Zamperini Field

Zamperini Field
Lomita Landing Strip

31 May 1994 USGS airphoto
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Torrance
Location Torrance, California
Elevation AMSL 103 ft / 31 m
Coordinates 33°48′12″N 118°20′23″W / 33.80333°N 118.33972°W / 33.80333; -118.33972Coordinates: 33°48′12″N 118°20′23″W / 33.80333°N 118.33972°W / 33.80333; -118.33972
Website www.ci.torrance.ca.us/...
Map
KTOA

Location of Zamperini Field

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11L/29R 5,000 1,524 Asphalt/Concrete
11R/29L 3,000 914 Asphalt/Concrete
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
HI 110 34 Asphalt
Statistics (2005)
Aircraft operations 173,027
Based aircraft 499
Uncataloged first day cover for the dedication of Zamperini Field, Torrance, CA. By Harry Burton Lewis, Public Relations / Operations Manager of Allied's Airports, Inc. and Ex. Sec. of Torrance Chamber of Commerce.
FAA airport diagram

Zamperini Field (IATA: TOA, ICAO: KTOA, FAA LID: TOA) is a city-owned public airport three miles (5 km) southwest of downtown Torrance, in Los Angeles County, California, United States.[1]

The airport is classified by the FAA as a Regional Reliever[2] , and was once known as Torrance Municipal Airport, was renamed for local sports and war hero Louis Zamperini on December 7, 1946, the 5th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

History

The airport was completed by the United States Army Air Forces on 31 March 1943,[3] and was known as Lomita Flight Strip. It was an emergency landing field for military aircraft on training flights. It was closed after World War II and the War Assets Administration (WAA) turned it over to local government. Once turned over to the City of Torrance it was renamed Zamperini Field on December 7, 1946.

Facilities and aircraft

Zamperini Field covers 506 acres (205 ha) and has two asphalt and concrete runways: 11L/29R, 5,000 x 150 ft (1,524 x 46 m) and 11R/29L, 3,000 x 75 ft (914 x 23 m). It has one asphalt helipad, 110 x 110 ft (34 x 34 m).[1]

In the year ending May 31, 2005 the airport had 173,027 aircraft operations, an average of 474 per day: 99% general aviation, 1% military and <1% air taxi. 499 aircraft are based at this airport: 89% single-engine, 8% multi-engine, 2% helicopter and <1% glider.[1]

Terminal

Zamperini Field has a small terminal with a vending machine, conference room, bathroom, and flight planning room. Outside a patio has small tables. Inside the terminal are historical papers related to the airport on the wall and a security post.

Helicopter operations

The helipad for a neighboring hospital, the Torrance Medical Center, is at the north-west corner of the airfield.

Manufacturing

Zamperini Field is the home of Robinson Helicopter Company. Their entire production, assembly, and testing facilities are on the southeast side of the airfield and are the largest buildings at the field.

Museum

Zamperini Field is the new home of the Western Museum of Flight, previously in Hawthorne, California.

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Master Record for TOA (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2007-10-25
  2. ↑ "2015–2019 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 7.89 MB). Federal Aviation Administration. January 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ Lobb 2006, p. 23.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Bibliography

  • Lobb, Charles. Torrance Airport. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7385-4662-9.
  • Shaw, Frederick J. Locating Air Force Base Sites: History’s Legacy. Washington, D.C.: United States Air Force History and Museums Program, 2004. ISBN 978-0-16072-415-2.
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