Chino Airport, known for supporting recreational flying, pilot training plus firefighting and rescue missions, is opening 300 acres of prime real estate for new development, county officials announced Thursday.
The general aviation airport is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and operated by the San Bernardino County Department of Airports, which is now seeking “innovative aeronautical and non-aeronautical development,” according to a county statement.
Officials said the transformative move is spearheaded by Director Brett Godown of the airports department and aims to attract developments that enhance the airport’s growth and the surrounding community. The first phase of the county’s “Request for Qualifications” seeks proposals to develop 21 to 151 acres of land located near key roadways and surrounded by residential, commercial and industrial zones.
“Our vision for Chino Airport is to shine as the crown jewel in the communities it serves,” Godown said in a statement.
Spanning over 1,115 acres in the southwest part Chino, the vacant land will be available for development through a multiphase process of fielding RFQs. Officials said the RFQ process is “a formal way of requesting submissions from development entities to establish their interest and qualifications for developing land.”
Supervisor Curt Hagman, whose 4th District contains the airport, said in a statement, “By unlocking this prime land for lease, we are not only supporting the expansion of Chino Airport but also fostering job creation, attracting new businesses, and enhancing infrastructure that will benefit the surrounding community for years to come.”
A key requirement for RFQ is proposals is the inclusion of a development concept that will enhance the quality of life for the community closest to the airport and future development sites.
Terry Thompson, director of the county Real Estate Services Department, is at the helm of the RFQ process.
“There are creative ideas in development. Our plan is to involve the community throughout the process,” Thompson said in a statement. “We want to build something the community views as an asset that everybody can enjoy and be proud of.”
One promising approach, according to Thompson, is “buffer developments” — designing land use that benefits both the airport and the surrounding community. Store fronts such as a dry cleaner or car wash along Kimball Avenue could serve as sound and visual barriers while complimenting land uses for aviation, officials said.
While the FAA has the final approval on non-aeronautical land uses, Thompson emphasized that creative ideas for development are “open for discussion.”
Known for its contributions during World War II and LA-close location, officials said the airport is “thriving,” logging more than 200,000 operations last year with expectations for even more activity in 2025.
“This is a good time given all the confluence and improvements going on in the Inland Empire and around Chino,” Thompson said. “I think it is really a good time to embark on this.”
Chino Airport is 35 miles from Los Angeles and accessible via the 60, 10 and 71 freeways. Officials said the airport “is uniquely positioned to thrive as similar (general aviation) airports in the region face closures. It’s not just history that sets this airport apart — from hosting WWII pilot training to being home to aviation museums and thriving businesses, Chino Airport is poised to embark on an exciting new era in aviation culture.”
For more information on the RFQ process, email Lyle Ballard from Real Estate Services, Lyle.Ballard@res.sbcounty.gov.
Chino Airport was the base for the Cal-Aero Flight Academy in the early 1940s, training more than 10,365 fighter and bomber pilots during World War II.
Currently the airport hosts aviation-related companies and businesses, including full-service fixed operations, aircraft management and maintenance, charters, flight training and aircraft restoration. The airport also has two aircraft museums, Planes of Fame Air Museum and Yanks Air Museum as well as the longstanding diner Flo’s Café.
