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County Airports
County Airports

History of RHV

1933

  • Bob and Cecil Reid constructed their first airport, Garden City Airport, between San Antonio and Story Road

1935

  • Grand Opening of Garden City Airport

1937

  • Garden City Airport was purchased by the State for Highway 101 right of way.

1939

  • Bob and Cecil Reid begin construction of their new airport, Reid’s Hillview Airport, at its current location

1941

  • Due to WW2, all airports within 150 miles of the Pacific were ordered to close and relocate all planes at least 150 miles inland. The Reid’s refused and after a meeting with authorities were allowed to keep the planes on site as long as the propellers were removed. It was also agreed that Reid’s Hillview airport would be allowed to open 24 hours after the war ended and remain open around the clock.

1945

  • At the end of the war, it was decided that only commercial and military airports would be allowed to reopen. The Reid’s met with the Major General in San Francisco at which point Reid’s Hillview was allowed to reopen becoming the first general aviation airport to open after the war.

1946

  • The runway was paved.

1948

  • The County of Santa Clara Planning Commission published a report entitled Master Plan of Airports - County of Santa Clara, California recommending the development of a County Airports System and included Reid’s Hillview Airport as an important part of the Airport System.
  • San Jose Junior Chamber of Commerce issued a permit by the Board of Supervisors to hold an Air Circus at Reid-Hillview Airport on July 18, 1948.

1949

  • Hangars for 45 aircraft constructed
  • 300 aircraft tied down

1959

  • Resolution 16115 by City of San Jose Resolution provided for future growth of the Airport as an integral part of the east side community and encouraged County to purchase and operate the Airport, allowing San Jose Municipal to be developed for commercial passenger service.

1960

  • H.K. Freidman Report titled Airport Study General Aviation Requirements is published recommending that the County continue its interest in airport planning and take steps to preserve and expand or replace Reid’s Hillview Airport.

1961

1962

  • The County receives a $363,285 grant from the Federal Government for land acquisition. Project 9-04-128-D201

1963

1964

1965

  • The leaseback to Bob and Cecil Reid expires and the County takes over management of the Airports.
  • A memo on the lease history is produced.
  • Reconstruct 2,700 foot runway, runway lights, and parallel taxiway
  • First group of aircraft hangars and shelters constructed
  • 2.39 acre FBO plot leased to Agco for 50 years
  • 3.55 acre FBO plot leased to John & Barbara Pyle for 50 years

1966

  • 1.72 acre FBO plot leased to Gee Bee for 50 years
  • Construction of parking ramp, roadways and commercial operators’ sites completed.
  • Second unit of hangars and shelters constructed.
  • The County received a $70,703 grant from the Federal Government for apron construction and drainage system. Project 9-04-128-D604
  • The County purchased additional property ($40,000)
  • General Aviation Plan report is published by the County to update the 1960 Friedland Report

1967

  • Air Traffic Control Tower constructed by FAA. It was the first fully transistorized air traffic control tower in the U.S.
  • The County received a $37,215.00 grant from the Federal Government for paving and electrical work. Project 9-04-128-D805
  • 2.24 acre FBO plot leased to Amelie Reid for 50 years

1968

  • 2.24 acre FBO plot leased to Hacienda Aviation for 50 years
  • Airport received FAA Certificate of Achievement for airport development
  • Air Traffic Control Tower dedicated
  • The County received a $12,100.00 grant from the FAA to install a new taxiway lighting system. Project 9-04-12-D906
  • Taxiway lighting and ramp lights are upgraded
  • Aircraft hangars and shelters were constructed

1969

  • There are five major FBO’s operating, approximately 400 based aircraft, annual operations approaching 300,000.
  • The County received a $30,145.00 grant from the Federal Government to install apron lighting and paving. Project 9-04-128-C907
    Aircraft parking ramp construction completed.
  • The FAA issued a Notice of No Hazard for the plan to widen Tully Road to six lanes.

1970

  • 2.16 acre FBO plot leased to AeroTrends for 50 years
  • 1.03 acre FBO plot leased to Skyline Properties for 50 years
  • West parallel runway complete.
  • Terminal construction began.
  • City of San Jose Resolution 38741 reaffirmed 1959 resolution 16115 statement of intent to support Reid-Hillview Airport in its existing location

1971

1972

  • The FAA issued an errant Notice of No Hazard for the Golden West Savings and Loan building between RHV and Eastridge mall.

1973

  • 2.27 acre FBO plot leased to Gee Bee Aero for 50 years

1974

  • Updated runway lighting system installed
  • John and Barbara Pyle FBO plot split into two sections. 1.06 acres was retained by the Pyle’s. 2.49 acres was assigned to Progressive Aviation.

1984 

  • The county received a $900,000 grant from the Federal Government for paving, road relocation, drainage, lighting, fencing and markings. Project 3-06-0225-02

1980

  • Amelia Reid and Velma Million successfully urged the city of San Jose to construct Lake Cunningham Park as a buffer area near the airport.

1982

  • Agco lease assigned to Skyline Maintenance

1987

  • Skyline Maintenance lease assigned to Skyline Aviation

1988

  • The County receives a $539,863.00 grant from the Federal Government for repaving the runways, taxiways and parking apron. Project 3-06-0225-03

1988

  • Skyline FBO assigned to H.T. as Nice Air.

