City leaders in San Jose celebrated the completion of a new aircraft hangar for the Police Department with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.
The $19.1 million hangar will house the Police Department’s Air Support Unit, which includes an Airbus H125 helicopter and a Kodiak 100 fixed-wing aircraft that will go into operation soon, according to the San Jose Police Department.
The 11,000-square-foot space at San Jose Mineta International Airport includes two hangar bays, electric vehicle charging stations, and office space, according to a statement from Mayor Matt Mahan’s office.
Funding for the project came from Measure T, a bond measure approved by San Jose voters in 2018 to pay for infrastructure, public safety and disaster preparedness.
“This vital infrastructure project delivers on the commitments made to the voters who approved this bond and I’m looking forward to seeing the facility put to good use,” Mahan said in a statement.
The new hangar space will replace two hangars that were 65 years old.
“This vital infrastructure project delivers on the commitments made to the voters who approved this bond and I’m looking forward to seeing the facility put to good use,”
Mayor Matt Mahan
The city purchased the Kodiak 100 aircraft in 2025 for $3.8 million, according to city documents. It replaced a Cessna the SJPD previously operated but was put out of commission in 2018 for safety reasons and later sold.
“The fixed wing aircraft was extremely useful to the Department, as it was regularly used to conduct surveillance, extraditions, and emergency officer transports,” said the city’s budget director, Jim Shannon, in a 2025 analysis presented to the City Council.
He cited longer flight times and lower maintenance needs compared to another helicopter as benefits of acquiring a new fixed-wing aircraft.
The memo said the fixed-wing aircraft was a better option than a drone because it had better surveillance capabilities and could be used for extraditions.
“The fixed wing aircraft also has superior range and endurance compared to UAVs, as they can fly hundreds of miles and stay airborne for up to eight hours, making them ideal for extended surveillance, search and rescue, large crowd events, or wide-area patrols,” the memo said.
The project also included building new security fencing, installing landscaping to manage rainwater runoff, and paving.
City leaders including Mahan, City Manager Jennifer Maguire, Public Works Director Matt Loesch, and Police Chief Paul Joseph gathered at the hangar last week to mark the completion of the two-year construction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Providing and investing in modern facilities ensures our department is equipped to meet the needs of our community and uphold its commitment to public safety,” Joseph said in a statement.