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ONT and by the following year the site was a early operations were limited both in title would not be officially transferred Ontario’s Terminal fully equipped Army Air Corps training frequency and destinations. until 1985. A joint powers agreement 2 is home to six OF AMERICA and operations base. Commercial facilities were included plans to develop the airport as including I810102AOW2019 The P-38 Lightning, built by Lockheed mainly former military buildings with the the need arose. It was decided that Los , which in Burbank, , was the first terminal, originally built to house a chapel, Angeles would lead and Ontario follow, launched nonstop military aircraft to be seen with cinema and canteen for servicemen and with a commitment to a regional airport flights to Taipei in regularity at the now Ontario Army workers during World War Two. plan for the facility. late March 2018. Airfield (OAAF) where pilots were trained Although passenger numbers were All images author in air-to-air gunnery. Rookie pilots limited, the airport was still a beehive of More Routes Ontario’s fired at long sleeves pulled by modified activity. Three major aircraft producers Jet service debuted at Ontario in 1968 Ventura bombers. The – Lockheed, Douglas and Northrop – had when Pacific began airfield was also home to an operational huge facilities on site and the state’s Air flights to . This North American P-51 Mustang unit. National Guard (ANG) was also present. was followed a year later by Operations and training ceased at the Runway extensions in 1952, 1956 and 737 flights to San Jose, California; end of the war and the army declared again in 1962 were funded by the ANG 720Bs to , the airfield as surplus on November 15, to accommodate its faster and higher and ; and Western Secret Is Out 1945 when it went into inactive status for performance aircraft. Airlines 737s with non-stops to Salt Lake Ralph Olson puts Ontario International Airport under the microscope military purposes, although other civilian In the early 1960s, ONT still had a gravel City, , and Sacramento, California. operations were allowed. parking area and services to only two cities. United and began to examine the fluctuating history of this facility. Routes and frequencies were being slightly serving Chicago and Dallas from 1970. Military Legacy improved when Bonanza began non-stop The airport was growing fast as people enewed local control is proving to of Ontario Airport’ landed on an unused World War Two The airport became a centre for freight flights to Phoenix, Arizona, and Western discovered air travel as a new way of be the secret of success at Ontario dirt road near the Union Pacific railway Huge changes came to the airport after and was renamed Ontario International started flying direct to San Francisco with a getting around, with trains quickly International Airport (ONT). It (railroad) tracks in Southern California, the US joined the world war in December Airport in 1946 on the back of regular daily Lockheed L-188 Electra. becoming regarded as outdated. serves Greater Los Angeles, an about 38 miles east of downtown 1941. The following year a new tower was transpacific cargo flights. On May 18, in The city of Ontario’s attempts to Demand for air travel at ONT rose Rarea of 33,954 sq miles (87,940km2) Los Angeles. built on the north side of the field and the same year, a Douglas C-54 (DC-4) promote the airport were meeting with steadily in the 1970s and 1980s with the with a population of almost 20 million. There were no homes in this area, which the dirt runway extended. Skymaster of Pacific Overseas Airlines only small successes. Near the coast, Los airport passing the one million annual Competition comes from four other major was dominated by almost endless orange Ontario soon became a centre of war arrived at ONT from Shanghai, China, Angeles International Airport (LAX) was passenger mark in 1972, the two commercial airports in a conurbation groves, packing companies and a freezer activity. A new 4,700ft (1,433m) concrete and began the first, but short-lived, attractive, growing and had clout with million passenger milestone which is the largest metropolitan area station. Vast quantities of oranges were strip was added and designated the regularly scheduled passenger service airlines that could, if it wanted, direct in 1979, four million in 1986 in the USA. shipped to Chicago by train. Ice was northeast/southwest runway. The original between the United States and Asia. business to ONT. A diversionary airport and five million in 1989. As This regional facility, within an area added to the freight wagons (box cars) to one was refurbished and extended to It was not until 1949, with the airport was also needed for when frequent low passenger numbers spiked, known as the ‘Inland Empire’, has keep the fruit cool. 6,200ft (1,890m) and called the east/ once again controlled by the city cloud and fog blanketed LAX, sometimes runways were expanded to seen ups, downs and issues over The landing area became known as west runway. It was given a concrete ‘fathers’, that airlines established a for hours on a daily basis. match demand. control in its almost 90-year history. Latimer Field, named after the packing surface and radar and instrument larger presence when A deal came in 1967 when the city of A significant factor is a long but company next to the airstrip. landing systems were installed. The began scheduled flights to . Los Angeles purchased ONT for $1.2 sometimes chequered history with its The city of Ontario purchased 30 works were funded by the government’s was the second million and it became part of the area’s mighty neighbour 38 miles (61km) to acres (12.1 hectares) of land south of Work Progress Administration at a cost carrier with Fairchild Hiller F-27 flights, regional airports system, even though its the west – Los Angeles International the tracks in 1929 for $12,000, close to of $350,000. The expansion added 470 also serving Las Vegas. These Airport (LAX). Latimer Field, and established Ontario acres (190 hectares) to ONT and gave the Municipal Airport (ONT). The facility facility a new, modern appearance. Making Tracks and its first tower were set up near the On February 27, 1942, an Army Air A group of aviation enthusiasts staked a Union Pacific tracks so that pilots could Corps aircraft made the first claim to establish an airport at the site gauge the direction and strength of the landing at the new now occupied by ONT in 1923. A Curtiss wind by observing smoke from passing airport JN4 Jenny belonging to the ‘First Friends locomotives.

