Reid–Hillview Airport

Reid–Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (IATA: RHV, ICAO: KRHV, FAA LID: RHV) is in the eastern part of San Jose,[1] in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is owned by Santa Clara County and is near the Evergreen district of San Jose where aviation pioneer John J. Montgomery experimented with gliders in 1911. Reid–Hillview Airport was also the official general aviation airport for the 2015 Super Bowl in Levi's Stadium (in nearby Santa Clara, CA).

Reid–Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County
View of the airport from the south
Reid–Hillview airport diagram
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerSanta Clara County, California
LocationSan Jose, California
Elevation AMSL133 ft / 40.5 m
Coordinates37°19′58″N 121°49′11″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13L/31R 3,100 945 Asphalt
13R/31L 3,099 945 Asphalt

Reid–Hillview is a general aviation airport; there is no scheduled airline service. As with most general aviation airports air charter operations are available. The airport has a control tower that operates 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. The FAA classifies Reid–Hillview as a reliever airport for San Jose International Airport.[2]

History

Groundbreaking for Reid–Hillview airport came in 1937. Bob and Cecil Reid built the Garden City Airport in 1935, which was quickly closed to make room for U.S. Route 101. Their second site was northwest of the Hillview golf course, hence the name. Until 1946, the single runway was unpaved.

Reid–Hillview was a single runway airport until 1965, when a second runway was added. The control tower opened in October 1967.[3]

The airport was the origin for an emergency supply airlift to the Watsonville Municipal Airport following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, after mountain and coastal roads were blocked, cutting off Santa Cruz and Watsonville from relief efforts by ground. The Watsonville Airport estimates that it received 100 short tons (91 t) of supplies via the airlift during the week following the quake.[4] John McAvoy and Bill Dunn of the Reid–Hillview Airport Association received the 1990 Grand Award from the Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission for organizing the airlift.[5] The airport continues to be used in emergency operations, including during the SCU Lightning Complex fires in 2020.[6]

Santa Clara County published an over 120-page master plan proposing improvements and expansions at Reid–Hillview.[7] In the mid-2000s, the county announced they would demolish the second story of the airport terminal to make room for new offices for airport administration. They failed to follow up on this plan, and the second story has been sitting idle ever since. In the document, the county also planned on adding small expansions to the runway to allow turboprops and small business jets to land. Although turboprops and small business jets still land in the current runway, this minor expansion will allow a larger flow of these type of aircraft to land.

In 2010, San Jose State University's aviation program relocated to Reid–Hillview. The university operates out of the Swift Building, where it holds classes during the academic year.

In 2018, the Board of Supervisors voted to study consolidating general aviation at San Martin Airport.[8] On December 4, 2018, and again the following year, the board voted against accepting additional Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding that would have been contingent on Reid–Hillview's continued operation through 2051. Previously accepted grants require the county to keep the airport open through 2031.[9][10] In November 2020, it voted to begin the process of closing the airport in 2031 and redeveloping the land.[6]

Between 2019 and 2020, Santa Clara County undertook a community process to explore possible future uses for the airport site, resulting in a draft Reid–Hillview Vision Plan with the following vision statement:[11]

This East San Jose neighborhood will be a place of empowerment built on our culture, diversity and history, and sustained by education, well-being, and economic opportunity for the community.

In August 2021, Santa Clara County released a study that found elevated blood lead levels in children living near the airport.[8][12] On August 16, 2021, airport officials responded to the study by announcing that fixed base operators would switch to unleaded aviation fuel.[13] After which Santa Clara County's supervisor, Cindy Chavez, testified at the United States House Oversight Subcommittee on Environment in opposition of the national use of leaded aviation fuel. The hearing resulted in the committee committing to declaring leaded aviation fuel a health hazard by 2023.[14] On August 18, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to close the airport as soon as the FAA approves of its closure, which would be no sooner than January 1, 2022, and mandate the use of unleaded fuel as soon as possible. The board also voted against funding an expansion of San Martin Airport, raising concerns that general aviation traffic would be diverted to San Jose International Airport, which is also capacity-constrained and surrounded by urban development,[15][16] including the low-income, minority Washington-Guadalupe and Alviso neighborhoods.[17]

Environmental impact

For years, local activists have pushed to close the airport, supported by Santa Clara County Supervisors Blanca Alvarado and Cindy Chavez. Residents and officials have cited the airport's proximity to 21 schools and childcare centers as a concern due to the airport's use of 100LL avgas, which contains lead. Activists consider the airport's continued operation to be an example of environmental racism in the United States, arguing that 97% of the adjacent East San Jose neighborhood at risk of lead poisoning identifies as predominantly non white, predominantly low-income Latino and Vietnamese-American residents.[18][19][20] This study also brought about conversations of the national use of leaded aviation fuel in piston engined aircraft, which contributes to 70% of airborne lead.[21]

A 2021 study by Dr. Sammy Zahran found unsafe levels of lead in the air above the southeastern side of the airport, exceeding the acceptable limit set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards; in response, that side of the airport was closed to visitors.[22][23] A study commissioned by the county and released in August 2021 found elevated blood lead levels in children living within a 1.5 miles radius of the airport. The study found that children in the affected region experienced blood lead levels of 0.83 micrograms per deciliter.[24] This is nearly double the blood lead levels of children during the Flint water crisis, which were around 0.45 micrograms per deciliter.[25][19] Nationally, over 360,000 children live in neighborhoods surround airports which use leaded aviation fuel.[26]

Fixed-base operators (FBOs)
Overlooking transient parking and the control tower

At Reid–Hillview, fixed-base operators (FBOs) compete for fuel sales, aircraft rentals and/or flight training.

