Daggett-Barstow Airport (UEC) — Daggett, California

Daggett-Barstow Airport, officially designated with the FAA identifier UEC and listed under facility ID 27646, sits in the high Mojave Desert community of Daggett, San Bernardino County, California. Located at approximately 34.85°N, 116.79°W and resting at an elevation of 1,930 feet above mean sea level, this general aviation airport has served the greater Barstow-Daggett corridor for decades as a critical refueling and transit point along the Southern California desert aviation corridor.

The airport features a single paved runway, Runway 8/26, stretching 5,101 feet — sufficient for most single-engine and light twin-engine general aviation aircraft, as well as smaller turboprop operations. The runway surface is asphalt in good condition, and the field is uncontrolled, operating without an air traffic control tower. Pilots accessing UEC communicate on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) of 122.8 MHz and should be aware that the airspace is Class G below 1,200 feet AGL, transitioning to Class E. Avgas 100LL fuel is available on the field, making Daggett-Barstow a practical fuel stop for cross-country flights traversing the Mojave.

Daggett sits just 8 miles east of Barstow along Route 66 and Interstate 40, placing UEC in a strategic position for general aviation pilots flying between Southern California metro areas and destinations in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. The airport is approximately 75 miles northeast of the Ontario International Airport (ONT) and roughly 100 miles east-northeast of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), placing it well outside the congested Class B airspace of the Los Angeles Basin. This makes UEC a popular intermediate stop and an uncongested alternative to busier Southern California fields.

The surrounding terrain is classic Mojave Desert — flat, open, with excellent visibility on most days, though pilots should monitor local weather for high winds, dust devils, and extreme summer heat. Density altitude is a key consideration at Daggett; on a hot summer afternoon with temperatures regularly exceeding 105°F, the effective density altitude can climb well above 4,000 feet, requiring careful performance planning for takeoff and climb. The region averages over 300 sunny days per year, contributing to a high percentage of VFR flying days that make UEC an attractive base for desert flying operations.

The airport has historically been associated with solar energy research and testing facilities in the Daggett area, including proximity to the former Solar One and Solar Two power tower demonstration projects operated in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, large-scale solar farms dot the desert around the airport, and the area continues to attract energy sector personnel who occasionally use UEC for air access to remote facility sites.

Ground transportation from Daggett-Barstow Airport connects easily to the city of Barstow via Daggett Road. Barstow offers lodging, restaurants, and services including a hospital, making UEC a viable stop for cross-country travelers needing a rest. The Mojave River Valley Museum and the Route 66 Mother Road corridor provide local historical interest for those with layover time.

Pilots planning operations at UEC should consult current NOTAMs through the FAA's NOTAM system, as desert airports can periodically have runway closures or equipment changes. No instrument approaches were published at Daggett-Barstow under earlier FAA records, so IFR arrivals typically involve a nearby approach-capable field with a subsequent VFR leg. Fixed-base operator services at the field have varied over the years; pilots are advised to confirm current fuel availability and hours via phone or the Airport/Facility Directory before arriving with a critical fuel state.

Whether you're transiting the Mojave on a cross-country flight, accessing Barstow's commercial district by air, or conducting survey and utility operations in San Bernardino County's vast desert interior, Daggett-Barstow Airport (UEC, ID 27646) provides a reliable, uncrowded general aviation facility in one of California's most uniquely compelling desert landscapes.

UEC Airport Contact Information

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

Name UEC Airport
Address 39500 National Trails Highway, Daggett CA 92327 Map
Phone (760) 254-2422
Website
Hours

Map of UEC Airport


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Frequently Asked Questions — Daggett-Barstow Airport (UEC)

Daggett-Barstow Airport carries the FAA identifier UEC and facility ID 27646. It sits at an elevation of approximately 1,930 feet above mean sea level in the Mojave Desert community of Daggett, San Bernardino County, California. The airport's high desert elevation means pilots must carefully calculate density altitude, especially during the hot summer months when temperatures routinely exceed 100°F and effective density altitude can climb well past 4,000 feet.

Avgas 100LL has been available at Daggett-Barstow Airport, making it a practical refueling stop for piston-engine aircraft crossing the Mojave Desert between Southern California and Nevada or Arizona. However, as FBO services at smaller desert airports can change, pilots are strongly advised to confirm current fuel availability and operating hours via direct contact with the airport or through current Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) entries and NOTAMs before planning a fuel stop with a low reserve.

Runway 8/26 at UEC is approximately 5,101 feet of paved asphalt, suitable for single-engine piston aircraft, light twins, and smaller turboprops. Larger business jets or heavy aircraft are generally not appropriate for this field given the runway length combined with the high density altitude conditions common in the Mojave Desert. Pilots flying heavier or higher-performance aircraft should consult performance charts carefully, accounting for the elevation and potential high-temperature density altitude before committing to an operation at UEC.

Daggett is located approximately 8 miles east of Barstow via Route 66 and Daggett Road, making the airport a convenient air access point for Barstow's commercial district, government offices, and the broader San Bernardino County desert region. Barstow offers hotels, restaurants, a Walmart Supercenter, and Barstow Community Hospital. Rental car availability is limited in Daggett itself, so pilots requiring ground transportation should arrange a rental from Barstow in advance or use a rideshare service for the short drive into town.

The Mojave Desert around Daggett-Barstow Airport presents several notable weather hazards. High winds are common, particularly in spring, with gusts frequently exceeding 25–35 knots along the Cajon Pass wind channel. Dust devils and blowing sand can rapidly reduce surface visibility. Summer convective activity, while less frequent than in the Arizona desert, can produce isolated thunderstorms in July and August. Extreme heat from June through September requires careful preflight planning for density altitude, engine cooling, and passenger safety. Winter mornings can bring unexpected frost or low stratus layers that may delay departures. Pilots should always obtain a thorough weather briefing through 1800wxbrief.com or ForeFlight before operating at this high desert facility.

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