Tehachapi Municipal Airport

at Tehachapi Municipal Airport

From Chad Wadsworth on 22-Sep-2009

Cheap fuel easy in and out good place to hope off on the way into So.Cal our on your way out.
 

From Ken Wayne on 18-Apr-2009

I just wanted to echo the friendly comments about Tehachapi airport staff. I stopped on a trip from the Bay Area to Death Valley. The gas price was as advertised. The office staff directed me to the famous Apple Shed for lunch and was very helpful. I used to stop at Big Bear, but with density altitude concerns and higher fuel prices, and a not so dog friendly environment, I'm making Tehachapi my new pit stop.
 

From Joe Dubner on 11-Feb-2009

I was unable to reach the airport manager by phone (during office hours) so I thought I'd post this here. The self-service fuel pump put a $500 temporary charge (hold) on my debit card for a $73 fuel purchase and that triggered my bank's fraud detection alarm and rendered my card useless, which I discovered only after it was declined at other places a week later. Not really the City of Tehachapi's fault, not really my bank's fault, and certainly not my fault -- but I wish Tehachapi and the banks could work this out between themselves.

Response from Kathie Mikulovsky, Tehachapi Municipal Airport
In response to Mr. Dubner's comments regarding the $500 hold on his bankcard: We sincerely regret any inconvenience and look forward to your next visit to Tehachapi. Please note that there are three ways to purchase fuel at our terminal. You can select a specific dollar amount or a specific number of gallons or fill-up. It is important for all pilots to know that when you select the fill-up key on the fuel terminal you are authorizing a $500 credit hold on either your credit card or your bank debit card until your transaction has processed; this may take up to one week. Usually with credit cards this is not an issue and individuals using their credit cards will never see the transaction because it will be in the background. However, people using their bank debit cards will see this $500 hold until the actual purchase is processed. We highly recommend using a credit card with this system rather than your personal bankcard. Tehachapi Municipal Airport Staff.

 

From Mark Cheer on 08-Jan-2009

Great GA friendly airport. Dave, the airport manager and his staff are very friendly, and helpful at providing local info. The lounge is nice with a TV and Internet and is stocked with sodas and frozen type snacks. They are available for very reasonable prices using the honor system. I had a root beer and french bread pizza. Be sure and see the Tehachapi Loop, a remarkable engineering feat, and piece of California railroad history.
 

From Bill Gardner on 06-Jan-2009

Today's price of $2.85 a gallon has the easy to use self-serve fuel island pretty busy. We arrived midday Friday, and left Sunday morning, (time between was TOTALLY "socked in" with fog and low clouds), so the airport's Monday to Thursday office schedule meant we saw no staff. However, with the posted code on the door, you can enter the terminal, and if you know the "4000" code for the field, you can drive on to the ramp and load your baggage. This trip, we also tried the Village Grill across the street from the Apple Shed, and had four more rave reviews on breakfasts.
 

From Bill Norman on 21-Nov-2008

Flew in on business to meet up with the guys at Vintage Carburetors. Really nice facility and very knowledgeable. Had some problems securing an emergency exit window on our airplane and a TSP based pilot pulled up offering help. George was a super nice guy and went out of his way to help. The younger gentleman in the FBO was also very welcoming. This place is one of those old school airports that have nothing but nice people, great service, and CHEAP fuel prices. Just wish the runway was a bit longer.
 

From H Taylor on 26-Oct-2008

Nice airport with low priced fuel. Beautiful picnic and BBQ facilities for fly-in cookouts. Very user/pilot friendly.
 

From Ed Shreffler on 19-Oct-2008

This airport is owned by the city of Tehachapi and they do an excellent job. My complements to airport manager David Zweigle and those who support him, including his employees and city management. The runway in very good condition, really reasonable fuel prices ($4.65 in October 2008), and a very well maintained private picnic park for us pilots and our families. The park even has its own adjacent airplane parking area. The local area winds and turbulence come free of charge! As I was there last weekend with about 20 other Vintage Mooney Group pilots for a fly-in on a brisk Saturday, we had no need for anything else than the excellent BBQ grill in the park area and the close by port-a-potty. Even the fire pit in the park was well stocked with firewood. There were no negatives.
 

From Gordon Davis on 17-Sep-2008

As yet it is not on either the sectional or AFD, but the AWOS is operational. The frequency is 120.025.
 