1989

  • After the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Reid-Hillview is used as a major starting point to provide supplies to Watsonville after all roads were cut off. Over 100 tons of supplies were airlifted to Watsonville as a result of this effort.

1990

1991
Hacienda Aviation Center lease assigned to Murfin Family Trust.

1993

1994

  • Skyline Aviation lease assigned to Gregory Marconet.
  • Murfin Family Trust assigned to Marconet Properties

1996

1998

  • The County receives a $1,665,000.00 grant from the Federal Government for repaving the runways, taxiways, and ramp, installing lighted airfield signage, constructing drainage improvements, and repairing the airport perimeter road. Project 3-06-0225-04
  • The County receives a $151,200.00 grant from the Federal Government to complete a Part 150 Noise Compatibility Planning Study. Project 3-06-0225-05

1999
Gregory Marconet lease was assigned to JWA Enterprises LLC (Trade Winds Aviation)

2000

  • The County receives a $280,000.00 grant from the Federal Government to complete a Master Plan study. Project 3-06-0225-06
  • John and Barbara Pyle lease assigned to Frank and Doreen Jurado.
  • Progressive Aviation lease assigned to Hiroyasu Takai.

2001
The County receives a $180,000 grant from the Federal Government to complete parking apron drainage improvements. Project 3-06-0225-07.

2002

  • The FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program report is completed.
  • The County receives a $774,000.00 grant from the Federal Government for parking ramp drainage improvements, parking apron rehabilitation, perimeter road rehabilitation, installation of perimeter fencing around the FBO and terminal area, installation of Pilot Controlled Lighting (PCL), Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) and rehabilitation of the segmented circle and beacon tower electrical system. Project 3-06-0225-08

2003
The County receives a $554,500 grant from the Federal Government for additional fencing and gates. Project 3-06-0225-09.

2005
The County receives a $435,000 grant from the Federal Government for parking apron rehabilitation and signage and markings. Project 3-06-0225-10.

2006

2007

  • The Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for Reid-Hillview is adopted by the County.
  • The County receives a $551,300.00 grant from the Federal Government to install additional perimeter fencing and gates. Project 3-06-0225-12
  • The County receives a $475,000.00 grant from the Federal Government to insulate homes in the 65-69 DNL zone around the airport. Only __ homes elected to participate in the project which included insulation in the home, new windows and doors and new HVAC system. Project 3-06-0225-13

2008
Amelia Reid Aviation FBO is transferred to Z. P. and renamed Aerodynamic Aviation.

2010
SJSU moves part of its Aviation program to Reid-Hillview Airport.

2011

  • The County receives a $50,350.00 grant from the Federal Government to create plans and specifications for runway and taxiway pavement rehabilitation and marking. Project 3-06-0225-14.
  • FAA files Part 16 complaint against County of Santa Clara due to skydiving at San Martin Airport. The FAA will not issue any grants to Reid-Hillview, Palo Alto or San Martin Airports until the Part 16 complaint is resolved.

2016

  • The FAA removes the Part 16 restrictions after the County agrees to allow skydiving at San Martin airport.
  • The CLUP is amended.
  • All FBO leases were amended to synchronize their expiration date to 12/31/2021 and add annual CPI rate increase.

2017

  • The Roads and Airports Department takes a $3,000,000 loan from the General Fund to pave and remark all runways and taxiways at Reid-Hillview and San Martin Airport.
  • The Board of Supervisors directs county staff to complete an updated Business Plan to fund operations at Reid-Hillview and San Martin Airports

2018

  • Paving and markings of both runways and taxiways at Reid-Hillview is completed
  • Staff presents the Business Plan to the Board of Supervisors. The plan is not accepted. Instead staff was directed to complete several tasks related to the potential closure of Reid-Hillview Airport.

2019
Paving under the shelters and the area between the hangars and taxiway Z is completed.

2021
The FAA issues a formal Part 13 Investigation Letter regarding airfield conditions and fuel availability.

2022

  • The County of Santa Clara takes over ownership of the fuel tanks at RHV and discontinued the sale of leaded avgas (100LL).  Swift unleaded 94 octane fuel is made available at RHV and E16.  
  • The County issues new 1-year leases to four of the original long-term lease holders at RHV and takes over management of the five remaining leasehold. 

2024

  • Signage and Marking project begins.  This project replaces all of the airfield signage, airfield surface markings, adds Guard Lights at all 31R/13L taxiway intersections, reduces the width of and renames taxiways A and E, and moves the runup area.  This 5.0 million dollar project is funded through a loan to the Airport Enterprise Fund from the General Fund.

Linked documents

Friedland report (1960)
City of San Jose Resolution (1969)
General Aviation Plan (1966)
Reid-Hillview analysis (1990)
Risk assessment of the Reid-Hillview Airport Closure Evaluation Project (1993)
DRAFT Environmental impact report on the Reid-Hillview Airport Closure Project …
Part 150 Noise Study (2002)

Sources

Development and activity report Reid's Hillview Airport and Reid-Hillview Airpo…
Reid-Hillview Airport 1939-1979 (1979)
A brief history of Reid-Hillview Airport
Brief history (c.1978)
A personal history of Reid-Hillview Airport (James Meide)