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| Willows–Glenn County Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Willows–Glenn County Airport |
| Iata | WLW |
| Icao | KWLW |
| Faa | WLW |
| Type | Public |
| Owner | Glenn County |
| City-served | Willows, California |
| Elevation-f | 141 |
| Elevation-m | 43 |
| R1-number | 13/31 |
| R1-length-f | 5,000 |
| R1-surface | Asphalt |
Willows–Glenn County Airport Willows–Glenn County Airport is a public use airport located near Willows, California in Glenn County, California. The airport serves general aviation, emergency response, and agricultural aviation operations for the Sacramento Valley, providing a base for fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, and aerial application businesses. Facilities include a single asphalt runway, hangar space, and support services that connect to regional centers such as Sacramento, California and Marysville, California.
Willows–Glenn County Airport sits on the California State Route 45 corridor near the Sacramento River and functions as an aviation hub for Glenn County, California, Colusa County, California, and nearby Tehama County, California. The airport accommodates flight training from operators influenced by curricula from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Purdue University, and standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Local planning documents reference coordination with agencies such as the California Department of Transportation and regional economic development organizations like Glenn County Economic Development Corporation.
The airport's origins trace to early 20th-century aviation expansion in California, paralleling developments at Moffett Field, Beale Air Force Base, and Travis Air Force Base. During WWII, regional airfields supported training activities tied to the United States Army Air Forces and logistics for Ells Field-era operations; postwar transitions reflected aerospace trends led by manufacturers such as Lockheed, Northrop Corporation, and Douglas Aircraft Company. In the late 20th century the site evolved under county ownership with improvements influenced by federal programs like the Airport Improvement Program and grant initiatives from the United States Department of Transportation. Recent decades saw community-driven projects coordinated with organizations including the Glenn County Board of Supervisors, Federal Aviation Administration, and nonprofit groups such as the Experimental Aircraft Association.
The airport features a single primary runway (13/31) surfaced with asphalt similar to runways at regional airports such as Orland Airport and Chico Municipal Airport. On-field infrastructure includes T-hangars, corporate hangars, a terminal apron, and fueling services compatible with 100LL and jet fuel standards overseen by National Air Transportation Association guidance. Aircraft based at the airport range from single-engine types like the Cessna 172 and Piper PA-28 Cherokee to multi-engine turboprops such as the Beechcraft King Air and rotary-wing models including the Bell 206. Maintenance and avionics work reference suppliers and certification pathways involving Federal Aviation Administration repair stations and parts sourced through distributors like Aviation Suppliers Association members.
Willows–Glenn County Airport does not host scheduled airline service comparable to carriers such as United Airlines, American Airlines, or Southwest Airlines; instead, it supports charter operators and air taxi services aligned with companies like NetJets, Flexjet, and regional brokers. Air ambulance and medevac missions coordinate with providers such as CAL Fire airtanker fleets, Air Methods Corporation, and hospital systems including Enloe Medical Center and Adventist Health. Agricultural aviation connects to operators offering aerial application for crops grown by entities associated with Archer-Daniels-Midland Company supply chains and commodity markets influenced by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Recorded incidents at the airport have involved general aviation aircraft and agricultural operations, drawing investigations from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration. Responses have included mutual aid from local agencies like the Glenn County Fire Department, coordination with California Highway Patrol air operations, and safety reviews influenced by standards from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association safety seminars. Lessons from historical events informed infrastructure upgrades consistent with recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and state aviation safety programs.
The airport contributes to the regional economy through jobs in aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, and agricultural aviation services linked to employers such as Sutter Health contractors and local agribusinesses including Sun-Maid Growers of California-adjacent operations. It supports emergency preparedness in coordination with CAL Fire, California Office of Emergency Services, and Glenn County Emergency Services, enabling medevac, firefighting, and disaster relief missions. Community engagement includes partnerships with educational institutions like Butte College, extension programs run by University of California, Davis Cooperative Extension, and civic organizations such as the Glenn County Chamber of Commerce.
Planned improvements emphasize runway rehabilitation, hangar construction, and enhanced fueling and avionics services guided by grant funding opportunities through the Airport Improvement Program and strategic plans aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration's airport capital improvement framework. Strategic collaborations consider regional growth corridors connecting to Interstate 5 (California), energy projects influenced by California Energy Commission planning, and workforce initiatives coordinated with California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and regional workforce boards. Long-term scenarios evaluate increased charter connectivity, expanded emergency response capacity, and sustainability measures consistent with policies from the California Air Resources Board and federal environmental review practices under agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency.
Category:Airports in Glenn County, California