TDL Aero - Gateway Air Center

Gateway Air Center, operated by TDL Aero, is the FBO at Merced Yosemite Regional Airport, the closest paved-runway facility to Yosemite National Park. The terminal at 44 Macready Drive provides charter passengers with a straightforward arrival experience that puts them roughly 75 miles from Yosemite Valley, about a 90-minute drive through the Sierra Nevada foothills.

The facility offers a pilot lounge, Wi-Fi, and line service available 24 hours a day at a separate phone line from the main office. The FBO handles fueling, aircraft parking, and basic ground services. Rental cars can be arranged, and the staff is familiar with the routes and logistics for reaching Yosemite, Mariposa Grove, and other park access points.

Gateway Air Center also operates as a Cirrus authorized service center, which is relevant for owners of those aircraft but also indicates a higher level of maintenance capability than a basic fuel-only operation. General maintenance, catering, and flight training are also available.

Merced Regional has a primary runway of 5,909 feet at 155 feet elevation in the San Joaquin Valley. Light and midsize jets can operate here comfortably, though heavier aircraft should check runway limitations. The flat Central Valley location means approaches are straightforward and weather is generally cooperative, though tule fog can be a factor during winter months.

Merced itself is a growing city of about 85,000 people, home to the University of California, Merced, the newest campus in the UC system. The agricultural surroundings produce almonds, dairy, and stone fruits. For most charter passengers, though, the draw is Yosemite. The park's El Portal entrance is accessible via Highway 140 through the Merced River canyon, one of the most scenic approaches to any national park in the country.