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 of San Diego 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 City of San Diego Council passed a resolution changing the name of the airport to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport to honor Bill Gibbs and establish a new vision by demonstrating a commitment to the flying public of providing high quality services and facilities.
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 - Lindbergh Field. A reliever airport is an airport that 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.
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 thru Friday 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday 8 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday 8 AM - 4:00 PM
* Office hours many vary due to Holidays, Staff out of office working on airport airside, and staff vacancies.
* If staff is out of the office, please email request to Airports@sandiego.gov or call and leave a message #858-573-1440
Gate Access Cards:
Please select this link to apply for a Gate Access Card: Movement Area Training Public Dashboard
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.
