History
The airport was built by the United States Army during World War II, known as Santa Maria Army Air Field. Its primary mission was to provide training for B-25 pilots, however flight training was abandoned by December 1942. The field fell into a state of disuse until the arrival of the P-38 in September 1943.
During its use by the military Santa Maria AAF also controlled Estrella Army Airfield, near Paso Robles as an auxiliary airfield to support the pilot training activity.
After the war, Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Maria acquired the land and facilities through a series of two grants in 1948. In 1964 the Army Air Field was renamed Santa Maria Public Airport.
Santa Maria was previously served by Pacific Air Lines operating Martin 4-0-4 prop aircraft and in subsequent years with Fairchild F-27 turboprops. Pacific Air Lines, which formerly operated as Southwest Airways flying Douglas DC-3 aircraft, then merged with Bonanza Airlines and West Coast Airlines to form Air West which continued to serve Santa Maria with Douglas DC-9 jetliners as well as with Fairchild F-27 propjets. Air West then changed its name to Hughes Airwest and eventually ceased all service to Santa Maria.
Other past airlines serving the airport included Swift Aire operating Fokker F27 turboprops as well as Nord 262 turboprops and DeHavilland Heron prop aircraft, Apollo Airways with Handley Page Jetstream turboprops, Wings West Airlines operating as American Eagle with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner, BAe Jetstream 31/32 series and Saab 340 turboprops, WestAir operating as United Express with BAe Jetstream 31 and Embraer EMB-110 "Bandeirante" turboprops, and Mesa Air also operating as United Express with Beechcraft 1900C turboprops.
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