History

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

On May 20, 1950, the City 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 airport's name to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport to honor Bill Gibbs and establish a new vision by demonstrating a commitment to providing high-quality services and facilities for the flying public.

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

The FAA has classified Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport as a reliever airport for San Diego International Airport (SAN). A reliever airport serves general aviation aircraft that might otherwise use a congested air carrier airport. Airline passengers benefit by experiencing fewer delays due to air traffic congestion.

Airfield Information

Runway 10L/28R: 4598 x 150 feet, asphalt, MIRL, PAPI, MALSR (28R), precision markings (28R), 1176 feet displaced threshold (28R)

Runway 10R/28L: 3401 x 60 feet, asphalt, REIL (28L), basic markings

Runway 5/23: 3400 x 75 feet, asphalt, basic markings, 390 feet displaced threshold (5)

Airport Elevation: 427 feet MSL

Tower: 119.2 MHz (1400–0500Z‡) RWY 28R use 125.7 MHz from (1800–0200Z‡) (1000-1800L) Tower Staffed (0600-2100L) Daily.
Ground: 118.22 MHz
Clearance Delivery: 123.725 MHz
ATIS: 126.9 MHz
Approach (SOCAL): 124.35 MHz
Departure (SOCAL): 119.6 MHz
CTAF: 119.2 MHz (2100 - 0600 L)
Pilot Controlled Lighting (MALSR/PAPI): 119.2 MHz
UNICOM: 123.075 MHz
ASOS: 858-576-4337
ATIS: 858-277-3075

Instrument Approaches: ILS OR LOC RWY 28R (111.95), RNAV (GPS) RWY 28R

Right Traffic Runways 28R and 10R

TPA Runways 10L-28R, 10R-28L, and 5-23: 1427 MSL (1000 AGL) single engine, 2027 MSL (1600 AGL) multi-engine/turbine.

MISSION BAY VORTAC (117.8) 4.8 nm WSW of airfield.

Airspace: Class D (0600 - 2100L), otherwise Class G

Airport Operations Hours:

Monday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

* Office hours may vary due to Holidays, Staff out of the office working on the airport airside, and staff vacancies.

* If staff is out of the office, please email the request to Airports@sandiego.gov or call and leave a message at 858-573-1440.

Gate Access Cards:

Please select this link to apply for a Gate Access Card: Movement Area Training Public Dashboard

Services

• Fuel (Jet, Avgas, UL94)
• Aircraft and vehicle parking
• Tiedowns
• Hangars
• Aircraft maintenance
• Flight training
• Aircraft rental
• Aircraft sales
• Aircraft charter
• Car rental
• Restaurants
• Hotel
• Pilot Supplies

 Airport Businesses                                                                                                        

Aircraft Service Center: 858-277-3311

Aircraft Maintenance Services

Advanced Aircraft Service: 858-560-7599
Cessna Service Center and aircraft maintenance

Armed Forces Aero Club: 858-874-2322
Flying club

Aviation Unlimited: 800-318-8001
Aircraft sales

Casa Machado: (858) 292-4716
Mexican food restaurant

California Aeronautical University (CAU): (619)-293-5030

Aviation University

Coast Air Center: 858-800-3878
Fixed Base Operator, aircraft hangars, and maintenance

Coast Flight Training and Management: 858-279-4359
Flight training and aircraft management services

Corporate Helicopters of San Diego: 858-505-5650
Helicopter tours, sales, filming and construction projects

Crownair Aviation: 858-277-1453
Fixed Base Operator and aircraft maintenance

Executive Airpark: 858-292-1181
Fixed Base Operator

Flex Air Flight Training: 758-727-4888

Flight School

Four Points by Sheraton: 858-277-8888
Hotel

Learn to Fly San Diego: 858-694-0198
Flight school

Marv Golden: 858-569-5220 or 800-348-0014
Pilot supplies

Plus One Flyers
Flying club

San Diego Sky Tours: 619-757-6419

Airplane & Biplane Rides

San Diego Flight Training International: 858-569-1822
Flight school

San Diego Fire-Rescue Air Operations

San Diego Police Air Support Unit

Spiders Aircraft Service: 858-874-2374
Aircraft maintenance

3750 John J. Montgomery Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
Airport Operations: 858-573-1440
Airport Noise Abatement: 858-573-1436

For other questions or concerns, see the Frequently Asked Questions or call 858-573-1440.