56 airports of the world // Jan-Feb 2019 www.airportsworld.com 57 LEFT: - Cargo 300F, N1181A is wet-leased by ABX Air Amazon Prime Air Amazon Prime Air (operated by ABX Air, from and is Atlas Air and Air Transport International) a regular visitor to the airport Air Transport International FedEx Express FedEx Feeder (operated by ) UPS

Airlines Serving Ont

Aeroméxico Airlines (operated by ) LEFT: Ready for American Airlines boarding, Boeing China Airlines 777-300ER B-18006 is prepared for its return flight to Taipei. The aircraft was delivered to China Southwest Airlines Airlines in 2016. Volaris

an on-going, network-wide investment the company continues to make in hub expansion and automation. “We are expanding UPS’s integrated network to meet the needs of customers as they grow their businesses in the US and around the world.” FedEx Express also has a major distribution operation at ONT that serves major cities throughout the country. FedEx Feeder, operated by West Air, utilises the Cessna 208B Super ABOVE: Passengers In 1981 a second east/west runway, it is allowed to operate around the gales blow in strong gusts and at 500ft its fleet of A300s, 747s, 757s, 767s and The airport also sorts and distributes Cargomaster to distribute to smaller at Terminal 2 queue 26L/08R, was built necessitating the clock, ONT shares the same night-time can reach speeds of 70kts, which is MD11s, UPS operates 38 daily flights in the majority of UPS International communities in California and for check-in for the removal of the old northeast/southwest procedures as LAX. hurricane force. Landing in these and out, and serves as a southwestern packages for delivery to the Pacific Rim a few neighbouring states. non-stop China runway, 4/22. The remaining existing Between 10pm and 7am, all turbojet conditions puts pilots and aircraft at the regional hub for both air and trucking with four of the six weekly flights flown Other cargo carriers include ABX Airlines flight to one became 26R/08L, but construction and turbofan aircraft must arrive from limits of performance. During extreme operations within a 13-state region. by the company to China originating at Air which serves both primary and Taipei. was not complete until 1987 when the the east on runway 26L or 26R and take Santa Ana conditions at ONT, pilots, at With more than 200 based pilots, the the airport. secondary US cities with its fleet of 767- does latter was extended to the east, bringing off to the east on runways 08R and 08L. times, make several attempts to land company processes next-day and second- George Willis, currently President of 200F and -300F aircraft. Amazon Prime not maintain a regular presence TOP: The lower the two runway thresholds side by side, The procedure known as ‘contraflow’ is and sometimes have to divert to nearby day packages destined for Los Angeles, US Operations at UPS and formerly Air, which also flies to US cities, is run at ONT, but does fly level of Terminal at a total cost of $20 million. Runway used, weather permitting, to minimise John Wayne or LAX airports where San Bernardino, Orange, , responsible for the company’s West by Atlas Air, Air Transport International occasional charter 4 consists of the 26R/08L is the longest at 12,197ft noise in the surrounding communities. conditions are not so severe. Riverside and Ventura counties. Region, said in a media statement: and ABX Air. Ameriflight also operates flights from the baggage claim area (3,718m) and is longer than any at LAX. Noise was also a factor when the airport The burgeoning growth of air travel In 2015 UPS expanded its existing “These investments in UPS’s air at ONT with its single Embraer Californian airport and airline ticket It is often used as an alternative landing was selected as the only facility in SoCal through the 1990s, dictated ONT’s further package-sorting facility at ONT to a $53 and ground network illustrate UPS’s 120 Brasilia serving several on behalf of the counters. site for large aircraft when the primary to host Concorde in 1986 during its expansion, with a new $170 million twin million 416,000sq ft (38,638m2) building commitment to customers in the Inland US cities and one Mexican US military. international airport is fogged in. promotional flight around the world. terminal complex opening in 1998. which sits on 30 acres of land. Empire and abroad, and we are part of destination. The ability to switch to a nearby Terminal 2 has 265,000 sq ft (25,620m2) ABOVE CENTRE: facility remains important because Freak Weather and 12 gates, while terminal 4 is identical Both terminals many transpacific flights may not have The airport benefits from more than 300 in size but with 14 gates. This project was have a central enough fuel left after a long flight to days of sunshine a year but there is a completed four months ahead of schedule stair structure to reach other major airports or to fly in a unique weather phenomenon that makes and $26 million under budget. the upper level to holding pattern waiting for the weather flying conditions challenging and at Two older terminals located to the access security to clear. times nearly impossible. west of the new complex now house the screening, shops, During this period, when flights The Santa Ana winds are strong and airport administrative offices and a United restaurants, lounges were diverted to Ontario, they were extremely dry, originating about 500 Services Organisations (USO) facility. and all gates. refuelled before continuing to their miles (805km) inland in the US Great original destination, due to the limited Basin and affect all of inland and Cargo ABOVE, RIGHT: customs facilities and lack of connecting coastal Southern California. When they The facility is centrally located and can Passengers sit flights at ONT. come roaring out of the northeast or be reached easily by four major roads quietly at Gate 212 Noise abatement restrictions are not as southeast, they are very narrow in (interstate freeways). This location and awaiting the call to strict as those found at other Southern depth, meaning that winds at 10,000ft accessibility were major factors in its board China Airlines Californian airports such as John Wayne, are moving at 100kts and do a rapid selection as a major freight hub for Flight 23 to Taipei. Bob Hope and Long Beach. Although switch in direction below 1,000ft. The (UPS). Utilising

