Mc Chesney Airport — San Luis Obispo, California (FAA ID: 27697)

Mc Chesney Airport (FAA Identifier: 27697), also known as McChesney Field, is a general aviation facility serving San Luis Obispo on California's scenic Central Coast. Situated within San Luis Obispo County, the airport plays an important role in the region's private aviation infrastructure, supporting recreational pilots, agricultural operators, and flight training activities that keep the local aviation community active between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The airport is located in San Luis Obispo, the county seat of San Luis Obispo County, a city of approximately 47,000 residents positioned roughly midway along the California coast. San Luis Obispo sits in a valley surrounded by volcanic morros — the chain of ancient peaks stretching from San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay — giving pilots a distinctive visual landmark for orientation during approach. The surrounding terrain of rolling oak-studded hills and coastal ranges makes the Central Coast one of California's most visually striking general aviation corridors.

The name McChesney carries deep significance in San Luis Obispo aviation history. The airport honors Leroy E. McChesney, who arrived in San Luis Obispo County in 1920 and earned his pilot's certificate in 1949, becoming one of the county's most passionate aviation advocates. In 1987, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (IATA: SBP, ICAO: KSBP) was formally dedicated as McChesney Field in his honor — a testament to his decades of service to local aviation and his role in developing the county's aviation culture during the post-World War II general aviation boom. McChesney's legacy continues to be felt throughout San Luis Obispo's pilot community.

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP/KSBP), established in 1939, serves as the primary commercial air gateway to the region with scheduled airline service, while Mc Chesney Airport (FAA: 27697) functions as a general aviation facility catering to private pilots and smaller aircraft operations. Together, these two facilities reflect the county's long commitment to aviation going back more than eight decades. The regional airport's parallel existence means that general aviation pilots using McChesney Field benefit from proximity to a full-service aviation hub without navigating busy commercial traffic patterns.

General aviation facilities at Mc Chesney Airport support a range of piston and light sport aircraft typical of California's active recreational flying community. Pilots flying into the San Luis Obispo area benefit from the airport's position near the Edna Valley, the American Viticultural Area (AVA) immediately southeast of the city that produces acclaimed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. The Edna Valley AVA is one of California's coolest coastal wine regions, with marine fog from the Pacific drawing through the valley daily, and several prominent wineries — including Talley Vineyards and Baileyana — lie within easy driving distance of the airport.

The broader San Luis Obispo region offers pilots and visitors a wealth of destinations within a short drive of McChesney Airport. Morro Bay, roughly 14 miles to the northwest via Highway 1, is home to the iconic Morro Rock, a 581-foot volcanic plug rising from the harbor that serves as both a wildlife sanctuary and a navigational landmark visible for miles in clear coastal air. Pismo Beach and the greater Five Cities area lie approximately 12 miles to the south along US-101, offering white-sand beaches, clam chowder on the pier, and the famous Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Paso Robles wine country, another major AVA with over 200 wineries, is about 30 miles to the north. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a California State University campus with approximately 22,000 students and strong aerospace and aviation engineering programs, anchors the city's educational and research character just minutes from the airport.

To reach Mc Chesney Airport from downtown San Luis Obispo, travelers follow surface streets southwest from the city center. The city's compact downtown — centered on Higuera Street and Mission Plaza, home to the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa founded in 1772 — is a short drive from the airfield. US-101 provides the main north-south corridor connecting the airport region to both Los Angeles (approximately 200 miles south) and San Francisco (approximately 230 miles north). For pilots flying into the area, the FAA identifier 27697 should be confirmed in current navigation databases, and coordination with San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (KSBP) airspace is advisable given the proximity of the two facilities.

Pilots and aviation enthusiasts visiting San Luis Obispo will find a city that takes its aviation heritage seriously — from the dedication of McChesney Field in Leroy McChesney's honor to the active flight training programs supported by the local community. Whether landing for wine country tourism, Cal Poly events, coastal recreation, or simply for the pleasure of flying along one of California's most beautiful coastlines, Mc Chesney Airport (FAA: 27697) represents a key node in the Central Coast's general aviation network.

Mc Chesney Airport Contact Information

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

Name Mc Chesney Airport
Address 903 Airport Drive, San Luis Obispo CA 93401 Map
Phone (805) 781-5955
Website
Hours

Map of Mc Chesney Airport

Airports in near by County


Airports near San Luis Obispo

Frequently Asked Questions — Mc Chesney Airport, San Luis Obispo, CA

Mc Chesney Airport is a general aviation facility in San Luis Obispo, California, serving private pilots, recreational flyers, and light aircraft operations. As a general aviation airfield, it supports activities such as private flight operations, agricultural aviation, and local flying club activity. For full-service commercial amenities including scheduled airline departures, car rental counters, and ground transportation, pilots and passengers should contact San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP/KSBP), located nearby and serving airlines such as Alaska Airlines and United Airlines with connections to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Denver (DEN), and Phoenix (PHX).

Mc Chesney Airport lies within the San Luis Obispo city area, placing it within a short drive of the downtown core. San Luis Obispo's compact downtown — centered on Higuera Street, Mission Plaza, and the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (founded 1772) — is accessible via local surface streets in approximately 10 to 15 minutes depending on traffic. US-101, the main arterial highway through the region, provides straightforward access connecting the airport corridor to the rest of the city and to destinations along California's Central Coast.

Leroy E. McChesney was a longtime San Luis Obispo County resident who arrived in the county in 1920 and obtained his pilot's certificate in 1949. He became one of the most dedicated aviation advocates in the region, contributing significantly to the development and promotion of local aviation culture during the mid-twentieth century. In recognition of his decades of service to the aviation community, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (IATA: SBP) was formally dedicated as McChesney Field in 1987. The McChesney name is now synonymous with aviation heritage in San Luis Obispo County, commemorating a pilot whose passion helped shape the region's relationship with flight.

Mc Chesney Airport primarily serves general aviation aircraft including single-engine piston planes, light sport aircraft, and small multi-engine aircraft. The facility is well-suited to the kinds of recreational and private flying common throughout California's Central Coast, where pilots take advantage of the scenic coastal terrain, wine country flyovers above the Edna Valley and Paso Robles AVAs, and the relatively benign marine-influenced weather patterns. Agricultural aviation supporting the county's farming operations may also operate from facilities in the San Luis Obispo area. Pilots should consult current FAA data and NOTAMs for runway dimensions, surface type, and operational restrictions specific to FAA ID 27697.

San Luis Obispo's Central Coast location gives pilots access to outstanding destinations within a short drive of Mc Chesney Airport. Morro Bay (approximately 14 miles northwest on Highway 1) features the landmark 581-foot Morro Rock volcanic plug and a working fishing harbor. Pismo Beach (about 12 miles south on US-101) offers white-sand beaches and the famous Pismo Pier clam chowder tradition. The Edna Valley AVA, immediately southeast of the city, is home to acclaimed wineries including Talley Vineyards and Baileyana, producing cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Paso Robles wine country, with over 200 wineries, lies roughly 30 miles to the north. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's campus, with its renowned College of Engineering and strong aviation connections, is just minutes from the city center. The historic downtown Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1772, anchors a walkable downtown area with independent restaurants, shops, and the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.

External Links: