Airports / California / VBG
Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Lompoc, California · 369 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.4/5
Google rating
185 ratings
0
Operators based
369
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
12 nm
To the nearest alternate
Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field (SMX), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Vandenberg Space Force Base (KVBG / VBG) is a mid-sized airport serving Lompoc, California. The airport sits 369 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into VBG for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field (SMX, 12 nm), San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP, 30 nm), and Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA, 41 nm). With a single 15,000-foot paved runway, VBG can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from VBG depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Lompoc.
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Field capability
ICAO
KVBG
IATA
VBG
FAA / Local
VBG
Elevation
369 ft
Coordinates
34.7373° N · 120.5840° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At 369 ft, VBG sits higher than 52% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 15,000 ft
- 12/3015,000 ft × 200 ftConcreteLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 15,000 ft
VBG's 15,000 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 12nmSMXSanta Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock FieldSanta Maria
- 30nmSBPSan Luis County Regional AirportSan Luis Obispo
- 41nmSBASanta Barbara Municipal AirportSanta Barbara
- 56nmPRBPaso Robles Municipal AirportPaso Robles
- 75nmOXROxnard AirportOxnard
- 80nmKCMACamarillo International AirportCamarillo
Location
Open the full mapKVBG · Vandenberg Space Force Base · Lompoc, CA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from VBG on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (SFO) | 194 nm | 51m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 278 nm | 1h 3m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 436 nm | 1h 25m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 546 nm | 1h 40m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 702 nm | 2h 2m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 710 nm | 2h 3m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 716 nm | 2h 4m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 767 nm | 2h 11m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use VBG?
- Vandenberg Space Force Base's longest paved runway is 15,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at VBG?
- Vandenberg Space Force Base has one runway; the longest measures 15,000 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to VBG?
- The closest alternate is Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field (SMX), about 12 nm away, followed by San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP) at 30 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from VBG to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Las Vegas about 1h 3m (278 nm), Scottsdale about 1h 25m (436 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 40m (546 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.