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Catalina Airport Runway to be Restored by U.S. Marines

Catalina Airport sits on top of a mountain on an island offshore southern California. Pia Bergqvist
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Catalina Airport (AVX), also known as "Airport in the Sky," is undergoing a $5 million renovation to repair its badly damaged 3,250-foot runway.
  • The project is funded by donations to the Catalina Conservancy and is critical for providing access to the island for first responders, travelers, and freight.
  • U.S. Marines from the I Marine Expeditionary Force are participating in the repair, using it as a training exercise through the Department of Defense's Innovative Readiness Training Program.
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Anyone who has flown in to Catalina Airport (AVX), also named “Airport in the Sky” as it is situated atop a 1,602-foot mountain on Catalina Island about 20 miles off the beach-clad shores of southern California, knows the airport has long been in pretty bad shape. Potholes and pebbles make the runway best suited for rugged taildraggers. But soon the 3,250-foot runway will get the facelift it so badly needs. A $5 million project is underway to repair the runway, according to a press release from the Catalina Conservancy.

Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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