Located 1,602 feet atop a mountain on scenic Catalina Island—offshore of Palos Verdes, California, and easily seen from the coastline of the Los Angeles basin—Catalina Airport is a bucket list destination for many pilots. Many who have been there make it a point to re-turn to enjoy the challenge of the airport and all that the area has to offer. Much like the iconic Sedona Air-port in Arizona, the ground drops off dramatically at each end of the 3,000-foot runway, making the approach challenging enough that most LA-region aircraft rental facilities require a special checkout for pilots who want to take an airplane to the island. If you’re looking for a fun challenge, Catalina is a terrific choice that also offers great attractions and delicious food.
Getting There
The first challenge of flying to KAVX lies in the approach from the mainland. As displayed on a sectional or terminal area chart, the Los Angeles basin looks much like a poorly assembled quilt filled with multiple layers of Class B, Class C, and Class D airspace, as well as a permanent TFR. While navigating this mess might be intimidating for pilots not familiar with the area, it’s just a matter of studying the chart to determine the best route and altitude to fly to stay out of the way of airspace you absolutely cannot fly through. The rest is easily handled by communicating with SoCal Approach.