  • AeroDynamic Aviation,[27] formerly Amelia Reid Aviation
  • Air Accord[28]
  • The Flying 20's[29]
  • Nice Air Aviation[30]
  • San Jose Fuel Company[31]
  • Squadron 2 Flying Club[32]
  • Trade Winds Aviation[33]
  • Victory Aero Maintenance[34]

Ground transportation

Capitol Expressway (County Route G21) is at the entrance to the airport at Cunningham Avenue.

Rental cars/taxi

Enterprise car rental is available on the field next to the Airport Shoppe. Nice Air also has rental vehicles.

Bus

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has its Eastridge Transit Center across Tully Road at Eastridge Mall, about a half-mile walk southbound along Capitol Expressway.

VTA has plans for a bus rapid transit line from the Diridon train station in downtown San Jose to the Eastridge Transit Center. Further plans with less certain funding include a light rail extension from the Alum Rock station to Eastridge. In both cases, the segment along Capitol Expressway would serve Reid–Hillview Airport.

Other airport amenities

As of a few years ago, Reid–Hillview Airport had vending machines, a pilot's lounge and break room. Santa Clara County passed a new law stating the terminal would no longer allow unhealthy food or drinks to be sold inside. This meant that coffee and all the vending machines that used to be there would no longer exist in the terminal. Now, all that remains is a water drinking fountain and bathrooms. However, there is still a seating area inside the terminal.

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reid-Hillview Airport.

References
  1. "Reid–Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  2. "National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) Reports". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
  3. "A Brief History of Reid–Hillview Airport". Nice Air Aviation. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
  4. "Watsonville's Airports: Past – Present – Future". Watsonville Airport. Archived from the original on February 21, 1999. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  5. "MTC Awards: Grand Award". Metropolitan Transportation Commission. March 22, 2007. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  6. Reese, Madelyn (November 18, 2020). "Santa Clara County moves forward with airport closure, plans to repurpose land". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  7. http://www.countyairports.org/docs/MasterPlan/RHV_Masterplan-complete.pdf
  8. Vera, Vicente (August 13, 2021). "Blood lead levels near San Jose airport are average, despite alarm". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  9. Vo, Thy (December 4, 2018). "Reid-Hillview Airport's days may be numbered after supervisors' action". The Mercury News. San Jose, California. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  10. Herrera, Sonya (July 30, 2020). "San Jose residents weigh proposed closure of Reid-Hillview Airport". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  11. "Reid–Hillview Vision Plan" (PDF). Santa Clara County, California. Fall 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  12. Angst, Maggie (August 3, 2021). "'A crisis on our hands': San Jose's Reid-Hillview Airport exposes children to high lead levels, study finds". The Mercury News. San Jose, California. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  13. Alaban, Lloyd (August 16, 2021). "East San Jose airport switches to unleaded fuel as demands for closure escalate". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  14. Nguyen, Tran (July 25, 2022). "Santa Clara County official takes fight to ban leaded fuel to Congress". San José Spotlight. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  15. Angst, Maggie (August 19, 2021). "'Unacceptable': Santa Clara County will pursue expedited closure of Reid-Hillview Airport". The Mercury News. San Jose, California. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  16. Moss, J. Jennings (August 18, 2021). "Santa Clara County supervisors vote against leaded fuel at Reid-Hillview, push for airport to close". Silicon Valley Business Journal. San Jose, California: American City Business Journals. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  17. Alaban, Lloyd (September 2, 2021). "San Jose airport closure could poison another neighborhood". San José Spotlight. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  18. Alaban, Lloyd (August 16, 2021). "East San Jose airport switches to unleaded fuel as demands for closure escalate". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  19. Angst, Maggie (August 3, 2021). "'A crisis on our hands': San Jose's Reid-Hillview Airport exposes children to high lead levels, study finds". The Mercury News. San Jose, California. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  20. "Santa Clara County House Reps Call on the Biden Admin to Help Protect Vulnerable Communities from Lead Exposure". Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  21. "Santa Clara County House Reps Call on the Biden Admin to Help Protect Vulnerable Communities from Lead Exposure". Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  22. Reese, Madelyn (November 18, 2020). "Santa Clara County moves forward with airport closure, plans to repurpose land". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  23. Herrera, Sonya (July 30, 2020). "San Jose residents weigh proposed closure of Reid-Hillview Airport". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  24. "Study Commissioned by County of Santa Clara Finds Increased Lead Levels in Children Living Near Reid-Hillview Airport". County of Santa Clara. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  25. Vera, Vicente (August 13, 2021). "Blood lead levels near San Jose airport are average, despite alarm". San José Spotlight. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  26. "Sale of Leaded Aviation Fuel Ends at Reid-Hillview and San Martin Airports". County of Santa Clara. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  27. AeroDynamic Aviation
  28. Air Accord
  29. The Flying 20's
  30. Nice Air Aviation
  31. San Jose Fuel Company
  32. Squadron 2 Flying Club
  33. Trade Winds Aviation
  34. Victory Aero Maintenance
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