58 airports of the world // Jan-Feb 2019 www.airportsworld.com 59 ABOVE: Ontario Ownership trend to give secondary airports less design and construction proposals that Further Work Federal Aviation Administration chief, ABOVE: Both the air serves as a regional ONT underwent a name change in 2006 emphasis, while favouring of large hubs. Aircraft Spotting will ultimately replace the 44,000sq ft A 15-year lease extension with Guardian Michael Huerta, an Inland Empire native traffic control tower hub for UPS's when it became LA/Ontario International Passenger numbers supported the (4,088m2) federal inspection facility and Jet Center on the airport’s south side who stepped down from his post at the and fire station are air and ground Airport, mainly to avoid confusion with theory. LAX grew from 62.4 million Go to the southern perimeter near the UPS international terminal. The project is part will produce more than $5 million in rent beginning of 2018, praised the local near one another operations, with the province of Ontario in Canada. During in 2007 to 66.6 million in 2013, an ramp. From this area you will be able to of the authority’s overall goal to improve payments and fund upgrades to existing authorities for persevering in regaining on the south side of more than 200 of the mid-2000s, traffic increased to more increase of more than 6%. The city of photograph aircraft landing on runways the customer experience. Completion is facilities and construction of a third control of the airport. In a light-hearted the airport. the carrier’s pilots than 7 million by 2007. The boom didn’t Ontario claimed losses of $24.9 million 26L/26R from the road. anticipated in the first quarter of 2020 general aviation hangar. remark, he likened it to “the dog that based at the airport. last. By 2013, passenger numbers had to $58.1 million in tax revenue from lost with a total cost of $70 to $80 million. There are plans to make it easier for caught the car”, acknowledging the dropped to 3.9 million from 7.2 million in passenger traffic from 2009 to 2013. Southwest Airlines. On the international The airport is making improvements passengers to reach the airport by car, monumental task of the OIAA to oversee ABOVE LEFT: As 2007, a decline of 43%. Then Ontario City Manager, Chris front, Volaris introduced Leon, , as quickly as possible because the public transport and ‘app’ companies ONT’s operation. well as being a In 2008 JetBlue Airways and Hughes, said in 2012 that 1.3 million cars to the roster and North Carolina-based new international service has begun. such as Uber and Lyft. The completion of ONT’s first year of major international ExpressJet both stopped serving the travelled to LAX for flights that should be Dynamic International Airways began a For many years customs officers were New concessions agreements and local ownership has produced heartening airport, Ontario is offered from ONT. results to date as passenger volumes are airport. Other airlines followed suit by new charter to Nanchang, China, with its available for very limited periods of time. commitments to remodel retail space, also home to many reducing flights. Many blamed the cuts In 2015 LAWA tentatively agreed to return fleet of 767s during the summer months. Officers are now available for 12 hours and new in-terminal and outdoor increasing month over month. Indeed private business on the state of a US economy in the grips ownership to the city of Ontario. LAWA was Low-cost airline Frontier began flights to per day which makes the airport advertising are designed to bring millions ONT is in the midst of its longest period jets. Fixed base of a recession. to be reimbursed for its investments at the its home base in Denver, Colorado, plus a more attractive option for in additional revenues. The ability to of sustained growth