Mather Airport, which closed as Mather Air Force Base in 1993, is located in Sacramento County near Highway 50 at Mather Road. Mather Field first opened in 1918 and the majority of the military base developments occurred from the 1940’s through 1960’s. Bombing and navigation schools were conducted and primarily daytime military operations continued until the very early 1990’s.

After Mather was placed on the list of military bases to be closed by the Defense Department, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors issued a re-use plan in 1991 that emphasized Mather would be retained for aviation use.

In 1995 Mather was officially opened as a civilian airport for public commercial air cargo and general aviation use, although the airport does retain military use. Presently the commercial operations at Mather occur during both daytime and nighttime hours

The following is a summary of airport facility upgrades and commercial cargo activity at Mather for the past decade.

Year	Activity
1993	Mather Air Force Base closes
1995	Mather opens as airport for public commercial air cargo and general aviation use
1996	Airborne Express relocates operations to Mather from Sacramento International Airport
1997	BAX Global relocates operations to Mather from Sacramento International Airport
1998	Mather opens new airport terminal
1998	United Parcel Service relocates operations to Mather from Sacramento International Airport
Post-2000	FAA opens a newly built air traffic control facility at Mather operated 24/7
Post-2000	Airport fire station opens at Mather

For additional information on the history of Mather, check out this link.

CURRENT MATHER RUNWAYS

(check out our Glossary of acronyms and terms)

Mather Airport currently has two parallel runways:

Runway 4R/22L is an 11,301 foot runway approved for Category I (CAT I) instrument landing procedures allowing aircraft to begin approach if visibility is greater than 1/2 mile.

Runway 4L/22R is 6,040 foot runway not approved for instrument landing approaches.

The current runway configuration will meet Sacramento's regional need for decades to come.

PROPOSED MATHER RUNWAY UPGRADES

For Runway 4R/22L, the long range plans involve upgrading the Instrument Landing System (ILS).

An upgrade to Category II (CAT II) instrument landing approach procedures would allow aircraft to begin to approach if visibility is greater than 1/4 mile.

An upgrade to Category III (CAT III) instrument landing approach procedures would allow aircraft to begin approach with as little as zero visibility, landing in the densest fog.

For Runway 4L/22R, the long range plans include lengthening and reinforcing the runway to serve as second cargo runway needed for the traffic peaks and tight schedules of a major hub. This would be attractive to major cargo carriers as a second runway would reduce the likelihood of delays due to traffic peaks, runway repairs and accidents.

The Net Result: More planes over your neighborhoods – day and night!

SUMMARY OF MATHER RUNWAY INFORMATION

	Runway 4R/22L	Runway 4L/22R
Present Length	11,301 feet	6,040 feet
Approved for instrument approaches?	Yes, CAT I only (with visibility greater than 1/2 mile)	No
Future Plans	Upgrade the landing procedures to allow instrument approaches in the densest fog (zero visibility)	Lengthen and reinforce to serve as a second cargo runway

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SUMMARY OF MATHER RUNWAY INFORMATION