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<<Is anyone familiar with the runway on Catalina Island (southern
California)? AOPA airport directory states that it is rough and uneven.>>
I've been there several times, once a couple of months ago, in my Cardinal
RG and I don't consider it to be particularly rough. It has very old
asphalt with edges that are broken so you have to be careful to use the
center 50 feet of the runway and watch the taxi-ways. Often during the
weekend you have to park on the gravel - I always shut down on the paved
part and push the airplane the rest of the way. Not a problem really and it
is a fun place to go. The elevation of the runway (over 1,000 ft) and the
final approach over the ocean really give a warped perspective so I closely
monitor the altimeter in the pattern; just looking at the runway doesn't
give much help. There is a hump in the middle making the runway appear very
short just as you touch down. There have been several pilots that have not
compensated for the downdraft on short final and made implants in the cliff
just short of the runway. I usually remain high and then slip it in on
short final. Don't get low and slow on short final, especially if there is
much wind from the west.
Gary Casey
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