Catalina Airport - Facilities and Aircraft

Facilities and Aircraft

Catalina Airport covers 25 acres (100,000 m2) and has one asphalt runway (4/22) measuring 3,000 x 75 feet (914 x 23 m). Surface elevation of the runway is 1602 feet (488 m) above sea level. The runway is known for being pitched up in the middle, so that on short approach it appears much shorter. Pavement condition varies widely; after recent maintenance it is good, but following the rainy season there are often potholes, soft spots, and chunks of loose asphalt on the runway. Terrain falls off steeply at both ends of the runway. Due to turbulence and downdrafts at the approach ends, lack of normal visual references on final approach, and the upslope of the first 1/3 of Runway 22 (about 2% which creates the illusion of being too high on final approach) the airport can be hazardous for inexperienced pilots. Aircraft at opposite ends of the runway cannot see each other. Contact with UNICOM is required to obtain permission for landing.

For 12-month period ending April 13, 2006, the airport had 23,000 aircraft operations, an average of 63 per day: 98% general aviation (22,450), 2% air taxi (500) and <1% military (50). There are 10 aircraft based at this airport, all single-engine.