Public Safety

Nevada County Airport is home to the California Division of Forestry (CDF) Grass Valley Air Attack Base. This center of wild land fire fighting from the air is the permanent location for two Grumman S-2 Air Tankers that drop fire retardant, and an air attack lead plane that coordinates the efforts of the tankers. Aircraft from Nevada County Airport are on standby, ready at a moment's notice, to respond to fires throughout the foothills and mountains. When larger fires occur nearer to the airport, many other fire fighting aircraft use the airport as a base for fuel and supplies.

Search & Rescue and Medi-Vac aircraft also use the airport year round for public safety missions.

Aircraft used in law enforcement are a common site at the Nevada County Airport. The California Highway Patrol, the Nevada County Sheriff's Department, and the FBI are only a few of the State and Federal agencies that have used our airport facilities.

Business & Transportation

Airport businesses located on the property provide both jobs and tax revenue in the local community. Many Nevada County residents commute in their small aircraft for business meetings. Additionally, divisions of large corporations have located to this area and use the airport to provide shuttle service between Nevada County and larger metropolitan areas.

Tourism is also big business in Nevada County. Travelers in small aircraft from all over the U.S. have visited for business and recreation by flying into our community airport and using local hotels, restaurants and related businesses.

Business owners and local residents also use Nevada County Airport as a gateway to the national air transportation system. With one phone call to an aircraft charter business located at the airport, an individual can hire an aircraft to deliver them direct to larger airports that serve airline passengers, usually in less than an hour. From there, they might travel to anywhere in the world.

Education

The number of aviation jobs in this country continues to increase every year. Not so long ago, anyone who became an airline captain or commercial pilot learned to fly in the military. Now, they learn to fly at airports like ours. Several flight instructors provide flight training every day to young men and women who are considering a future in commercial aviation.

Through the Golden Empire Flying Club Scholarship programs, the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles Flights, and the Nevada County Airport Community Relations program, hundreds of young people are introduced to the world of aviation each year.