Sacramento County is launching a new effort to expand aircraft operations at Mather Airport near Rancho Cordova, with plans to transform the former Air Force base into what officials are calling a “tradeport.”<\/p>\n
The airport has been around for more than a century, serving through world wars and later becoming a hub for general aviation and cargo operations. County officials say growing demand for e-commerce and overnight delivery could bring new jobs and businesses to the area.<\/p>\n
“Mather is a very special asset to our community and with an 11,300-foot-long runway, one of the largest runways in all of California,” said Stephen Clark, deputy director of the Sacramento County Department of Airports.<\/p>\n
The former Air Force base closed in 1993. Since then, it has been used mostly for general aviation and cargo plane operations.<\/p>\n
“It’s really a cool airport, the fact that it can take all the great big planes, planes can come from all over the world, it’s been a backup space for the space shuttle,” said Diann Rogers, CEO of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n
Rogers said having the airfield is a major boost for the local economy.<\/p>\n
“I think it brings high-level jobs, high-income jobs, it brings training, it brings opportunity,” Rogers said.<\/p>\n
But portions of the old military base remain undeveloped, including the apron where strategic B-52 bombers were once kept on alert during the Cold War.<\/p>\n
Today, much of the area is cracked concrete overgrown with weeds.<\/p>\n
“Why not take advantage of every single thing that airport can offer?” Rogers said.<\/p>\n
Plans call for transforming the southeast portion of the airport into new aircraft hangars and cargo processing facilities.<\/p>\n
The project would include warehouses where air freight could be offloaded directly onto delivery trucks.<\/p>\n
“Obviously, that’s a fantastic use for such a large runway,” said Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume.<\/p>\n
The county also has plans to develop vacant portions of the airport’s north side.<\/p>\n
Together, the improvement projects are estimated to cost nearly $200 million.<\/p>\n
The effort aims to turn a base that served in two world wars into a West Coast cargo hub.<\/p>\n
Sacramento County said it plans to use a mix of airport funds, government grants and partnerships with private developers to pay for the project.<\/p>\n
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