Aviation View | Volume 2, Issue 3

91 AVIATION VIEW VOLUME 2, ISSUE 3 FULLERTON MUNI C I PAL A I RPORT Los Alamitos Army Airfield (a military facility), and John Wayne Airport. O’Reilly notes, “John Wayne is preferred for southern Orange County business travel, but if you have business in Placentia, Fullerton, Anaheim, and the surrounding areas, then Fullerton Municipal is ideal. The only limiting factor is that our runway is only 3,121 feet, so only the smaller private jets can use Fullerton airport comfortably – Citations, Mustangs, and the VLJ type of jets. Of course, we’re very popular with the King Air series aircraft and we get quite a few Pilatus PC-12s. We’re more of a smaller niche airport but totally usable for South Orange County, just a slightly longer drive.” Business has been picking up steadily, to the point where the airport is 100 percent full, having 360 based aircraft. When O’Reilly took over as Airport Manager in 2013, there were some empty hangars that he believes were “overpriced.” He made it a priority to restructure the fees to make the hangars rentable and though it is a city-owned entity. Revenues from the airport fund the cost of operations and maintenance, with the surplus going into the enterprise Airport Fund. Fullerton Municipal Airport Manager, Brendan O’Reilly, shares his views on what draws people to the area: “We are in northern Orange County, so the big economic driver is tourism – being so close to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, and Anaheim Stadium, where the Angels play. There are all kinds of motor sports and different events happening at that facility, as well, and the Pond right next door features lots of concerts and is home to the Anaheim Ducks. And, of course, the Anaheim Convention Center is host to all kinds of major conferences and trade shows. All that, plus the North Orange County business community bring countless people to the area, year-round.” In addition to Fullerton Municipal, there are only two other airports in Orange County –