since 2007. operator Guardian Ownership and control of ONT became airport and job protection was offered to Austin and San Antonio in Texas. international carriers. generate income beyond landing fees Huerta said in a press release: “If Jet Center recently an issue in late 2010 when the city of its employees. The transfer was completed The largest commitment in a decade More changes are to support more and terminal rents paid by the airlines I were a betting man, my money renewed its lease Ontario criticised and questioned how on November 1, 2016, with a joint powers came from low-cost carrier JetBlue transoceanic services which the airport is is critical for commercial airports, would be on Ontario to succeed as an at the facility for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) agreement between the city of Ontario and Airways, which returned towards the end seeking to secure. The largest expenditure particularly mid-sized facilities like ONT. aviation gateway.” another 15 years. operated the airport, positing that San Bernardino county. of last year (2018) with a daily non-stop approved by the commissioners was OIAA President, Alan D Wapner, said in Wapner added: “Ontario is no longer a was the reason for the reduction in The airport is now owned and operated New York service. $512,000, which will go towards the an official statement: “The improvements well-kept secret in Southern California passenger numbers. by the Ontario International Airport China Airlines followed with a much- purchase and installation of 20 new to our business operations and the aviation as industry leaders learn more Ontario claimed the airport it once Authority (OIAA) and the airport anticipated announcement of new route to automated passport control kiosks. There investments we’ve made, and will about the market’s best mid-size airport, controlled faced extinction because name has been restored to Ontario Taiwan with the 777-300ER, which started will also be $250,000 spent to improve continue to make in our facilities, are they are concluding that ONT is the Los Angeles had kept ONT out of the International Airport. in March 2018, the first carrier to offer non- cabling and another $207,000 for security solidifying our future for generations place to be.” promotional and marketing loop. The stop, transoceanic service to ONT. and information technology. to come. Ontario International is a BELOW: Southwest city fathers’ argument ran that the New Beginning With international traffic on the rise, a These updates are bringing the airport growing airport, but we’re committed to Airlines is the precipitous decline in passenger levels The airport made a flying start under its much-needed upgrade of infrastructure to a position reached by other major maintaining the convenience and positive Acknowledgements busiest carrier at was not simply reflective of a down- new owners. New services to Chicago and is in the planning stages. In January 2017, international airports in the last three to customer experience that sets us apart The author thanks to Willie Edwards and Steve Ontario, operating predominantly from turned economy but demonstrated a Dallas were initiated by American and the OIAA commissioners agreed to seek five years. in Southern California.” Lambert for their assistance with this article. its Terminal 4 base. Airport Statistics

IATA code ONT ICAO code KONT Operator Ontario International Airport Authority Location 34 03 22 N 117 36 04 W Elevation 944ft/288m Runways 08L/26R 12,197ft / 3,718m, 08R/26L 10,200ft / 3,109m Website www.flyontario.com

Copyright © 2018 Jeppesen All rights reserved. The charts are available to the flight simulation community via Navigraph Charts, https://www. navigraph.com. (Not for airborne/operational use)

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