Aviators, the tarmac-side diner at Sacramento Executive Airport, has gone dark after inspectors uncovered serious structural trouble that might require rebuilding part of the restaurant’s foundation. County crews found water intrusion and damaged concrete under the kitchen, along with corroded rebar, mold and asbestos buried in older flooring layers. The shutdown has halted Aviators’ familiar breakfast-and-lunch routine and put private events in the space on ice.
According to ABC10, the Sacramento County Department of Airports said inspections revealed deteriorating flooring and damaged concrete beneath the kitchen, water intrusion and asbestos linked to older floor layers. Engineers told the department that repairs will mean stripping out damaged material and rebuilding part of the foundation so new work can be tied into at least 18 inches of solid rebar. County officials warned that scope of work could keep Aviators closed for as long as two years.
What crews found inside Aviators
Inspectors reported a cocktail of structural deterioration and hazardous materials that rules out a quick patch job. Corroded rebar beneath the kitchen slab and crumbling concrete mean the fix goes well beyond cosmetic repair. Crews also identified mold in multiple rooms that has to be removed before construction can move forward. Taken together, those issues led engineers to recommend full abatement and partial foundation rebuilding instead of spot fixes.
Repair work, timeline and what officials say
Construction on the restaurant started earlier this year, but engineers now say the work has turned into a heavier lift. The job will involve removing damaged materials and rebuilding a portion of the foundation so it meets current safety standards. The Sacramento County Department of Airports said it is coordinating closely with the restaurant’s owner and asked the public to hang in there. “We all want the same thing – to have a restaurant that is safe and healthy for Chik, his staff, and his loyal and dedicated customers,” the department said, as reported by ABC10. Officials say abatement, reconstruction and permitting together could stretch into a multi-year process.
Community impact and what’s next
Per the Sacramento County Department of Airports, the airport’s FAQ currently lists Aviators as “temporarily closed” while officials sort out abatement and construction plans. The restaurant has been a neighborhood fixture for decades, and The Sacramento Bee has chronicled earlier community efforts to keep owner Cheung-Sang Chik in the space when the county weighed lease changes, underscoring how this closure sidelines a longtime local gathering spot. County leaders say they will keep the public posted as plans, timelines and permits move ahead…