at approximately 37.07° N, 120.38° W, the airport serves the agricultural and rural aviation needs of one of California's most productive farming communities. Chowchilla, with a population of roughly 19,000 residents, lies along the Highway 99 corridor between Fresno and Merced — a region where private airstrips play a critical role in agricultural operations, crop monitoring, and time-sensitive rural transportation.

Chapman Farms Airport features an asphalt runway approximately 3,000 feet in length, providing a solid surface capable of handling a range of light general aviation aircraft. The runway's orientation and surface condition make it suitable for single-engine and light twin-engine aircraft commonly used in agricultural aviation, including aerial application, surveying, and farm-to-farm transport. The airport is registered with the FAA and appears in major aviation databases including AirNav, FlightAware, and AOPA, ensuring pilots can access up-to-date facility information during flight planning.

The San Joaquin Valley setting of Chapman Farms Airport means that aviation here is deeply intertwined with the rhythms of California agriculture. Madera County is home to extensive orchards, vineyards, dairies, and row crops, and private airstrips like Chapman Farms serve landowners, ag-pilots, and farm managers who need rapid aerial access across large holdings. Aerial application aircraft — applying fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides — routinely operate from facilities just like this one, particularly during the critical spring and fall growing seasons when ground access may be limited.

For pilots seeking IFR services, instrument approaches, or full FBO support, Chowchilla Municipal Airport (FAA: 2O6) is located approximately one mile southeast of Chowchilla off Highway 99 at the intersection of Avenue 25 and Airport Drive. Established in 1947, Chowchilla Municipal offers a 3,253 × 60-foot asphalt runway (Runway 12/30) in good condition, permanent T-hangars, tie-down spaces, and FBO services through Thiel Air Care, Inc., which specializes in aerial agricultural application. The municipal airport is managed by the City of Chowchilla Public Works Department and can be reached at (559) 665-8615, ext. 789.

Pilots flying into the broader San Joaquin Valley region should be aware of the area's unique meteorological characteristics. Tule fog — a dense ground-level radiation fog — is common throughout the valley from late November through February, frequently reducing visibility to near zero in the early morning hours. Pilots operating at Chapman Farms Airport and other valley airstrips must carefully review current METARs and TAFs, and should carry sufficient fuel reserves when flying IFR approaches into the region. The nearest National Weather Service office providing valley aviation forecasts is in Hanford, California.

The central valley location of Chapman Farms Airport places it within reasonable flying distance of several significant regional airports. Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), approximately 35 miles to the southeast, offers commercial airline service and full GA services. Merced Regional Airport/Macready Field (MCE), roughly 25 miles to the north, serves as another regional hub for central valley aviation. Both airports offer customs, fuel, and maintenance services that support pilots transiting between northern and southern California.

Whether you are a local agricultural operator using Chapman Farms Airport for seasonal flight operations, a transient pilot seeking an off-the-beaten-path landing option in Madera County, or a researcher tracking California's network of private airstrips, understanding the role of facilities like this one illuminates how rural aviation infrastructure quietly sustains American agricultural productivity. Chapman Farms Airport (67CA) represents the essential, workaday side of general aviation — not glamorous international terminals, but functional asphalt and open sky in the heart of California's farming heartland.

Chapman Farms Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Chowchilla, California.

Name Chapman Farms Airport
Address California 152, Chowchilla CA 93610 Map
Phone (559) 665-0755
Website
Hours

Map of Chapman Farms Airport

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Airports near Chowchilla

Frequently Asked Questions — Chapman Farms Airport (67CA), Chowchilla, CA

Chapman Farms Airport is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration under the identifier 67CA. This code is used in aviation databases including AirNav, FlightAware, and AOPA to identify the private-use airstrip located in Chowchilla, Madera County, California. Pilots should reference 67CA when filing flight plans or looking up facility details for this airport.

Chapman Farms Airport (67CA) is a private-use facility. This means it is not open to the general public without permission from the airport owner. Pilots wishing to land at or depart from Chapman Farms Airport should contact the owner directly before any operation. For public general aviation services in the Chowchilla area, pilots should use Chowchilla Municipal Airport (FAA: 2O6), located approximately one mile southeast of downtown Chowchilla, which offers public access, permanent T-hangars, and FBO services through Thiel Air Care, Inc.

Chapman Farms Airport features an asphalt runway approximately 3,000 feet (917 meters) in length. This runway length is suitable for a variety of light single-engine and light twin-engine general aviation aircraft, including those used in agricultural aviation operations common throughout Madera County. Pilots planning operations at this facility should verify current runway conditions with the airport owner before landing, as private airstrip maintenance standards can vary.

The nearest public airports to Chapman Farms Airport include Chowchilla Municipal Airport (2O6), roughly 1–2 miles away; Merced Regional Airport/Macready Field (MCE), approximately 25 miles north; and Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), about 35 miles southeast. For Bay Area connections, Oakland International Airport (OAK) is approximately 100 miles to the northwest. Other regional general aviation options include Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), located in the Tri-Valley area of the East Bay, approximately 85 miles northwest of Chowchilla.

Pilots operating at Chapman Farms Airport and throughout the San Joaquin Valley should be aware of tule fog, a dense radiation fog that forms during late fall and winter (typically November through February). Tule fog can rapidly reduce visibility to near zero in early morning hours, creating significant IFR hazards for VFR pilots. Additionally, summer brings extreme heat to the valley floor, affecting aircraft performance — density altitude at Chowchilla can rise significantly on hot afternoons. Pilots should always obtain current METARs and TAFs from the nearest reporting stations (Merced or Fresno) before any valley flight operations.

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