Mefford Field Airport (TLR / KTLR) — Tulare, California

Mefford Field Airport (IATA: TLR, ICAO: KTLR, FAA LID: TLR) is a public-use general aviation airport owned and operated by the City of Tulare, located three nautical miles southeast of Tulare's central business district in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley. Situated in Tulare County at an elevation of 265 feet (81 meters) above mean sea level, Mefford Field covers approximately 206 acres and serves as the region's primary hub for private pilots, agricultural operators, charter flights, and government aviation services.

The airport features a single asphalt runway designated 13/31, measuring 3,901 feet by 75 feet (1,189 meters by 23 meters), making it suitable for a wide range of single-engine and twin-engine piston aircraft, as well as light turboprops. The runway orientation accommodates the prevailing wind patterns across the southern San Joaquin Valley, offering pilots predictable crosswind conditions through most of the year. The airport operates with a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) of 122.7 MHz and an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) broadcast on 120.0 MHz, giving pilots up-to-the-minute weather data before arrival or departure.

Mefford Field generates an estimated 30,000 aircraft operations annually, reflecting steady demand from the agricultural, commercial, and private aviation communities throughout Tulare County and neighboring Kings County. The field hosts seven aviation-related commercial enterprises and serves as a base of operations for the Tulare Mosquito Abatement District, which uses aircraft to conduct vector control across the fertile farmlands surrounding the city. This operational diversity makes Mefford Field a true working airport — one that plays a direct and practical role in the economic life of the surrounding region.

Tulare itself, with a population of approximately 70,000 residents, is known as a center of dairy farming, citrus production, and row-crop agriculture. The city hosts the World Ag Expo, one of the largest agricultural trade shows in the world, held annually at the Tulare International Agri-Center just minutes from the airport. During Expo season, Mefford Field sees elevated traffic from agricultural industry executives, equipment dealers, and exhibitors arriving via private aircraft — underscoring the airport's role as a gateway for business aviation in the Central Valley.

Beyond its current operational role, Mefford Field carries significant historical weight. During World War II, the airport temporarily hosted the Rankin Aeronautical Academy, founded by celebrated aviator Tex Rankin in 1940 under contract with the U.S. War Department. Rankin's school trained U.S. Army Air Corps flight cadets at this location before the academy relocated to its permanent facility at Rankin Field in Tulare. That wartime legacy makes Mefford Field part of California's broader aviation heritage, a reminder of the Central Valley's contribution to American military aviation training during a pivotal era.

The airport is classified as a general aviation facility in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), ensuring it remains eligible for federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. This federal recognition helps sustain infrastructure investment and keeps Mefford Field competitive with larger regional airports. Pilots traveling to Tulare can also coordinate with Fresno TRACON for approach services, though communications below 1,000 feet AGL may be limited, and pilots are advised to contact Rancho Murieta FSS at 1-800-992-7433 as an alternative.

For travelers and pilots visiting Tulare, Mefford Field Airport (TLR) provides convenient access to a city that punches well above its weight in agricultural commerce and community vitality. Whether arriving for the World Ag Expo, a business meeting with one of the county's many farming operations, or a personal visit to the Southern Sierra Nevada foothills just to the east, Mefford Field delivers a straightforward, community-focused general aviation experience in one of California's most productive agricultural regions.

Mefford Field Airport - TLR Contact Information

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

Name Mefford Field Airport - TLR
Address Rankin Road, Tulare CA 93274 Map
Phone (559) 684-4310
Website
Hours

Map of Mefford Field Airport - TLR

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Frequently Asked Questions — Mefford Field Airport (TLR), Tulare, CA

Mefford Field Airport (KTLR) has a single asphalt runway designated 13/31. The runway measures 3,901 feet long by 75 feet wide (approximately 1,189 meters by 23 meters). The airport sits at an elevation of 265 feet (81 meters) above mean sea level. This runway length accommodates most single-engine and twin-engine piston aircraft, as well as light turboprops commonly used in agricultural and business aviation throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

Mefford Field Airport is owned and operated by the City of Tulare, California. The airport hosts seven aviation-related commercial enterprises on its 206-acre campus, providing services to the general aviation community. It also serves as a base for the Tulare Mosquito Abatement District's aircraft fleet. The AWOS weather broadcast is available on 120.0 MHz, and the CTAF frequency is 122.7 MHz. For approach services, pilots coordinate with Fresno TRACON, with an alternative contact through Rancho Murieta FSS at 1-800-992-7433.

During World War II, Mefford Field served as the original site of the Rankin Aeronautical Academy, established in 1940 by renowned aviator Tex Rankin under a contract with the U.S. War Department. The academy trained U.S. Army Air Corps flight cadets at this Tulare location before relocating to its permanent facility at Rankin Field. This history makes Mefford Field part of California's wartime aviation heritage and the broader story of how Central Valley communities contributed to American military flight training during the 1940s.

The closest major airport to Mefford Field (TLR) is Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS), approximately 10 nautical miles to the north, which also offers general aviation services. Porterville Municipal Airport (PTV) is about 15 nautical miles to the east. For commercial airline service, Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the nearest option, located roughly 45 miles north of Tulare. Other nearby general aviation fields include Hanford Municipal Airport (HJO), approximately 18 nautical miles to the northwest. Pilots in the broader Bay Area can connect through Livermore Municipal Airport or Oakland International Airport before routing south to TLR.

Mefford Field Airport experiences elevated traffic during the World Ag Expo, held annually in February at the Tulare International Agri-Center, just minutes from the airport. The World Ag Expo is one of the world's largest agricultural trade shows, attracting tens of thousands of visitors including agricultural industry executives, equipment manufacturers, and farm operators who frequently arrive via private aircraft. Outside of Expo season, the airport maintains steady operations tied to Tulare County's year-round agricultural activity, including aerial application for citrus, grape, and row-crop farming across the southern San Joaquin Valley.

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