Founded in 1915, the Petaluma Municipal Airport is a class G general aviation airport located on Skyranch Drive in Petaluma, California. The airport accommodates 60,000 takeoffs and landings each year. It has one runway of heading 110 and 290, with 290 being the primary runway due to typical wind conditions in the area. The airport is non-towered, and aircraft with radios are required to communicate on frequency 122.7. Departure procedures require that all aircraft climb to 1500 feet above sea level. All arrivals are required to follow noise abatement procedures due to roads and residences adjacent to the airfield.
Airport Facilities
The Petaluma Municipal Airport is operated by the city of Petaluma24 hours a day, and is staffed from Monday through Friday 0800-1700, and Saturday through Sunday 0800-1600. The airport is also staffed on all holidays.
Aircraft Storage
Hangars and tie down spaces are available for rent on a limited basis. Aircraft hangars are available in multiple sizes, and tie down spaces are available for both single and twin engine aircraft.
Two-Niner Diner
Named after the runway number of 29. In aviation vernacular an "er" is added always to the number nine So you have 29er. Two-Niner Diner to celebrate 20th anniversary. Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://www.petaluma360.com/csp/mediapool/sites/PressDemocrat/News/story.csp?cid=2298638 the Two-Niner Diner is located at the end of runway 29. Opened in 1991, the restaurant is frequented by pilots flying into the airport from all over Sonoma County. The diner uses local ingredients and serves typical diner fare.
Mangon Aircraft
Originally opened at in 1969, Mangon aircraft is an aircraft maintenance facility that has since relocated to the Petaluma Municipal Airport. Owned and operated by Ronald Mangon, Mangon aircraft can provide various types of service to many types of aircraft, and shares employees with the pilot training center.
Petaluma Pilot Training Center
The Petaluma Pilot Training Center is a pilot training facility located at Petaluma Municipal Airport. They provide both instruction to those without a pilot license, and aircraft rental to those who are certified. They offer instruction to obtain a private pilot certificate, as well as an instrument rating and additional endorsements. The Petaluma Pilot Training Center operates a fleet of five aircraft: a 1975 Cessna 150M, a 1974 Cessna 172M, a 1975 Cessna 172M, a 1974 Piper PA28R-200, and a 2007 Cessna 172SP, outfitted with a glass cockpit. The pilot training center cooperates with personnel from the airport, as well as employees from Mangon Aircraft Repair.
Accidents and incidents
January 4, 2002
On January 4, 2002 a pilot flying a Cessna 152 fatally collided with mountains near the airfield, destroying the aircraft, owned and operated by Aeroventure. According to the owner of Aeroventure, the pilot was neither qualified nor endorsed by the school to fly the Cessna 152, and did not possess a license that allowed him to fly solo at night. Eyewitnesses say that the pilot began flying the aircraft without performing any preflight or departure checks. According to the Sonoma County Sheriffs department, the pilot involved in the accident was under criminal investigation. Earlier that day, police had seized his computer for criminal investigation while he was flying a different aircraft. An autopsy report ruled the manner of death to be suicide.
June 19, 2009
On June 19, 2009, San Francisco resident Caroline Paul was flying her ultralight aircraft into the airport when she lost control approximately 20 feet above the runway and crash landed. She was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
April 3, 2015
On April 3, 2015, a pilot was killed after his aircraft crashed into a rural area near the airport. The aircraft was a 1984 fixed wing, single engine lightweight similar to a glider. The aircraft crashed across the street of a PG&E power station located on the base leg of the traffic pattern of the airport.
Nearby Airports
Santa Rosa
Approximately 18 miles north of the Petaluma Municipal Airport is the Charles M Schulz airport. It operates two runways, runway 14/32, and runway 2/20. The Santa Rosa airport operates in a class D tower controlled airspace during the hours of 1500-0400, and is a class G airspace at all other times. It is a popular destination for pilots departing from the Petaluma Municipal Airport. Pilots flying into the airfield during its attended hours are required to contact the Santa Rosa tower controller on radio frequency 118.5, during unattended hours pilots must communicate on the UNICOM frequency 122.95.
Located just south of the Petaluma Municipal Airport is Gnoss Field. It has one runway 13/31 surrounded by ditches. It operates under a constant noise abatement procedure due to residences nearby. There are also mountains and electrical towers in the vicinity of the runway, making approaches to the airfield challenging depending on wind conditions. Gnoss field is frequently traveled to from the Petaluma Municipal Airport. Communications near this airport use the UNICOM frequency 123.075.
