Catalina Island's Airport in the Sky and the most unforgettable runway in Southern California

Catalina Airport (KAVX), known as Airport in the Sky, is a 3,002-foot mountaintop runway perched 1,600 feet above sea level on Catalina Island, 26 miles off the Southern California coast. The strip was carved from a ridgeline in 1946, features a distinctive crown in its middle that obscures the far end on approach, and has no instrument approach — it is VFR only. It is also, by near-universal agreement among the pilots who fly there, one of the most rewarding destinations in all of general aviation.

How Did an Airport End Up on Top of a Mountain?

The Wrigley family — yes, the chewing gum dynasty — owned most of Catalina Island for decades. After World War II, in 1946, they built an airstrip on the island’s central ridge by blasting the tops off two hills and filling the saddle between them. No GPS surveys, no laser leveling. Dynamite and bulldozers. Eighty years later, pilots still fly in every day.

What Makes the Runway So Unusual?

The numbers alone — 3,002 feet — sound manageable. Then you add the context. The runway crowns in the middle, meaning on short final you can see the near threshold and the hump, but the far end drops away out of sight. You touch down rolling uphill, crest the hump, and then roll downhill toward the opposite end with the Pacific Ocean filling the windscreen.

Both sides of the runway drop off steeply. Winds whip across the exposed ridgeline and can be unpredictable. Density altitude on hot summer days climbs quickly at this elevation. The Chart Supplement carries a special note — this is not a routine strip.

One local regular, a pilot named Dave who has been flying to Catalina since 1996, put it simply: after his first landing, when he came in too fast and crested the hump with the end of the runway rushing toward him, he never came in fast again. He still flies out at least once a month. Says it never gets old.

What’s the Approach Like?

Most pilots depart from Torrance, Long Beach, John Wayne, or Santa Monica and head southwest over the San Pedro Channel. The crossing takes 20 to 25 minutes depending on speed and departure point. For many GA pilots, this is one of the rare occasions they’ll fly a single-engine airplane over open ocean with no runway beneath them for an extended stretch. Check fuel twice. Confirm the life vests are where the POH says they are.

Catalina grows on the horizon as you cross — cliffs, coves, the round casino building on the Avalon waterfront. Switch to Catalina traffic on 122.7. There is no control tower. All traffic coordination is pilot-to-pilot communication. The standard pattern is left traffic for Runway 22, favored for prevailing winds, though conditions on the ridge can shift quickly.

Flight instructor Jennifer, who brings students regularly, calls Catalina the best teaching airport she knows. “It forces you to be a real pilot,” she said. “You can’t just rely on the autopilot and the GPS. You have to read the wind, judge the approach visually, manage your energy, and commit.” Her verdict: if you can land well at Catalina, you can land anywhere.

What’s There Once You Land?

The airport has a small terminal, a gift shop, and the destination everyone talks about: the DC-3 Grill and Runway Café. The signature item is the buffalo burger, made from the island’s own herd of bison — descendants of animals brought over for a 1920s film shoot that simply never left. They still roam the surrounding hills.

The burger is thick, slightly gamey, served on a brioche bun with chipotle aioli. Eat it at a picnic table on the patio overlooking the runway while watching airplanes land on a mountaintop in the Pacific. It may be the best hundred-dollar hamburger destination in the country.

Maria, who has managed the restaurant for nearly 15 years, says she can always spot a first-timer. “They walk in buzzing. They can’t believe they just did that.” But even the regulars who come weekly or monthly never quite lose a certain light in their eyes. “This airport does something to people.”

How Do I Get Down to Avalon?

A shuttle bus runs from the airport down a winding mountain road to the town of Avalon, about 15 minutes each way. Avalon is a compact harbor town with shops, restaurants, and crystal-clear cove water. Most cars aren’t allowed on the island — golf carts are the standard transportation and are available to rent. Snorkeling, hiking, and waterfront lounging are all on the table.

What Should I Know Before I Go?

Fuel is available at the airport but at island prices. Top off on the mainland.
Landing fees run approximately $25, varying by aircraft size.
Tie-downs are available on the ramp.
Weather demands respect. Marine fog can close the island quickly, especially afternoons. Always have a Plan B and check conditions before committing to the return crossing.
The Catalina Island Conservancy website and the Airport in the Sky page publish current fees, hours, and operational notes.
SoCal pilot community forums are a valuable source for real-time crossing conditions and tips.

Why Pilots Keep Coming Back

The mix of pilots at Catalina on any given morning tells the story. Bonanzas, Cherokees, Diamond DA40s, Cirrus SR22s, restored Cessna 170s — and occasionally a little yellow Piper Cub with no electrical system and a handheld radio, flown across the channel by a 73-year-old pilot named George who has been flying since he was 16. He makes the trip at least once a year because, as he put it, “up here, with the wind and the ocean and that little airplane, everything else goes away. It’s just you and the sky.”

Every pilot who climbs out on that mountaintop ramp wears the same expression — a grin like they just got away with something. One Cherokee pilot summed it up for everyone within earshot: “This is why I learned to fly.”

Key Takeaways

Catalina Airport (KAVX) is a 3,002-foot VFR-only mountaintop runway at 1,600 feet MSL, 26 miles off the Southern California coast
The crowned runway and ridgeline winds make this a demanding but rewarding strip — come prepared, not fast
Top off fuel on the mainland and budget about 20-25 minutes for the channel crossing
The DC-3 Grill’s buffalo burger and the mountaintop ramp experience make this arguably the best fly-in destination in the western U.S.
Respect the weather — marine fog can close the island with little warning; always have an alternate plan