Willits Airport (O28) — Willits, California

Willits Airport, designated by the FAA with the identifier O28, is a general aviation facility located in Willits, California, a small city nestled in the Anderson Valley corridor of Mendocino County. Situated at an elevation of approximately 1,328 feet above mean sea level, the airport serves as a critical access point for a region where ground transportation through the mountainous terrain of the Coast Range can be slow and challenging. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Willits and functions primarily as a reliever and utility airfield for private pilots, agricultural operators, and emergency services.

The airfield features a single paved runway, Runway 16/34, measuring approximately 3,500 feet in length. This configuration accommodates single-engine and light twin-engine piston aircraft, making it suitable for Cessna 172s, Piper Cherokees, Beechcraft Bonanzas, and similar general aviation platforms. The runway surface is asphalt, and the airport maintains basic navigational aids to support visual flight rule (VFR) operations. There are no published instrument approaches at Willits Airport, which means operations are conducted under visual conditions, requiring pilots to plan arrivals and departures around local weather patterns — particularly the coastal fog and low ceilings that periodically push inland from the Pacific.

Willits itself sits at the northern end of Mendocino County, about 23 miles north of Ukiah and roughly 140 miles north of San Francisco. The city is famously associated with the Skunk Train, the historic narrow-gauge railroad connecting Willits to Fort Bragg on the Mendocino Coast. For pilots flying into the region, Willits Airport provides a convenient staging point for accessing the Mendocino National Forest, Round Valley Indian Reservation, and the growing cannabis agriculture sector that has become a significant part of the local economy. Medical transport charters also utilize the field to connect patients to major facilities in the Bay Area or Sacramento Valley.

Fuel availability at Willits Airport has historically been limited, and pilots are advised to check NOTAMs and contact the city or local FBO contacts ahead of any planned arrival. The airport does not have a control tower, and all traffic operates on a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). Pilots should self-announce their position on the published CTAF frequency and exercise caution for agricultural aircraft that may be conducting low-altitude operations in the surrounding valley and hillside terrain.

The surrounding airspace is uncontrolled Class G below 1,200 feet AGL, transitioning to Class E. Pilots planning cross-country routes into Willits from the Bay Area should be aware of the terrain requirements along the route — particularly when transiting over the Mayacamas Mountains or the ridges west of US-101. A mountain flying endorsement or significant experience in high-terrain VFR navigation is strongly recommended for pilots unfamiliar with inland Northern California flying conditions.

For general aviation enthusiasts and regional operators in Mendocino County, Willits Airport (O28) represents an important piece of local infrastructure. It reduces dependence on longer ground routes, supports emergency aeromedical services, and enables agricultural aviation for timber, cannabis, and livestock operations in the surrounding hills. Pilots based at more urban Bay Area fields such as Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), located roughly 130 miles to the south, occasionally fly north to Willits as a fuel or rest stop on longer cross-country tours along the Northern California coast and interior valleys.

The City of Willits coordinates with Caltrans Division of Aeronautics for airport maintenance and improvement programs. Periodic resurfacing and safety-area improvements have been funded through FAA General Aviation Airport grant programs. Local advocates continue to push for upgrades to fuel infrastructure and tie-down facilities to better accommodate visiting aircraft and support economic development through aviation access.

Willits Airport Contact Information

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

Name Willits Airport
Address 28320 Poppy Drive, Willits CA 95490 Map
Phone (707) 841-6252
Website
Hours

Map of Willits Airport

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Frequently Asked Questions — Willits Airport (O28)

Willits Airport carries the FAA identifier O28 and is located within the city limits of Willits, California, in Mendocino County. It sits at an elevation of approximately 1,328 feet MSL along the US-101 corridor, roughly 23 miles north of Ukiah and about 140 miles north of the San Francisco Bay Area. The airport is owned by the City of Willits and serves as the primary general aviation facility for northern Mendocino County.

Willits Airport is designed for light general aviation aircraft. Its 3,500-foot paved runway supports single-engine aircraft such as the Cessna 172, Piper PA-28 Cherokee, and Cirrus SR22, as well as light twins like the Piper Seneca or Beechcraft Baron. Heavier turboprop and jet aircraft are generally not suitable for this field due to runway length and pavement weight-bearing limitations. Agricultural aircraft conducting operations in the Willits Valley also regularly use this airport.

Fuel availability at Willits Airport (O28) is limited and has varied over time. Pilots planning to arrive at or depart from O28 should check current NOTAMs through the FAA's system and contact city administration or local aviation contacts before their flight. If fuel is unavailable at Willits, the nearest reliable fuel stop is Ukiah Municipal Airport (UKI), located approximately 23 miles south along the US-101 corridor, which offers both 100LL and Jet-A services.

No. Willits Airport does not have published instrument approach procedures. All operations are conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Mendocino County is subject to marine layer fog and low ceilings, particularly in the spring and fall months, which can make VFR operations at O28 challenging. Pilots should obtain a thorough weather briefing from 1800wxbrief.com or ForeFlight before departing for Willits, and file an alternate plan if marginal conditions are forecast.

Travelers requiring commercial airline service or larger aircraft facilities should consider Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, approximately 65 miles south, which offers scheduled regional airline service. Ukiah Municipal Airport (UKI) is the closest full-service GA alternative, 23 miles south. For Bay Area connections, Oakland International Airport (OAK) and the services associated with it — including Direct Airport Shuttle routes and Oakland Airport Security checkpoints — are accessible via US-101 south or by air through one of the region's general aviation reliever fields such as Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK).

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