“We have a 7,604-foot-long runway that can accommodate 737s, even some 757s,” says Robert Hodgman, the airport’s director who brings both military aviation experience and business acumen to the role. “We’re a primary diversion site for commercial service flights that are unable to land in western Washington and western Oregon.” The airport’s capability was dramatically demonstrated in December 2023 when an Airbus 340 from London, after three failed attempts to land in Seattle, touched down safely in Yakima. Founded in 1926, the airport carries a unique heritage through its full name: Yakima Air Terminal McAllister Field. Charlie McAllister, whose flight certificate bore Orville Wright’s signature, trained Army Air Corps pilots here during World War II.Today, the facility serves as both a piece of aviation history and a forward-looking hub for multiple sectors. Commercial flights through Alaska Airlines connect the region to Seattle, while military aircraft from nearby Yakima Training Center conduct regular operations.The presence of Cub Crafters, employing hundreds in aircraft manufacturing, adds what Hodgman describes as “tremendous capacity” waiting to be fully utilized. BEYOND PASSENGER SERVICE Yakima Air Terminal hosts a complex ecosystem of aviation activities that mirror the diversity of Washington’s aerospace industry, which generates $70 billion annually and employs over 250,000 workers statewide. “We have a large general aviation community here, not only recreational aviation, but a lot of business jet aviation,” Hodgman explains. “Airlift Northwest provides critical medical evacuation services to Western Washington, Seattle for that higher level of care.” The Department of Natural Resources maintains aerial wildland firefighting operations at the airport, responding to the heightened fire risks in the region’s arid environment east of the Cascades. Meanwhile, Cub Crafters produces specialized short takeoff and landing aircraft, contributing to an aviation manufacturing sector that has kept Washington ranked first nationally in aerospace exports for over a decade. Military operations add to this. “We regularly have Navy P-8s touch and go as well as a lot of activity from the Air Force and C-17s,” notes Hodgman.“We’re just a few miles from the Yakima Training Center, which is primarily run by the Army but is used by many different services including international, like the Japanese.” Agricultural aviation plays a crucial role in supporting Yakima County’s $2.3 billion farming industry. With 3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 07 YAKIMA AIR TERMINAL-MCALLISTER FIELD
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