Wasco Kern County Airport (E78) — Wasco, California

Wasco Kern County Airport, designated with the FAA identifier E78, serves the agricultural heartland of the San Joaquin Valley in Wasco, Kern County, California. Located at approximately 335 feet above mean sea level on the valley floor, this public-use general aviation facility sits within one of the most productive farming regions in the United States, supporting the crop dusting, agricultural flight operations, and private aviation needs of the surrounding farming communities.

The airport is positioned roughly 25 miles north of Bakersfield and approximately 130 miles north of Los Angeles, placing it within convenient reach of the broader Central Valley aviation network. Wasco itself is renowned as the Rose Capital of America, and the airport reflects the working character of this community — a practical, no-frills facility that has long supported the flight operations essential to Kern County's agricultural economy.

Airport Facilities and Infrastructure

Wasco Kern County Airport features a single paved runway oriented to accommodate the prevailing winds of the San Joaquin Valley. The runway supports light single-engine and twin-engine aircraft operations, making it well-suited for the agricultural aviation operators, flight training activities, and private pilots that use the facility regularly. The airport includes aircraft parking aprons, a self-serve fuel station offering 100LL aviation gasoline, and basic ground support infrastructure.

The facility does not operate a control tower, functioning as an uncontrolled airfield where pilots communicate on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). This configuration is standard for rural general aviation airports throughout the Central Valley and requires pilots to follow standard traffic pattern procedures and exercise appropriate situational awareness, particularly during peak agricultural spray seasons when activity increases significantly.

Agricultural Aviation Heritage

Kern County's agricultural economy has made airports like E78 indispensable over the decades. The region produces cotton, carrots, citrus, almonds, pistachios, and of course the roses for which Wasco is famous. Aerial application — crop dusting — plays a critical role in maintaining yields across thousands of acres, and Wasco Kern County Airport has historically served as a base of operations for agricultural aviation companies serving the northern Kern County farming corridor.

The flat terrain surrounding the airport, combined with reliably clear skies for much of the year, creates favorable conditions for agricultural flying. Pilots operating out of E78 benefit from generally benign weather patterns, though the summer months bring intense heat, with temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F, requiring careful attention to aircraft performance calculations and density altitude considerations during warm-weather operations.

Regional Aviation Context

Wasco Kern County Airport occupies a specific niche within the broader Central California aviation ecosystem. Meadow Field (BFL), Bakersfield's commercial and general aviation hub located approximately 25 miles to the south, provides instrument approaches, commercial airline service, and a full range of fixed-base operator services for pilots requiring more comprehensive support. For agricultural operators and private flyers based in the Wasco area, however, E78 offers the convenience of a local facility without the traffic and fees associated with larger airports.

The airport's proximity to Highway 46 and Interstate 5 makes ground transportation relatively straightforward for pilots flying into the area. Wasco's downtown is located less than two miles from the airport, and the surrounding farming community provides a steady base of potential users for the facility's general aviation services.

Planning Your Visit to Wasco Kern County Airport

Pilots planning operations at E78 should obtain current airport information through official FAA sources and file the appropriate flight notifications. The airport's elevation and valley location generally result in excellent visibility conditions, though tule fog — the dense ground fog characteristic of the San Joaquin Valley — can severely reduce visibility during the winter months, particularly from November through February. Pilots unfamiliar with tule fog conditions should exercise extreme caution and ensure they have current weather information before departing or arriving during the fog season.

Transient pilots are welcome at Wasco Kern County Airport. The self-serve fuel facility accepts standard aviation credit cards, and while on-site amenities are limited, the airport provides a quiet, uncongested alternative to busier Central Valley facilities for pilots routing through the region or conducting local area flying.

Wasco Kern County Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Wasco, Colorado.

Name Wasco Kern County Airport
Address 748 F Street, Wasco CA 93280 Map
Phone (661) 758-7266
Website
Hours

Map of Wasco Kern County Airport


Frequently Asked Questions — Wasco Kern County Airport (E78)

Wasco Kern County Airport carries the FAA identifier E78. The airport is located in Wasco, California, in northern Kern County, situated in the San Joaquin Valley approximately 25 miles north of Bakersfield. The facility sits at roughly 335 feet above mean sea level and serves the agricultural and general aviation needs of the surrounding farming communities, including one of the nation's premier rose-growing regions.

Yes, Wasco Kern County Airport (E78) offers self-serve 100LL aviation gasoline (avgas). The self-serve station accepts standard aviation credit cards and provides pilots with a convenient fueling option without requiring full-service FBO staff. Pilots should confirm fuel availability and current pricing through current airport notices or by contacting Kern County Airports prior to departure, particularly for planned fuel stops during off-hours.

The two primary weather hazards at Wasco Kern County Airport are tule fog and summer heat. Tule fog — the dense radiation fog endemic to the San Joaquin Valley — can reduce visibility to near-zero during November through February, sometimes persisting well into the morning hours. Pilots should always check current METARS and PIREPs before flying in the region during winter. In summer, temperatures frequently exceed 100°F, creating significant density altitude increases that affect aircraft performance on takeoff and climb. Pilots should calculate density altitude carefully and consider early morning departures during heat waves.

The nearest full-service airport to Wasco is Meadows Field Airport (BFL) in Bakersfield, located approximately 25 miles to the south. Meadows Field offers ILS instrument approaches, commercial airline service via Alaska Airlines and Avelo Airlines, and a complete range of FBO services. For passengers requiring connections to major hub airports, Meadows Field provides access to Los Angeles (LAX) and other California destinations. Pilots requiring instrument approaches or comprehensive maintenance services should plan operations through BFL rather than the uncontrolled E78 facility.

Wasco Kern County Airport (E78) is a public-use general aviation airport owned by Kern County and open to transient and based aircraft. There is no control tower, so all operations are conducted under standard uncontrolled airport procedures using the published CTAF frequency. Pilots should be particularly alert during agricultural spray seasons when local ag-aviation traffic increases substantially. Standard FAA regulations apply, and pilots should obtain the most current airport information from official sources, including NOTAMs, before conducting operations at E78.

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