Andy Jackson Airport — San Bernardino, California

Andy Jackson Airport (FAA identifier not publicly listed in the national airspace system under a standard towered designator) is a private-use general aviation facility located in San Bernardino, California, within the heart of San Bernardino County — the largest county by area in the contiguous United States, spanning over 20,000 square miles from the Mojave Desert to the Nevada border. Situated in the Inland Empire region, approximately 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and 35 miles northeast of Ontario, the airport serves private pilots, flight training operations, and small charter activity operating in one of Southern California's most aviation-active corridors.

San Bernardino occupies a strategically significant position in the greater Los Angeles Basin's eastern approach zone. The city sits at an elevation of roughly 1,049 feet above mean sea level, nestled against the base of the San Bernardino Mountains where the Santa Ana River valley opens toward the Inland Empire's broad alluvial plain. This geographic setting gives general aviation pilots at Andy Jackson Airport access to diverse flying environments: desert cross-country routes toward Palm Springs and Twentynine Palms to the east, mountain VFR corridors toward Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead to the north, and the dense metropolitan airspace of the Los Angeles Basin to the west. Pilots operating from this facility must maintain familiarity with the Class C airspace surrounding San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) located just a few miles to the northwest at the former Norton Air Force Base.

As a general aviation airport, Andy Jackson Airport primarily accommodates single-engine piston aircraft, light twins, and ultralight or experimental aircraft typical of Southern California's robust private flying community. The Inland Empire has historically supported a strong pilot population, buoyed by the region's relatively mild weather, consistent VFR conditions, and proximity to mountain, desert, and coastal flying destinations accessible within an hour of departure. San Bernardino County itself is home to multiple general aviation reliever airports, and Andy Jackson Airport contributes to that regional network by providing local pilots an alternative to the congestion and traffic-pattern delays that come with operations at busier Class C and Class D facilities.

The surrounding San Bernardino area offers important operational context for pilots using this facility. San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County and is served by a wide range of municipal services, including emergency medical facilities at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center approximately 5 miles to the southwest in Colton, and the larger Loma Linda University Medical Center just 4 miles to the southwest — a relevant consideration for any general aviation field that may facilitate medical transport or emergency repositioning flights. The proximity to Interstate 215 and State Route 18 allows ground access from multiple directions, and the city's position along the historic Route 66 corridor connects it to the broader Southern California road network.

Nearby commercial service airports provide context for understanding Andy Jackson Airport's role in the local aviation ecosystem. San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), a former Strategic Air Command base reactivated as a civilian cargo and charter hub, lies approximately 3 to 5 miles northwest and offers full ILS instrument approaches, cargo ramp facilities, and occasional passenger charter service. Ontario International Airport (ONT), one of the busiest cargo airports in the western United States and a growing passenger hub, is roughly 20 miles to the southwest in San Bernardino County. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) lies approximately 65 miles to the west, anchoring the regional airspace system. These facilities create a layered airspace environment that general aviation pilots at Andy Jackson Airport must navigate using proper VFR chart reading, ATIS monitoring, and, where appropriate, flight following services from Southern California TRACON (SCT).

The Inland Empire's climate is a significant operational advantage for general aviation. San Bernardino typically records over 280 days of flyable VFR weather annually, with marine layer intrusion from the coast generally burning off by mid-morning. Summer afternoon density altitude is an important consideration given the combination of heat and elevation — temperatures regularly exceed 100°F in July and August, which affects aircraft performance calculations for pilots departing from Andy Jackson Airport's field elevation. Winter months bring clear, cool, stable air that supports excellent VFR cross-country flying toward the desert and mountains, though mountain wave turbulence above the San Bernardino Mountains can affect aircraft climbing toward Big Bear (L35) or Banning (BNG) corridors.

For the private pilot community in San Bernardino and surrounding communities including Redlands, Loma Linda, Highland, and Rialto, Andy Jackson Airport represents part of the fabric of general aviation access that keeps Southern California's non-commercial flight community connected. Whether used for personal travel, proficiency flying, or as a base of operations for aircraft ownership, the field reflects the enduring presence of private aviation in a region that has been shaped by aerospace history, military aviation, and civilian flight since the early twentieth century.

Andy Jackson Airport Contact Information

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

Name Andy Jackson Airport
Address 6119 Ben Canyon Road, San Bernardino CA 92407 Map
Phone
Website
Hours

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Frequently Asked Questions — Andy Jackson Airport, San Bernardino, CA

Andy Jackson Airport is located in San Bernardino, the county seat of San Bernardino County, California. San Bernardino sits in the western portion of the Inland Empire at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, approximately 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and about 20 miles east of Ontario International Airport (ONT). The city is positioned along the Interstate 215 and Interstate 10 interchange zone, making ground access to the airport straightforward from most surrounding communities including Redlands, Highland, Colton, and Rialto. The general field elevation in the San Bernardino valley floor is approximately 1,000 to 1,100 feet MSL, which pilots should factor into performance calculations, particularly during hot summer months when density altitude can be significantly higher than field elevation.

Andy Jackson Airport is a general aviation, private-use facility serving the San Bernardino area. It primarily accommodates single-engine piston aircraft, light twin-engine planes, ultralight aircraft, and experimental homebuilt aircraft common to Southern California's active private pilot community. Operations are predominantly VFR (Visual Flight Rules) given the Inland Empire's favorable weather averaging over 280 flyable days per year. The airport is not a commercial service facility and does not support scheduled airline operations — those are handled regionally by San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) a few miles to the northwest, or Ontario International Airport (ONT) approximately 20 miles to the southwest, which handles both commercial passenger and major cargo operations.

Pilots operating at Andy Jackson Airport must be aware of the complex airspace environment surrounding San Bernardino. San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), located just a few miles to the northwest, operates under Class C airspace, which requires two-way radio communication and an ATC clearance before entry. The broader region falls within the Southern California TRACON (SCT) coverage area, and pilots are strongly encouraged to use VFR flight following when transitioning to or from the Los Angeles Basin. Mountain flying toward Big Bear City Airport (L35) or Lake Arrowhead involves departure through mountain corridors where terrain clearance and wind shear awareness are critical. Pilots should review current sectional charts and NOTAMs for the Los Angeles TAC chart area before every flight.

San Bernardino's inland desert-influenced climate generally produces excellent VFR flying conditions, but pilots must respect several seasonal factors. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, which combined with the field elevation of approximately 1,000 feet MSL can push density altitude well above 3,000 feet on hot afternoons — significantly reducing aircraft climb performance and accelerate-stop distances. Morning marine layer occasionally pushes inland from the coast but typically clears by 10 AM. Winter months offer some of the best cross-country flying weather, with clear skies and cool temperatures improving aircraft performance, though mountain wave turbulence above the San Bernardino Mountains can create rough conditions for aircraft climbing toward Big Bear or descending from the high desert. Santa Ana wind events in fall and spring can produce strong, gusty surface winds requiring careful crosswind planning.

The nearest full-service airports to Andy Jackson Airport in San Bernardino are San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), located approximately 3 to 5 miles to the northwest at the site of the former Norton Air Force Base, offering ILS instrument approaches, cargo operations, and charter services; Ontario International Airport (ONT), roughly 20 miles to the southwest, which serves as the primary commercial passenger gateway for the Inland Empire with flights to destinations across the US and Mexico; Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), approximately 50 miles to the southeast in the Coachella Valley; and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), about 65 miles west, which serves as the region's primary international gateway. For general aviation diversions or fuel stops, Redlands Municipal Airport (REI) in neighboring Redlands, approximately 8 miles to the east, is also a convenient nearby option.

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