Montgomery-Gibbs Airport Receives $270,000 From FAA For Equipment

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego's Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport received a $270,000 federal grant to purchase equipment, it was announced Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration is awarding more than $627.7 million for infrastructure and safety projects through the FY2021 Airport Improvement Program. A total of 449 grants were awarded to 390 airports in 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Federated States of Micronesia.

"Airports serve as a lifeline for communities across the nation," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. "Modernizing our infrastructure in a way that creates jobs, ensures safety, combats climate change and fosters equity is a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration. These airport improvement grants will help airports across the country better serve their communities."

The projects supported by the grants are intended to promote safety, efficiency, environmental stewardship, infrastructure and security at the nation's airports.

"These grants are an investment in safety and continued innovation," said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. "Every airport in every community plays a vital role in our air transportation system."

Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, originally known as Gibbs Field, opened in 1937 with a single runway. In 1940, William Gibbs leased the airport to the Ryan School of Aeronautics to train Army Air Corps cadets to fly. San Diego purchased the airport from Gibbs in 1947.

On May 20, 1950, San Diego named the airport Montgomery Field in honor of John J. Montgomery, who is credited with making the first controlled flight in a fixed-wing aircraft. Montgomery's first glider flight took place in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego in 1883.

On Jan. 28, 2016, the San Diego City Council passed a resolution changing the name of the airport to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport to honor Gibbs.

Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport is a general aviation airport, encompassing all aviation except air carrier and military. The types of general aviation aircraft that operate at the airport include private, corporate, charter, air ambulance, law enforcement, fire rescue, flight training and cargo.

The FAA has designated the airport as a reliever airport for San Diego International Airport, with the ability to relieve congestion at the larger airfield in certain circumstances.

The airport is located in North San Diego, near the junction of Interstate 805 and State Route 163 in the Serra Mesa/Kearny Mesa area of the city.

— City News Service