Reid-Hillview History
1933 Bob and Cecil Reid construct their first airport, Garden City Airport” between San Antonio and Story Road
1935 Grand Opening of Garden City Airport
1937 Garden City Airport was purchased by the State for Highway 101 right of way.
1939 Bob and Cecil Reid begin construction of their new airport, Reid’s Hillview Airport, at its current location
1941 Due to WW2, all airports within 150 miles of the Pacific were ordered to close and relocate all planes at least 150 miles inland. The Reid’s refused and after a meeting with authorities were allowed to keep the planes on site as long as the propellers were removed. It was also agreed that Reid’s Hillview airport would be allowed to open 24 hours after the war ended and remain open around the clock.
1945 At the end of the war, it was decided that only commercial and military airports would be allowed to reopen. The Reid’s met with the Major General in San Francisco at which point Reid’s Hillview was allowed to reopen becoming the first general aviation airport to open after the war.
1946 The runway was paved
1948 The County of Santa Clara Planning Commission published a report entitled Master Plan of Airports -Santa Clara County, California recommending the development of a County Airports System and included Reid’s Hillview Airport as an important part of the Airport System.
1948 San Jose Junior Chamber of Commerce issued a permit by the Board of Supervisors to hold an Air Circus at Reid-Hillview Airport on July 18, 1948.
1949 Hangars for 45 aircraft constructed
1949 300 aircraft tied down
1959 Resolution 16115 by City of San Jose Resolution provided for future growth of the Airport as an integral part of the east side community and encouraged County to purchase and operate the Airport, allowing San Jose Municipal to be developed for commercial passenger service.
1960 H.K. Freidman Report titled Airport Study General Aviation Requirements is published recommending that the County continue its interest in airport planning and takes steps to preserve and expand or replace Reid’s Hillview Airport.
1961 Santa Clara County purchased Reid’s Hillview Airport from Bob and Cecil Reid for $600,000. 65 acres of the airport is leased back to the Reid’s to continue operating it.
1961 The airport name is changed from Reid’s Hillview Airport to Reid-Hillview Airport.
1962 The County receives a $363,285 grant from the Federal Government for land acquisition. Project 9-04-128-D201
1963 The County purchase additional land. ($260,000)
1963 The County receives a $384,878.00 grant from the Federal Government for land acquisition and to relocate Cunningham Avenue. Project 9-04-128-D4C2
1964 The County receives a $346,570 grant from the Federal Government for land acquisition, hangar construction, and general development of the airport site. Project 9-04-128-D503
1964 Runway and apron paved, runway lighted.
1964 The County purchased additional land. ($770,000)
1965 The leaseback to Bob and Cecil Reid expires and the County takes over management of the Airports.
1965 Reconstruct 2,700 foot runway, runway lights, and parallel taxiway
1965 First group of aircraft hangars and shelters constructed
1965 2.39 acre FBO plot leased to Agco for 50 years
1965 3.55 acre FBO plot leased to John & Barbara Pyle for 50 years
1966 1.72 acre FBO plot leased to Gee Bee for 50 years
1966 Construction of parking ramp, roadways and commercial operators’ sites completed.
1966 Second unit of hangars and shelters constructed.
1966 The County received a $70,703 grant from the Federal Government for apron construction and drainage system. Project 9-04-128-D604
1966 The County purchased additional property ($40,000)
1966 General Aviation Plan report is published by the County to update the 1960 Friedland Report
1967 Air Traffic Control Tower constructed by FAA. It was the first fully transistorized air traffic control tower in the U.S.
1967 The County received a $37,215.00 grant from the Federal Government for paving and electrical work. Project 9-04-128-D805
1967 2.24 acre FBO plot leased to Amelie Reid for 50 years
1968 2.24 acre FBO plot leased to Hacienda Aviation for 50 years
1968 Airport received FAA Certificate of Achievement for airport development
1968 Air Traffic Control Tower dedicated
1968 The County received a $12,100.00 grant from the FAA to install new taxiway lighting system. Project 9-04-12-D906
1968 Taxiway lighting and ramp lights upgraded
1968 Aircraft hangars and shelter constructed
1969 There are five major FBO’s operating, approximately 400 based aircraft, annual operations approaching 300,000.
1969 The County received a $30,145.00 grant from the Federal Government to install apron lighting and paving. Project 9-04-128-C907
1969 Aircraft parking ramp construction completed.
1970 2.16 acre FBO plot leased to AeroTrends for 50 years
1970 1.03 acre FBO plot leased to Skyline Properties for 50 years
1970 West parallel runway complete.
1970 Terminal construction began.
1970 City of San Jose Resolution 38741 reaffirmed 1959 resolution 16115 statement of intent to support Reid-Hillview Airport in its existing location
1971 The County receives a 22,145.00 grant from the Federal Government for land acquisition. Project 3-06-0225-01
1971 Report release titled Development and Activity Report Reid's Hillview Airport and Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County
1973 2.27 acre FBO plot leased to Gee Bee Aero for 50 years
1974 Updated runway lighting system installed
1974 John and Barbara Pyle FBO plot split into two sections. 1.06 acres was retained by the Pyle’s. 2.49 acres was assigned to Progressive Aviation.
1984 County received a $900,000 grant from the Federal Government for paving, road relocation, drainage, lighting, fencing and markings. Project 3-06-0225-02
1980 Amelia Reid and Velma Million successfully urged the city of San Jose to construct Lake Cunningham Park as a buffer area near the airport.
