San Jose Police Open $19M Hangar at Mineta Airport, Replacing Two 65-Year-Old Facilities
Why It MattersMunicipal police aviation units are investing in purpose-built airport facilities for fixed-wing aircraft, a sign that agencies are committing to long-term in-house flight operations over alternatives like drones.
San Jose city leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week for a new aircraft hangar for the San Jose Police Department at San Jose Mineta International Airport. The 11,000-square-foot facility has two hangar bays, electric vehicle charging stations and office space, according to a statement from Mayor Matt Mahan's office. It replaces two hangars that were 65 years old.
The project was funded by Measure T, a bond measure San Jose voters approved in 2018 to pay for infrastructure, public safety and disaster preparedness. Mahan said the project delivers on the commitments made to the voters who approved the bond. The work also included new security fencing, landscaping to manage rainwater runoff, and paving.
The city bought a Kodiak 100 aircraft in 2025 for $3.8 million, according to city documents. It replaced a Cessna that the department had operated until it was taken out of service in 2018 for safety reasons and later sold. In a 2025 analysis presented to the City Council, city budget director Jim Shannon said the fixed-wing aircraft had been regularly used for surveillance, extraditions and emergency officer transports. He cited longer flight times and lower maintenance needs compared with another helicopter.
