Beginning as Hammer Army Air Field in 1941, the airport was given to the City in 1946. The Communications and Weather Stations moved here from Chandler Field to begin service in 1948. A Federal Control Tower was opened in 1954, staffed by the Civil Aviation Agency (CAA) with 4 controllers and a Chief.

Since that time the airport has expanded to include major airlines, air taxi’s (boarding near 1 million passengers a year), the California Air National Guard fighters, Army National Guard Helicopters, the Tanker activity of the National Forrest Service, a major Cargo Center, and over a dozen fixed base operations, with more than 400 aircraft of all types.

The Tower/TRACON is a fully-equipped Level 8 radar approach control facility, using ARTS IIE interfaced with Oakland Center, NorCal, Bakersfield and Lemoore NAS approach controls. Service is provided to Fresno, Visalia, Hanford, Chandler, Madera, Tulare, and many other valley airports on a 24 hour basis. The facility has also expanded into one of the finest combined Tower/TRACONs in the Western-Pacific Region, with a tradition of providing excellent service and a friendly, professional atmosphere in which to work.