Southwest California is one of the fastest growing regions in California today, and the perfect place for growing businesses and families.

Families are an important part of Southwest California as evidenced by the abundance of parks, recreational facilities, amenities for senior citizens, quality child care facilities and schools that rank academically high statewide, according to the State Academic Performance Index.

French Valley Airport Extends Runway 

The recent completion of a $4.9million project to extend the runway at Southwest California’s French Valley Airport from its original 4600 feet to the current 6000 feet was for safety reasons, according to Rob Field, director of Riverside County airports.  

The shorter runway made it particularly difficult for larger aircraft, such as corporate jets, to take off on hot days in the less dense air.  Airport officials explain that Learjet pilots either had to ramp up engines to full throttle to get off the ground, or take off with one-third to one-half a load of fuel. 

French Valley Airport, located in Southwest California, adjacent to the communities of Temecula, Murrieta and Winchester is only minutes away from Interstate 15 and the 215 corridor which are distinguished by a proliferation of high-tech and manufacturing businesses.

Because the airport serves one of California’s fastest growing areas, and logs about 100,000 takeoffs and landings a year, the project was deemed crucial.  “Because of the region’s growing popularity, French Valley is luring pilots from nearby areas of San Diego and Orange counties”, said Field.  “It’s the old real estate mantra:  location, location, location,” he said.  “That’s why it’s so busy.”

Because of the steadily increasing activity, the runway extension isn’t the only major improvement planned.  “French Valley will be the first one in our system to get a control tower,” Field said.  That should happen in about two years.

French Valley’s wide-open approaches and ground support services accommodate most aircraft including jets and turbo-props.  The airport fixed-base operators provide ground support services, on-field fuel services, maintenance and aircraft storage, ground transportation, maintenance services, hangars for most general aviation aircraft, ranging from single engine to corporate jets and charter service throughout Southern California.

The 12,500 square foot aviation center at French Valley offers a café, pilot briefing and flight planning areas, a conference room and a spacious lobby.