The Great Northwest Air Race and Vacation - Santa Catalina IslandSojourn

Waking in the morning, we got a weather briefing and the fog pretty much had settled into the Los Angeles Basin. Something that is normal for a June morning. It usually burns off around Noon so we planned to depart Bakersfield Meadows Field (KBFL) and head south over Gorman VOR and then on towards Van Nuys to pick up the Shoreline Route through the Class B airspace over KLAX. These routes have been added to, taken away from and modified so many times over the years that sometimes they are barely recognizable to those of us who've been away from the area for quite some time. That said it was time to do a little review and once done, we were ready to depart.

Over Los Angeles International heading southbound
along the Shoreline Route enroute to KAVX

The best way I can of obtaining clearance through the class B airspace is to be in contact with ATC early. We decide flight following from Bakersfield Approach was the best way to go since they would hand us off to Los Angeles Center for a short time then SoCal Approach would pick us up. As we crossed the ridge where Gorman VOR sits, we were switched to SoCal Approach and made our request for the Shoreline Route and direct to KAVX on Santa Catalina Island. We we waited until we were just south of Van Nuys before the controller switched us to the next sector and we hear the words "Cleared into Class B" maybe a couple miles north of the boundary. We acknowledged and proceeded over the top of Santa Monica and I looked to see if anything remained of the old Hughes Airport in Culver City as we flew along the short at about 5,500 feet. The route turns inland a bit towards Long Beach once you clear KLAX but the controller cleared us direct to KAVX.

Santa Catalina Island is only 21 miles off the California coast, not the 26 miles you hear in the song. Airport-In-The-Sky sits about midway between the far ends of the island at an elevation of 1,602 feet MSL. When I was flight instructor at Airflite in Long Beach (When they were a Cessna Dealer before the big new FBO was built) I gave Catalina checkouts to renter pilots as it was required by the company's insurance.





Over the isthmus on a 45 for the downwind

to Runway 22

Many a time I have sat on the veranda munching on a burger and fries but I haven't landed here in 20 years. This was like the prodigal son coming home. We entered the traffic pattern from over the isthmus between the big southeastern part of the island and the smaller northwestern part. That put us on a 45 for the right downwind to runway 22. The conditions were calm and when we turned final that same illusion was there that throws unfamiliar pilots off. The airport looks like and aircraft carrier and the first two thirds of the 3,200 feet long runway slop up hill. The last third is level and disappears from view on short final.

Right Base to Final Runway 22

A good reason to always use the radio in the pattern because if someone decides to takeoff in the opposite direction you won't know until they come over the top of you as they cross that swell in the runway. Normally this is not a problem when on approach to the runway, just when taking the runway for takeoff. Especially if you decide to depart runway 4 when the normal departure runway is 22. There is a building that looks like a control tower but it is not.

That landing was uneventful and we got in and tied down just in time to catch the next van down the Avalon. Its about a 25 to 30 minute drive covering only 10 miles, much of it switchbacks. In all the times I've been here the road has remained in this state of semi-repair and you can always catch a glimpse of a Bison or even rarer the island fox. Many times in the past I would simply ate and then headed back out again. Or we would go backpacking on the island. This can be done in designated campgrounds only which are to my understanding, are being increased from the four or five they previously had. Hiking in the island's interior requires a permit which I believe can be obtained at the airport and the overnight camping permits are only available from the Catalina Island Conservancy office in Avalon. This time we didn't plan on doing either as the van wound switchback after switchback down the into the city limits of Avalon.

While we had not really planned to stay it was such a nice day and early it seems early enough in the season that we decided an overnight would be good if we could find a place to stay. The place I have always wanted to stay was Zane Grey's Pueblo Hotel with its million dollar views from the north ridge overlooking the town. It faced the Wrigley Manor on the opposite side of the amphitheater-like canyon where Avalon sits facing out across the Channel north towards the mainland. There was room at the Pueblo and it was well worth the price for the view. And if you are interested I understand the place is for sale for the measly sum of $11 Million or so. Don't know if it has sold by now or not.



Overlooking the harbor in Avalon

View of the "Casino" from the main beach