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{{Short description|General aviation airport in Santa Paula, California, United States}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Santa Paula Airport
| image =
| IATA = SZP
| ICAO = KSZP
| FAA = SZP
| type = Public
| owner = Santa Paula Airport Association
| operator =
| city-served = [[Santa Paula, California]]
| location = <!--if different than above-->
| elevation-f =
| website = [http://www.santapaulaairport.com/ SantaPaulaAirport.com]
| coordinates = {{coord|34|20|49|N|119|03|42|W|region:US-CA_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
|
| pushpin_mapsize = 200
|
|
| pushpin_label_position = right
| r1-number = 4/22
| r1-length-f = 2,
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| h1-number = H1
| h1-length-f = 60
| h1-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year =
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations (year ending 11/6/2023)
| stat1-data = 97,000
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-data = 309
| footnotes = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=SZP|use=PU|own=PR|site=02256.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective
}}
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== History ==
Santa Paula's first airport was originally established in 1927 when local rancher
Less than In the following year, two more hangars were built as more locals began flying and purchasing aircraft. Recognizing the importance of having a community airport in the area, In 1930, following months of personal construction and development by these founders, the newly named Santa Paula Airport opened to the public with a lavish celebration of [[aerobatics]], celebrity appearances, and aircraft. This airport was also one of the favorite flying spots of actor [[ === 2005 flood disaster ===
On February 21 and 22, 2005, the Santa Paula Airport was heavily damaged when the rain
=== Thomas Fire ===
In December 2017, the [[Thomas Fire]] erupted and burned across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The Santa Paula Airport became a [[Helitack|helibase]] for CAL FIRE by the morning after the fire started. The airport was outfitted as a base of operations for the [[Aerial firefighting|water-dropping helicopters]], and closed to all of the regular [[general aviation]] operations. About 23 helicopters began operating out of the airport, along with the necessary support crews, [[Tank truck|tanker trucks]], and other equipment. In addition to water, brightly colored [[fire retardant]] was dropped on the fire from the air.<ref name="VCS 2017-12-8" /> During the first couple of weeks, there had been limited ability to use fixed-wing air tankers and VLAT (very large air tankers) to drop fire retardant, due to the smoky skies.<ref name="earlier fires">{{cite web|url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/state/california/fires/article189539044.html|title=Earlier wildfires may hold key to stopping giant Thomas Fire|first=Giana|last=Magnoli|work=[[The Tribune (San Luis Obispo)|The Tribune]]|date=December 13, 2017|access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref> After having been in the air all day, the helicopters underwent maintenance at night. Other activities included a daily briefing each morning, lunches, and distributing maps.<ref name="VCS 2017-12-8">{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/santa-paula/2017/12/08/santa-paula-airport-transformed-into-cal-fires-helibase-battle-thomas-fire/935085001/|title=Santa Paula Airport transformed into Cal Fire's 'helibase' to battle Thomas Fire|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|first=Mike |last=Harris|date=December 8, 2017|access-date= December 11, 2017}}</ref>
Many aircraft and their operations moved to other airports, such as [[Camarillo Airport|Camarillo]], which remained open to normal activities, while being involved in firefighting efforts. Amid all this, the Santa Paula airport was able to make one of its [[hangar]]s available for cats after one of the local [[animal shelter]]s was filled to capacity, and for one local family with its dogs for three nights, on its premises as well.<ref name="VCS 2017-12-8" />
== Facilities and aircraft ==
Santa Paula Airport covers an area of 51 [[acre]]s (21 [[hectare|ha]]) at an [[elevation]] of
The airport is a non-[[Control tower|towered]] facility handling approximately 97,000 arrivals and/or departures a year, and is home to over 309 individual aircraft.
For the 12-month period ending The airport is used for training flights by pilots around Southern and Central California, due to the unique operating environment, short field and challenging terrain. Much of the original 1930s-era facilities still exist and are used today, giving the airport a very authentic representation of the [[Aviation between the World Wars|interwar years]]. As a result of the airport's history and theme, many [[vintage (design)|vintage]] aircraft owners have long sought hangar space at the airport's limited facilities for use and display.
===Tenants===
CP Aviation offers flight school, aircraft rental, and aircraft maintenance activities. Fuel is also sold at the airport.
The Aviation Museum of Santa Paula is headquartered at the airport.
The former Logsdon's Restaurant closed in early 2013.
===Events===
Every first Sunday of the month, the airport comes alive with visitors. People put their airplanes on display with info cards on the propeller. CP Aviation sells Santa Paula souvenirs. Also, car clubs come in and there are always nice cars to look at. The [[Petersen Auto Museum]] has displayed its [[Ferrari]] collection there.
<gallery>
File:Santa Paula 001.jpg | The airport as seen from Runway 4
File:Santa Paula 002.jpg | Wind sock and notices to airmen as seen by the end of Runway 22
File:Santa Paula 003.jpg | A view from the hangars on the Northwest side of the airport
File:Santa Paula 004.jpg | CP Aviation, seen from the South end of the airport
</gallery>
== Accidents and incidents ==
Between 1984 and 1995 there were 24 crashes, and 11 related fatalities at Santa Paula.<ref name=la-times-stunt>{{cite news |last1=Bustillo|first1=Miguel |last2=Wahlgren|first2=Eric |title=Pilot Killed in Crash at Santa Paula Air Show : Aviation: Stunt flier and former Navy pilot dies when jet smashes into riverbed during aerobatic routine |url=
On February 13, 1991, there was a collision between a [[Bell Jet Ranger]] helicopter and a [[Pitts Special|Pitts Aerobatic aircraft]] above the airport. The two people on the plane died. Three on the helicopter were injured, including actor [[Kirk Douglas]] and voice actor [[Noel Blanc]].<ref name=la-times-helicrash>{{cite news |last1=Gorman |first1=Gary |last2=O'Donnell |first2=Santiago |title=2 Die as Plane, Copter Crash; Kirk Douglas, 2 Others Hurt |url=
On April 3, 1991, two men died when the engine failed in their home-built plane. The plane fell and caught fire after hitting a golf cart.<ref name=la-times-blame>{{cite news |last1=Weiss|first1=Kenneth R. |last2=Wahlgren|first2=Eric |title=Airfield Not to Blame in Crash, Officials Say |url=
On
On December 31, 1993, a man drowned when his two-seat Grumman lost power and went into the Santa Clara River.<ref name=la-times-blame/>
On June 21, 1994, a man died when his homemade [[Ultra-light aircraft|ultra-light plane]] stalled and crashed into the Santa Clara.<ref name=la-times-blame/>
On July 3, 1994, a man and his daughter died when their [[Cessna 195]] had engine trouble and crashed.<ref name=la-times-blame/>
On August 12, 1995, a stunt pilot, former U. S. Navy fighter and test pilot, was killed during the 65th
== References ==
{{
{{
* [
* [
* [http://www.rain.org/~stapaula/spair.html Santa Paula Airport Information] at Blanchard Community Library
{{
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.santapaulaairport.com/ Santa Paula Airport]
* [http://www.
* [http://msrmaps.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=10&lat=34.347&lon=-119.0617&w=1000&h=700&lp=---+None+--- Aerial image as of September 1994] from [[USGS]] ''[[The National Map]]''
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Airports in Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Santa Paula, California]]
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