Big Bear City Airport (L35), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Big Bear City Airport (RBF), also known by local identifier L35, serves the Big Bear Lake mountain community in Southern California at an elevation of 6,752 feet. The airport is uncontrolled and operates a single paved runway, 08/26, measuring 5,850 feet. Both 100LL and Jet A fuel are available on field. Terrain surrounds the airport in all quadrants, and the field sits roughly 34 nautical miles from the nearest major metro area, giving it a role as a mountain-access point for business aviation traffic in the region.
Runways
Big Bear City Airport has one paved runway, 08/26, 5,850 ft long and 75 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Big Bear City Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 5pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Big Bear City Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is San Bernardino International (KSBD), 21 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Big Bear City Airport recorded 322 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in February, April and December. Business aviation traffic at Big Bear City Airport shows some concentration in the winter and spring months, with April, February, and December recording the highest monthly operations in the 2025 FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month April, 33 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Big Bear City Airport averages 1.0 days above 90°F in July, 28.7 freeze days in December and 3.2 snow days in February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 79.7°F, and February the coldest, at 45.7°F.
Weather station is 3.3 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Big Bear City Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: runway notes, noise procedures, environmental and other notes.
MIRL for runway 08/26 is pilot-activated via CTAF. PAPI is installed and operating continuously on both runway 08 and runway 26.
A road and a 6-foot fence are located 110 feet from the threshold, perpendicular to the runway centerline.
A road and a 6-foot fence are located 100 feet from the threshold, 125 feet to the right.
The VGSI is unusable beyond 8 degrees left of the runway centerline.
The approach ratio to the displaced threshold, clearing a road 15 feet high located 480 feet from the displaced threshold, is 32:1.
For runway 26, the approach ratio to the displaced threshold is 20:1. The approach ratio clearing trees 50 feet high, located 1,000 feet from the displaced threshold and 100 feet to the left, is also 20:1.
The airport is located in an extreme noise-sensitive area. Pilots are asked to practice fly-quiet procedures in the interest of noise abatement.
Noise abatement procedures are in effect. Pilots should avoid overflying the high school located one mile east of the airport at all times.
On takeoff, pilots should make a 10-degree left turn at the end of the runway to avoid housing to the east and an elementary school to the west of the airport.
Mountains surround the airport in all quadrants, with peak hazard lights located to the southeast, south, and northwest.
100LL is available 24 hours via self-service.
Jet A fuel is available 0800-1600 local time, with self-service available after those hours.
For clearance delivery, contact Los Angeles ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Big Bear City Airport has five airfields within 25 NM. The closest is Redlands Municipal (KREI), 17.97 NM southwest.
Part of the Palm Springs and the Desert area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at L35
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$1,200.00 catering order at L35.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation at Big Bear City Airport (RBF)?
Big Bear City Airport sits at 6,752 feet, one of the higher-elevation public airports in Southern California. Density altitude is a real factor here, particularly on warm afternoons in summer months. Runway 08/26 is 5,850 feet long and paved, the only runway serving the field. Pilots should plan performance calculations accordingly given the field height.
Is Jet A fuel available at RBF?
Jet A is available at Big Bear City Airport, along with 100LL. Jet A is dispensed 0800-1600 local time, with self-service available after those hours. 100LL is available 24 hours via self-service. There is no control tower on the field, and fuel access does not depend on tower hours.
What noise abatement procedures apply at Big Bear City Airport?
Big Bear City Airport is located in a noise-sensitive area and asks pilots to follow fly-quiet procedures. Overflight of a high school one mile east of the airport should be avoided at all times. On takeoff, pilots are directed to make a 10-degree left turn at the runway end to avoid housing to the east and an elementary school to the west. These procedures reflect the airport's proximity to residential and school areas.
Where is the nearest customs facility to RBF?
The nearest customs airport of entry to Big Bear City Airport is San Bernardino International (KSBD), located about 21.36 nautical miles away. Big Bear City itself does not have onsite customs processing. Dispatchers arranging international arrivals should plan to route through KSBD or another designated port of entry. Distance and routing should be confirmed against current customs service availability.