1982 Agco lease assigned to Skyline Maintenance
1987 Skyline Maintenance lease assigned to Skyline Aviation
1988 The County receives a $539,863.00 grant from the Federal Government for repaving the runways, taxiways and parking apron. Project 3-06-0225-03
1988 Skyline FBO assigned to H.T. as Nice Air.
1989 After the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Reid-Hillview is used as a major starting point to provide supplies to Watsonville after all roads were cut off. Over 100 tons of supplies were airlifted to Watsonville as a result of this effort.
1990 City of San Jose Resolution 62136 repealed previous resolutions 16115 of 1959 and 38741 of 1970
1991 Hacienda Aviation Center lease assigned to Murfin Family Trust
1993 SRI International Report on Risk Assessment Of The Reid-Hillview Airport Closure Evaluation Project is released in November.
1994 Skyline Aviation lease assigned to Gregory Marconet.
1994 Murfin Family Trust assigned to Marconet Properties
1996 DRAFT Environmental Impact Report on the Reid-Hillview Airport Closure Project is released in March.
1996 City of San Jose Resolution 66446 rescinds Resolution 62136 of 5/8/90 and supports the continued operation of Reid-Hillview
1996 Board of Supervisors votes 3-2 to keep the airport open.
1998 The County receives a $1,665,000.00 grant from the Federal Government for repaving the runways, taxiways, and ramp, installing lighted airfield signage, construct drainage improvements, and repair the airport perimeter road. Project 3-06-0225-04
1998 The County receives a $151,200.00 grant from the Federal Government to complete a Part 150 Noise Compatibility Planning Study. Project 3-06-0225-05
1999 Gregory Marconet lease assigned to JWA Enterprises LLC (Trade Winds Aviation)
2000 The County receives a $280,000.00 grant from the Federal Government to complete a Master Plan study. Project 3-06-0225-06
2000 John and Barbara Pyle lease assigned to Frank and Doreen Jurado.
2000 Progressive Aviation lease assigned to Hiroyasu Takai.
2001 The County receives a $180,000 grant from the Federal Government to complete parking apron drainage improvements. Project 3-06-0225-07.
2002 The FAR Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program report is completed.
2002 The County receives a $774,000.00 grant from the Federal Government for parking ramp drainage improvements, parking apron rehabilitation, perimeter road rehabilitation, installation of perimeter fencing around the FBO and terminal area, installation of Pilot Controlled Lighting (PCL), Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) and rehabilitation of the segmented circle and beacon tower electrical system. Project 3-06-0225-08
2003 The County receives a $554,500 grant from the Federal Government for additional fencing and gates. Project 3-06-0225-09.
2005 The County receives a $435,000 grant from the Federal Government for parking apron rehabilitation and signage and markings. Project 3-06-0225-10.
2006 The Airport Master Plan is completed.
2006 The County receives a $1,200,000 grant from the Federal Government to install a noise monitoring system. Project 3-06-0225-11
2007 The Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for Reid-Hillview is adopted by the County.
2007 The County receives a $551,300.00 grant from the Federal Government to install additional perimeter fencing and gates. Project 3-06-0225-12
2007 The County receives a $475,000.00 grant from the Federal Government to insulate homes in the 65-69 DNL zone around the airport. Only __ homes elected to participate in the project which included insulation in the home, new windows and doors and new HVAC system. Project 3-06-0225-13
2008 Amelia Reid Aviation FBO is transferred to Z. P. and renamed Aerodynamic Aviation.
2010 SJSU moves part of its Aviation program to Reid-Hillview Airport.
2011 The County receives a $50,350.00 grant from the Federal Government to create plans and specifications for runway and taxiway pavement rehabilitation and marking. Project 3-06-0225-14.
2011 FAA files Part 16 complaint against Santa Clara County due to skydiving at San Martin Airport. The FAA will not issue any grants to Reid-Hillview, Palo Alto or San Martin Airports until the Part 16 complaint is resolved.
2016 The FAA removes the Part 16 restrictions after the County agrees to allow skydiving at San Martin airport.
2016 The CLUP is amended.
2016 All FBO leases were amended to synchronize their expiration date to 12/31/2021 and add annual CPI rate increase.
2017 The Roads and Airports Department takes a $3,000,000 loan from the General Fund to pave and remark all runways and taxiways at Reid-Hillview and San Martin Airport.
2017 The Board of Supervisors directs county staff to complete an updated Business Plan to fund operations at Reid-Hillview and San Martin Airports
2018 Paving and markings of both runways and taxiways at Reid-Hillview is completed
2018 Staff presents the Business Plan to the Board of Supervisors. The plan is not accepted. Instead staff was directed to complete several tasks related to the potential closure of Reid-Hillview Airport.
2019 Paving under the shelters and the area between the hangars and taxiway Z is completed.
2021 The FAA issues a formal Part 13 Investigation Letter regarding airfield conditions and fuel avalibility.
2022 Santa Clara County takes over ownership of the fuel tanks at RHV and only offers UL94, an unleaded aviation fuel.
2022 The County issues new 1-year leases to four of the original long-term lease holders at RHV and takes over management of the five remaining leaseholds.
Linked Documents
- Friedland Report (1960)
- City of San Jose Resolution (1959)
- General Aviation Plan (1966)
- Risk Assessment Of The Reid-Hillview Airport Closure Evaluation Project (1993)
- DRAFT Environmental Impact Report on the Reid-Hillview Airport Closure Project (1996)
- Part 150 Noise Study (2002)
Sources