March Space-A passenger terminal

Welcome to the March Air Reserve Base Space-A web page. March flies C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and KC-135 Stratotaker refueling aircraft. When there is space on a mission that is not used by Air Mobility Command, seats become open for space-available travelers.

Passenger terminal: 951-655-2397

Terminal regular hours of operation: 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 a. m. and 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. M-F, although you may sign up for a flight by filling out the form in the foyer of Bldg. 385 up until 11:00 p.m., M-F. The terminal is also open on all Unit Training Assembly (UTA) weekends, where their hours may vary.

24-hour flight information line: 951-655-2913

Fax: 951-655-3887
Address: 2523 Graeber St, Bldg 390, March ARB 92518  is the new deployment center/PAX terminal

The passenger terminal moved to the above location, just north of the old terminal, effective June 6, 2013. Parking is across Graeber Street from the new terminal location. Look for the signs that are posted.

452nd Aerial Port Support Flight Info

Before traveling from March, it is important to know that there are differences between flying from March and flying from one of the Air Force's larger terminals. March's terminal is not open 24/7, has limited amenities and it can be a challenge to arrange transportation from the terminal to the main gate, which is 1.6-miles away.

Nevertheless, the Airmen of the 452nd Aerial Port Support Flight are dedicated to administering Space-A passengers when they are not occupied in their primary mission of serving the 80,000+ Marines and Sailors who deploy from the base each year. Also, there are some exciting renovations and staffing changes on the horizon that could enable the base to better serve the many service members, reservists, retirees and family members in the Southern California area.

How to fly Space-A from March

1. Study the Air Mobility Command travel page to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements and have the proper documentation in order before traveling. The Space-A traveler handbook is a great resource for understanding the perks and challenges of how Space-A travel works.

2. Fill out an AMC Form-140 and submit it to the March passenger terminal in person or by fax. Your registration form is good for up to 60 days after submission. Active duty service members on leave cannot submit the form before their leave has begun or travel after their leave expires.

3. Call the 24-hour March flight information line to find out about the flights that are scheduled for the next 72 hours. Keep calling until you find a suitable flight. If you don't find a flight in 60 days, you will need to submit another AMC Form-140.

4. Plan for follow-on legs of your trip by registering with other bases' passenger terminals.

5. Formulate your plan for transportation to and from the March terminal. Parking is limited to 14 days. If you are planning to return via March and you will not have a car parked on base, make sure you have arranged for a person with a military ID card to pick you up. (There is no shuttle availalbe. It's a 1.6-mile walk to the main gate and summer temperatures at March often exceed 100 degrees.)

6. On the day of your flight, arrive at the March passenger terminal two hours in advance for domestic flights and three hours in advance for international flights.

Regular Flights at March

While flight schedules are mission-dependent and can be altered on short notice for a variety of reasons, March Air Reserve Base does have flights scheduled to several destinations on a regular basis.

Many of the flights are aboard C-17 Globemaster IIIs, which often need to fly to other locations to pick up their cargo for a particular mission. With a nearly empty aircraft leaving March, it means there could be a large number of Space-A seats available for the first leg of the mission.

When the cargo pick-up location is at a major Air Force hub like Travis, Dover or Andrews, passengers will have access to a larger Space-A passenger terminal with more frequent flights to a larger number of destinations.

Travis Air Force Base
Fairfield, CA
Flight information line: 707-424-1854

Dover Air Force Base
Dover, Del.
Passenger terminal: 302-677-4088
Email: 436APS.spacea@dover.af.mil
Flight info line: 302-677-2854
Fax: 302-677-2953

Joint Base Andrews
Prince George's County, Md.
Passenger terminal: 301-981-1854 (DSN: 858-1854)
Email: passenger@afncr.af.mil
Same day flight info line: 301-981-3527 (DSN: 858-3527)
Next day flight info line: 301-981-5851 (DSN: 858-5851)

Other Southern California Terminals

There are several military bases in Southern California that offer Space-A flights. The availability of facilities for passengers varies greatly by location. Some bases have regularly scheduled flights to certain destinations, while others rarely offer Space-A flights. The best thing to do is call the individual bases for more information well in advance of your expected travel dates.

Naval Station North Island
Coronado, CA
619-545-9567 or 8278

Naval Base Ventura County
Point Mugu, CA
805-989-1743

Naval Air Facility El Centro
El Centro, CA
760-339-2426

Naval Air Station Lemoore
Lemoore, CA
559-998-1680

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
San Diego, CA
858-577-4283

FAQs

Click here to view Space-A FAQs

AMC Resources


The Air Mobility Command's travel page is the official one-stop shop for all Space-A travel needs. Visit their site here.
Quick links

Military Aircraft


Similar to a commercial aircraft
· Passengers are subject to all TSA regulations, such as limits on liquids and gels
· Prior to boarding, passengers will walk through a metal detector and their luggage will be screened
· Arrival 2-3 hours in advance of the departure time is recommended
· Aircrew members will give you a safety briefing and demonstrate the use of oxygen in case of a loss of pressure
· There are limitations to carry on and checked luggage that should be reviewed in advance


Different than a commercial aircraft
· Don't expect the loadmasters to bring you soft drinks or play movies on the flight
· The aircraft will be noisier, colder and have more vibration
· Often, you will be sitting on a "jump seat" made of nylon webbing and you will be oriented sideways instead of facing front
· You cannot bring your pet animals on the plane
· Depending on the type of aircraft, the space could be tight and dark.
· The latrine will be smaller and more primitive
· No open-toed or high heeled shoes are allowed
· Once in flight, you do not have to stay in your seat. You can walk around, find a window to look out, and if you've brought a sleeping bag and pad, you can roll it out on the floor and take a nap
· You could have the opportunity to see an Air Force aerial evolution up close, like a refueling mission
· Also riding with you in the aircraft could be humvees, military police dogs, a helicopter, a tank, generators or pallets of equipment or weapons
· You may be permitted to view the cockpit and watch the pilots in action during the flight