I recently found there are a few strips on the channel islands. I would REALLY like to check them out but.... rather not get whined at.

Here are the strips on Santa Cruz island

KSZN

FAA Identifier: SZN
Lat/Long: 34-03-38.0100N / 119-54-54.4680W
34-03.633500N / 119-54.907800W
34.0605583 / -119.9151300
(estimated)
Elevation: 50 ft. / 15 m (estimated)
Variation: 14E (1985)
From city: 24 miles SW of SANTA BARBARA, CA
Time zone: UTC -7 (UTC -8 during Standard Time)
Zip code: 93105
Airport Operations

Airport use: Private use. Permission required prior to landing
Sectional chart: LOS ANGELES
Control tower: no
ARTCC: LOS ANGELES CENTER
FSS: HAWTHORNE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION
Attendance: UNATNDD
Wind indicator: yes
Segmented circle: no
Nearby radio navigation aids

Runway Information

Runway 9/27

Dimensions: 2150 x 50 ft. / 655 x 15 m
Surface: dirt
RUNWAY 9 RUNWAY 27
Traffic pattern: right left
Airport Ownership and Management from official FAA records

Ownership: Privately-owned
Owner: THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
213 STEARNS WHARF
SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
Phone 805-962-9111
Manager: JIM SULENTICH
213 STEARNS WHARF
SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
Phone 805-962-9111

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=N+34.060 ... 3&t=h&z=16

CA97 Christy Airstrip

FAA Identifier: CA97
Lat/Long: 34-01-11.0140N / 119-51-10.4640W
34-01.183567N / 119-51.174400W
34.0197261 / -119.8529067
(estimated)
Elevation: 250 ft. / 76 m (estimated)
Variation: 14E (1985)
From city: 26 miles SW of SANTA BARBARA, CA
Time zone: UTC -7 (UTC -8 during Standard Time)
Zip code: 93105
Airport Operations

Airport use: Private use. Permission required prior to landing
Activation date: 10/1975
Sectional chart: LOS ANGELES
Control tower: no
ARTCC: LOS ANGELES CENTER
FSS: HAWTHORNE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION
Attendance: UNATNDD
Wind indicator: yes
Segmented circle: yes
Nearby radio navigation aids


Runway Information

Runway 9/27

Dimensions: 2507 x 50 ft. / 764 x 15 m
Surface: turf
RUNWAY 9 RUNWAY 27
Traffic pattern: left right
Obstructions: hills, 2500 ft. from runway none
Airport Ownership and Management from official FAA records

Ownership: Privately-owned
Owner: THE NATURE CONSERVACY
213 STEARNS WHARF
SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
Phone 805-962-9111
Manager: JIM SULENTICH
213 STEARNS WHARF
SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101
Phone 805-962-9111
Additional Remarks

E3A ADDNL PHONE NR TO HHR FSS 1-WX-BRIEF.
- PVT LNDG STRIP - TRESPASSERS PROSECUTED.
- OWNER DOES NOT DESIRE ARPT TO BE CHARTED.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=N+34.018 ... 3&t=h&z=17



Unnamed strip
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:33.9 ... 2&t=h&z=17


The above strips may be on private land and both CA97 and KSZA, as the NPS owns 24% and the Nature Conservancy ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nature_Conservancy ) owns the other 76% of the island.


The phone number for both KSZN & CA97 a landline verizon number and is out of service, flight services has no other number on file...




The other idea is Santa Rosa Island

Here is a strip that Channel Islands Aviation ( https://www.flightstothechannelislands. ... trips.html )uses, Channel Isl Aviation says:

Can I fly myself there and land with my own airplane?
No you cannot. The airport is strictly private. Though you are allowed to fly over the Channel Islands National park above 2000 feet AGL.

Of course this may be because they want $220 a head from you to fly with them.

The strip is on national park service land

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=N+33.996 ... 3&t=h&z=17



Thoughts???

I've seen those before too. It would be awesome to be able to fly out there but I doubt you could get permission to land. Too bad

I kinda figured the ones on Santa Cruz might be a long show being they are on private property.

HOWEVER the one on Santa Rosa is on National Parks land and I found this...

REGULATIONS REGARDING FLIGHTS OVER CHARTED NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AREAS,
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AREAS, AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE AREAS

The landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands or waters administered
by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or U.S.
Forest Service without authorization from the respective agency.
Exceptions include:
1) when forced to land due to an emergency beyond the control of the
operator
2) at officially designated landing sites, or
3) on approved official business of the Federal Government.

