Riverside Municipal Airport: Inland Empire's Established Urban General Aviation Center
Riverside Municipal Airport (FAA identifier: RAL) has served as the Inland Empire's premier city-operated general aviation airport since the 1920s, providing the City of Riverside and Riverside County with a full-service aviation facility located within the urban core. RAL's 5,401-foot primary runway, ILS instrument approach, and comprehensive FBO services support a diverse operational mix including corporate and business aviation, law enforcement operations for Riverside County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol aviation, and active flight training programs from multiple fixed-base operators. The airport sits at 818 feet elevation in the Santa Ana River Valley with immediate access to the 91 and 215 freeway interchange.
Riverside Municipal is classified as a reliever airport for Ontario International Airport (ONT) and plays a vital role in the FAA's Southern California multi-airport system plan, absorbing general aviation operations that would otherwise compete with commercial traffic at the region's commercial airports. The airport supports Riverside's significant logistics and distribution economy, with corporate aircraft serving firms based in the industrial corridors along the I-215 and SR-60 corridors. Caltrans Division of Aeronautics identifies RAL as a key node in the California aviation system.
What is the FAA identifier for Riverside Municipal Airport?
Riverside Municipal Airport's FAA identifier is RAL. It is a public-use general aviation airport owned by the City of Riverside in the Inland Empire.
Does Riverside Municipal Airport have instrument approaches?
Yes. RAL is equipped with an ILS (Instrument Landing System) approach as well as GPS approaches, enabling reliable all-weather operations for IFR-equipped aircraft.
What government aviation operations use Riverside Municipal Airport?
Riverside County Sheriff's Department air support, California Highway Patrol aviation, and occasional federal law enforcement aircraft operate from RAL, which also serves as a base for emergency management aviation assets.
How long is the runway at Riverside Municipal Airport?
RAL's primary runway measures 5,401 feet, accommodating single and twin piston aircraft, turboprops, and light jets in both visual and instrument conditions.
Are there flight schools at Riverside Municipal Airport?
Yes. RAL hosts several flight training operations taking advantage of the Inland Empire's excellent VMC weather and the airport's instrument approach infrastructure for IFR training.
Riverside Municipal Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Riverside, California.
| Name | Riverside Municipal Airport |
| Address | 6951 Flight Road, Riverside CA 92504 Map |
| Phone | (951) 351-6113 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Riverside Municipal Airport
Airports in near by County
Airports near Riverside
Business Aviation and Reliever Airport Services at RAL
As Ontario International Airport (ONT) continues its recovery and growth following the return of local airport authority control in 2016, Riverside Municipal Airport's role as a companion reliever facility has grown in importance. Business aviation tenants at RAL benefit from significantly lower landing fees and ramp costs compared to ONT while maintaining equivalent geographic access to Riverside County's industrial and commercial districts. The 91 Express Lanes and I-215 freeway connections from the airport enable fast surface access to corporate campuses throughout the greater Inland Empire.
The Flabob Airport historical community to the northwest and RAL form complementary bookends of Riverside's aviation identity—Flabob preserving the romanticized past of California general aviation, and Riverside Municipal serving the efficient present of business and professional aviation in one of America's fastest-growing urban regions. Riverside Municipal's ongoing capital improvement program, funded in part through FAA Airport Improvement Program grants, continues to upgrade the airport's facilities to match the Inland Empire's economic trajectory as a global logistics and manufacturing center.