From Ryan Litten on 16-Aug-2008

Flew in on Friday, 8/15/08, for a fuel stop because of the low fuel price!! I was amazed to see the pilot lounge, complete with flat screen TV's, internet and the very cozy recliners, not to mention low priced sodas! Thanks for having a very hospitable place to take a break!!
 

From Claudio Losacco on 15-Jun-2008

Flew into Tehachapi Municipal for the first time. This field is a diamond in the rough! The runway, taxiways and transient parking are in fantastic shape. Standard new markings everywhere w/ nice new LED lighting everywhere including the windsock. Very nice pilots lounge that's fully stocked w/ drinks, snacks, phone, Internet, TV, DVD player (honor system), near the self-service fuel island (lower than average prices). Very nice picnic area with benches, shade, bbq's, and a fire pit near the fuel island as well. As mentioned previously, there are numerous nice restaurants in the small town within walking distance. Highly encourage this place for an afternoon hop or stop for fuel!
 

From Jim Danhakl on 26-Apr-2008

I just wanted to thank the airport management here for keeping fuel prices reasonable. I go out of my way to fill up. $3.60 Jet A is the cheapest in the state! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
 

From Del Kienholz on 17-Jan-2008

TSP is NOT an unfriendly airport. I have been a professional pilot for 22 years; I HAVE seen some bad places. My company, and numerous other charter and freight companies have been using TSP for years as the only realistic alternate to BFL/VIS, especially during tule fog season. The airport is well maintained and equipped. The staff is VERY friendly, and very knowledgeable about transient pilot needs. Access to the pilot lounge may take a few tries due to the design of the locking hardware, but once inside, you will find a well-stocked, clean, professional environment in which to conduct your business. As for the previous scathing comments.... I would encourage these folks to contact the airport management for resolution. They appear to be very receptive to honest and appropriate feedback.
 

From Bill Laningham on 23-Dec-2007

Self service fuel has been out of service since Saturday, Dec. 22nd. Numerous attempts to locate the airport manager to remedy the situation have proven fruitless and there is no one else who can fix it. Gotta rate this service as "very poor".
 

From Harry Bladow on 17-Sep-2007

On Sept 2, 2007, I landed at TSP. There is no phone on the outside of the ops building. I got inside the locked building by using the last four digits of the emergency frequency, and thought sure there would be a phone inside. WRONG, that cheap unfriendly place doesn't even have a phone inside the locked ops building. By the time I got airborne to use the radio to close my flight plan, the FSS was looking for me. The 4000 code, which isn't posted anywhere, will open the auto gate. I totally agree with the person who posted the comment that TSP is extremely user UNFRIENDLY.

Response from David Zweigle, Airport Manager, Tehachapi Municipal Airport
The Tehachapi Municipal Airport does offer an IP based courtesy phone in the pilot lounge. It is located adjacent to the two LCD flat panel monitors that offer remote AWOS and internet service including a direct link to DUAT. The second computer also has access to a digitally transcribed E-Sectional server with up to date sectionals and flight planning software for the entire United States. Across the lounge is a Meteorlogix weather system with nationwide live weather data. The lounge area also includes wireless internet access, cable television, cold drinks and or coffee, restroom facilities including a hot shower, four Lazyboy recliners, and a flight planning area. The lounge is automatically locked for obvious reasons. Elementary access directions are posted next to the door. All this, plus 24 hour 100LL @ $3.99/gal, not bad for a "CHEAP UNFRIENDLY PLACE" More like "OPERATOR ERROR"!!

 

From Ken Strite on 27-Jun-2007

Went to this airport to see about renting a plane while I was in the area. The airport is locked up like a prison and the "executive terminal" was locked up at 3PM on Monday afternoon. No visible way to get any information whatsoever about aircraft rental. From my experience it was a very unfriendly airport.
 

From Bill Gardner on 29-May-2007

Joshua Approach didn't have the frequency when I asked on arrival, but they're testing an AWOS-3 on 120.025, helpful information with winds and altimeter. Self serve fuel worked well and easily, and locally based pilot we talked with was very friendly too. Gate code for car entry, (and exit too) is 4000.
 

From Glenn Ritchie on 04-Apr-2007

The airport is well managed and the city of Tehachapi uses the airport well in that the fuel price is good, transient parking is well marked, the map of local attractions is well situated, and the airport is in very good condition. The area is absolutely beautiful! My new favorite cross-country airport in So Cal!