Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 19:17:22 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-2600804@logan.com>
Reply-To: "Dan Schaefer" <dfs155@earthlink.net>
From: "Dan Schaefer" <dfs155@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: bumpy runways
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Chris, FWIW, and a word of caution.

I used to go to Catalina occasionally for a buffalo burger when I lived down
there. The runway has always been a bit bumpy but that wasn't the long pole
in the tent.

What will get your attention is the fact that each end slopes downwards from
the middle enough so that on take-off, you can only see about half of the
runway when you start your take-off run (I'm told its to insure water
run-off so airplanes won't hydro-plane off the end of the runway - which
would definitely not be good since it's quite a drop-off if you do) . Many
of the FBO's restrict even experienced renter pilots from going there
without a checkout by an instructor somewhere in your log book.

The visual impression that you're running out of runway, and knowing that
the terrain drops off each end of the runway like an aircraft carrier, has
led a number of people to try to pull it off way too soon, thinking that the
mid-point of the runway was the end, many with disasterous results.

There's also been some landing accidents since, if you touch down on the
numbers, you'll get the same impression on roll out. Some years ago, a
friend was sitting outside of the restaurant watching planes come and go and
watched a Lear line up on final. It touched down close to the numbers and
should have been able to stop OK on the remaining runway. Unfortunately, the
pilot was obviously fooled by the erroneous sight picture and tried to power
up for a go-around. Also unfortunately, he was way too late, his engines
couldn't spool up quickly enough and he went off the real end of the runway
and crashed on the terrain below the departure end. We heard later that he'd
never flown in there before so the local FBO's probably have it right.

Bottom line, take the time to get checked out at Catalina by someone that is
familiar with the place - or at least overfly it several times to get the
picture and keep this information in mind on your first landing and
take-off. If landing from the mainland side of the island, the end of the
runway is right on the edge of steep cliff that goes almost straight down
(maybe a thousand feet) to the ocean - landing short is not an option! This
situation has a tendency to make folks land long, which also isn't too good
an idea.

Incidentally, the buffalo burgers aren't bad!

Dan Schaefer