All aircraft are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2000 feet
above the surface of the following: National Parks, Monuments,
Seashores, Lakeshores, recreation Areas and Scenic Riverways
administered by the National Park Service; National Wildlife Refuges,
Big Game Refuges, Game Ranges and Wildlife Ranges administered by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Wilderness and Primitive areas
administered by the U.S. Forest Service. FAA Advisory Circular (AC)
91-36C, "Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Flight Near Noise-Sensitive Areas,"
defines the surface as: the highest terrain within 2000 feet laterally
of the route of flight, or the upper-most rim of a canyon or valley.

Being it's used by channel isls aviation and on NPS land, does that make it a "officially designated landing site" and therefore fare game?

NineThreeKilo wrote:I kinda figured the ones on Santa Cruz might be a long show being they are on private property.

HOWEVER the one on Santa Rosa is on National Parks land and I found this...

REGULATIONS REGARDING FLIGHTS OVER CHARTED NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AREAS,
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AREAS, AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE AREAS

The landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands or waters administered
by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or U.S.
Forest Service without authorization from the respective agency.
Exceptions include:
1) when forced to land due to an emergency beyond the control of the
operator
2) at officially designated landing sites, or
3) on approved official business of the Federal Government.

All aircraft are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2000 feet
above the surface of the following: National Parks, Monuments,
Seashores, Lakeshores, recreation Areas and Scenic Riverways
administered by the National Park Service; National Wildlife Refuges,
Big Game Refuges, Game Ranges and Wildlife Ranges administered by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Wilderness and Primitive areas
administered by the U.S. Forest Service. FAA Advisory Circular (AC)
91-36C, "Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Flight Near Noise-Sensitive Areas,"
defines the surface as: the highest terrain within 2000 feet laterally
of the route of flight, or the upper-most rim of a canyon or valley.

Being it's used by channel isls aviation and on NPS land, does that make it a "officially designated landing site" and therefore fare game?

I agree it's kind of BS that CIA can use it but nobody else can. Rob and I think you should print the regulation, take a rental airplane and give it a try! Let us know the results. I found a sign for one of the islands that said you couldn't land there and if you did it was a $$$ fine and imprisonment. Another option is to have a plug get fouled and make a precautionary landing to fix the problem!

I'll be out at SZP in the next few days and will ask the good folks at CPaviation, I know just the guy to ask and will get the straight skinny if he's around.
Will report back

SD

In 1974 I was working as a commercial abalone diver at the islands. On top of the ridge of Santa Cruz you could see an airplane, minus the fabric.

Story goes the pilot ran out of gas and landed it on the ridge line. The rancher that owned the island refused to give him gas so he had to catch a ride on the Packer back to Santa Barbara, get his gas, then ride back to the island the next time the Packer went over.

By the time he got back the goats on the island had eaten the fabric off the plane.

Per my conversation with a fairly reputable source @ SZP today, CIA has a state contract to carry state bird people out to the islands to count eggs and play with birds or vice versa. As to the island excursions which they get $200 or so for, that's done under their 135 and likely doable for them since they have their foot in the door with the state contract. So I clarified "so it's a nogo for us little people then huh?" "unless you wind up with an emergency" he said. So barring an emergency or paying CIA $200 it looks like Catalina is the closest you're gonna get, which has a $25 landing fee and $25 bus ride into town.

SD

NineThreeKilo wrote:I kinda figured the ones on Santa Cruz might be a long show being they are on private property.

HOWEVER the one on Santa Rosa is on National Parks land and I found this...

REGULATIONS REGARDING FLIGHTS OVER CHARTED NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AREAS,
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AREAS, AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE AREAS

The landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands or waters administered
by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or U.S.
Forest Service without authorization from the respective agency.
Exceptions include:
1) when forced to land due to an emergency beyond the control of the
operator
2) at officially designated landing sites, or
3) on approved official business of the Federal Government.

All aircraft are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2000 feet
above the surface of the following: National Parks, Monuments,
Seashores, Lakeshores, recreation Areas and Scenic Riverways
administered by the National Park Service; National Wildlife Refuges,
Big Game Refuges, Game Ranges and Wildlife Ranges administered by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Wilderness and Primitive areas
administered by the U.S. Forest Service. FAA Advisory Circular (AC)
91-36C, "Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Flight Near Noise-Sensitive Areas,"
defines the surface as: the highest terrain within 2000 feet laterally
of the route of flight, or the upper-most rim of a canyon or valley.

