Vandenberg Space Force Base (KVBG), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Vandenberg Space Force Base (KVBG) is a private-use, towered military airfield near Lompoc, California, supporting a mix of government and business aviation traffic recorded through FAA TFMSC data for 2025. The field sits at 368 feet elevation and offers a single full-length concrete runway capable of handling large aircraft, though access is governed by military operating procedures rather than standard civil airport practices. Nearby civil alternatives include Santa Maria Public / Captain G. Allan Hancock Field and Santa Ynez / Kunkle Field, both within roughly 30 nautical miles.
Runways
Vandenberg Space Force Base has one paved runway, 12/30, 15,000 ft long and 200 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Vandenberg Space Force Base has A++ available on the field. The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Vandenberg Space Force Base does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Van Nuys (KVNY), 108 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Vandenberg Space Force Base recorded 132 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in January. Business aviation traffic at KVBG is concentrated in the first half of the year, with January and February showing the highest monthly operations before tapering through the fall and winter months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month January, 22 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Vandenberg Space Force Base averages 1.8 days above 90°F in October and 1.8 freeze days in December. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 74.8°F, and December the coldest, at 63.3°F.
Weather station is 8.3 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Vandenberg Space Force Base has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
When the ATCT is closed, activate the approach lighting system for runway 30, the PAPI for runway 30, and the high-intensity runway lights for runway 12/30 via CTAF.
Aircraft arriving or departing early or late, before or after published or scheduled airfield operating hours, should expect holding with approach control or ARTCC until the airfield is open, or remaining overnight if departing. Aircraft must contact command post prior to departure with an updated arrival time. Pilots should check NOTAMs prior to departure, as the NOTAM will reflect airfield hours based on approved after-hours requests. Contact command post 30 minutes out or earlier.
Any change to arrival or departure time must be coordinated through command post; re-approval is required if the new ETA or ETD falls outside airfield operating hours.
Restricted: prior permission required at least 24 hours in advance, but no earlier than 5 business days in advance. Send an email to the designated airfield operations address for the PPR request form, or contact airfield management operations. Aircraft operations outside published airfield operating hours must be approved at least 48 hours in advance through airfield management. Ground support services are unavailable for arrivals or departures outside published or scheduled airfield operating hours.
The runway 12 ILS glideslope and PAPI glideslope are not coincidental.
Runway lights: runway 12 has sequenced flashing lights.
Runway lights: runway 30 has sequenced flashing lights.
Caution: an uncontrolled civil airport is located 7 nautical miles southeast. When the airport is in VMC, aircraft will not exceed 1,900 feet until crossing the departure end of the runway to avoid the overhead traffic pattern. Heavy and large aircraft are required to use minimum taxi power and shut down or idle outboard engines to avoid blowing foreign objects onto the pavement.
All aircraft require a full stop at Vandenberg or, when supporting VIP movement, must contact the command post 30 minutes prior to landing. An alternate airfield is required. Contact airfield management operations for further information. Runway 12/30 is grooved.
Caution: an obstruction light is located on a water tower 1.3 statute miles southwest of the runway 30 threshold, offset from the runway.
Caution: inadequate wind indicators (windsocks) for runway 12/30.
For BASH (bird/wildlife strike hazard) information, see the FLIP AP/1 supplementary airport remarks.
Fuel is serviced by truck only; expect service delays.
Specialty fluids available: PRESAIR, LPOX, LOX, and LHNIT.
Restricted: activation of AN/APS-145 radar or similar radar systems is prohibited while in restricted areas R2516, R2517, R2534A, and R2534B. Contact tower on the ground prior to engine start; engine start or airfield operations are not authorized until contact with tower is made. No intersection departures between official sunset and sunrise.
Caution: the parking ramp is not marked for C-17 aircraft.
Transient alert: limited fleet service is available; contact airfield management operations.
Transient alert: potable water service is unavailable.
Limited towing capability; contact airfield management for specifics.
Caution: markings on the parking apron are faded and non-retroreflective.
Restricted: the Alpha Row engine run-up area is unavailable.
Customs, agriculture, and immigration services are unavailable.
Caution: the alternate hazardous cargo pad does not have tie-downs.
Caution: aircraft tie-downs are unavailable.
COMSEC material must be stored at the SLD 30 command post; contact command post for details.
Caution: use extreme caution for extensive unmanned aircraft systems operations in the vicinity.
The airfield wind direction indicator is out of service.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Vandenberg Space Force Base has five airfields within 42 NM. The closest is Lompoc (KLPC), 7.20 NM southeast.
Part of the Santa Barbara area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KVBG
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 KVBG.
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
Is customs available at KVBG?
Customs service is unavailable at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The nearest customs facility is KVNY, located approximately 108 nautical miles away. Operators requiring customs clearance need to route through that airport or another designated customs airport of entry before or after using KVBG. This is a private-use military field, so customs planning should be coordinated well in advance through command post channels.
What is the runway length and surface at KVBG?
KVBG has a single runway, 12/30, measuring 15,000 feet long and 200 feet wide with a concrete surface. The full-length pavement supports large aircraft, though the runway is grooved and the parking ramp is noted as not marked for C-17 aircraft. Wind indicators for runway 12/30 are flagged as inadequate, and pilots should account for this during approach and departure planning.
Does Vandenberg Space Force Base require prior permission for arrivals?
Yes, KVBG requires prior permission (PPR) at least 24 hours in advance, though not earlier than 5 business days ahead, submitted by email for approval. Aircraft operations outside published field operating hours need separate approval at least 48 hours in advance through airfield management, and ground support services are unavailable for arrivals or departures outside those hours. All aircraft must also contact command post 30 minutes prior to landing.
What fuel is available at KVBG?
Vandenberg Space Force Base offers Jet A fuel, delivered by truck only, and delays in fuel service should be expected. The base also lists specialty fluids including LPOX, LOX, and LHNIT for supported operations. Given the truck-only delivery method, dispatchers should factor in extra time when planning turnarounds at this field.