Being it's used by channel isls aviation and on NPS land, does that make it a "officially designated landing site" and therefore fare game?

To be officially designated it has to be opened in a federal rule making process ie listed specifically in regulation with stipulations. Assuming it is indeed on NPS-managed land and not on private nature conservancy property. I'm not familiar but I can try to look it up for you.

I looked there is no airstrip in the park itself which is open to public use.

Catalina is part of the "Channel Islands". I guess "Airport in the Sky" or Pebbly Beach Seaplane ramp are the only places left.

Anybody tried the Buffalo Burgers at KAVX?

8GCBC wrote:Catalina is part of the "Channel Islands". I guess "Airport in the Sky" or Pebbly Beach Seaplane ramp are the only places left.

Anybody tried the Buffalo Burgers at KAVX?

The buffalo burgers are pricey but good, I do some business on the island so I bought the $150 (donation to the conservancy) deal that gives you unlimited landings for 1 year and $6 discount on the bus ride to Avalon harbor. It's definitely the $100 burger

Glidergeek wrote:

8GCBC wrote:Catalina is part of the "Channel Islands". I guess "Airport in the Sky" or Pebbly Beach Seaplane ramp are the only places left.

Anybody tried the Buffalo Burgers at KAVX?

The buffalo burgers are pricey but good, I do some business on the island so I bought the $150 (donation to the conservancy) deal that gives you unlimited landings for 1 year and $6 discount on the bus ride to Avalon harbor. It's definitely the $100 burger

Definitely not the cheapest place to get lunch. I was there this last April, place has not changed much in 40 years. Except there are many more aircraft parked.

Haven't landed there since I was a student in the last century. It was pretty ho hum back then, not exactly worth $50. We did get a cool certificate for landing there. So your mama could proudly put it alongside your tuba championship and other remarkable achievements. I think Telluride qualifies more as the airport in the sky.

I went back to Catalina as a Boy Scout leader a few years back at their big camp near the isthmus. There are so many rules about everything on the island, like bicycles have to have a special license and so on. Why bother, unless you like an island version of fascism.

San Clemente was a lot of fun to land on and bomb. Went out there all the time. One of the few places in the US you could go low level supersonic without consequences.

FYI the Channel Islands NP management plan is up for review. Attached is an email from CIA (the sole operator allowed to operate on Santa Rosa island) appealing for public support for opening an additional strip on the E end, presumably for their exclusive use. As noted previously, non-commercial operations are prohibited by the NPS. It looks like the public comment period may have expired, but here is an opportunity to make comments. Of course these could also address the exclusive use issue (probably not what CIA had in mind).

From: Channel Islands Aviation, Inc. [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Channel Islands Aviation, Inc.
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 10:44 AM
To: [email protected](pr
Subject: Channel Islands Aviation needs your help!







Help us reopen the airstrip on

Santa Cruz Island's East End









The Channel Islands National Park has just released their General Management Plan (GMP) outlining the park use over the next twenty-five to forty years. Park officials had indicated they would include an option of reopening the airstrip on the East end of Santa Cruz Island for public access as part of this plan. Unfortunately this did not happen and as a result we need your help lobbying park officials.

If the airstrip were to be reopened, CIA could again take the public to Santa Cruz Island. The East end strip is less than a fifteen minute flight from the Camarillo Airport which will make trips a fraction of the price of our current trips to Santa Rosa Island. The island offers water sports such as snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking as well as scenic hiking trails with views of Anacapa Island. Access to East Santa Cruz is currently available only by boat and we believe the public deserves an airplane transportation option.

To HELP:

Please click here to visit the National Park's website that is set up for public comment regarding the GMP. Please mention that you would like to see public access to the East end of Santa Cruz Island by airplane included in the GMP. All comments must be received by January 9, 2014 so please make yourself heard right away.

We sincerely appreciate your efforts to help us in our campaign. Santa Cruz Island is a large part of our history as our first flight to the island was in 1975 which later lead to our founding and is the reason for our name.


Channel Islands Aviation, Inc.

305 Durley Avenue

Camarillo, California 93010

Correction. The public comment period on the Channel Islands National Park Draft General Management Plan has been extended to 02/08/2014. CIA flys into Santa Rosa Island, but the existing strip CIA wants to use is on the E end of Santa Cruz Island. Additionally there is a strip on San Miguel Island which is in use by the NPS.

Bump. Anything new on these fronts?

Nothing has changed, we’re still in California