Watsonville Municipal Airport

Watsonville Municipal Airport

Photo of Watsonville Municipal Airport

Airport Diagram for Watsonville Municipal Airport
IATA: WVI – ICAO: KWVI – FAA LID: WVI
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator City of Watsonville
Location Watsonville, California
Elevation AMSL 163 ft / 49.7 m
Coordinates 36°56′09″N 121°47′23″W / 36.93583°N 121.78972°WCoordinates: 36°56′09″N 121°47′23″W / 36.93583°N 121.78972°W
Map
WVI

Location of airport in California

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
2/20 4,501 1,372 Asphalt
9/27 3,998 1,219 Asphalt

Watsonville Municipal Airport (IATA: WVI, ICAO: KWVI, FAA LID: WVI) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district (CBD) of Watsonville, a city in Santa Cruz County, California, USA.[1] The airport covers 330 acres (134 ha) and has two runways. The largest aircraft to ever land at Watsonville were 05-5141 and 05-5143, C-17 Globemaster IIIs from March ARB, CA.

Facilities

The Watsonville airport's longest runway is 02-20 and its dimensions are 4501' x 150'. The crosswind runway, 09-27, 3998' x 100', is used when winds favor it and when the fog is moving across the field from the Monterey Bay.

The airport is uncontrolled, and the CTAF is 122.8 MHz, and the ASOS can be received on 132.275 MHz or by calling 831-724-8794.

History

The Navy took over in July, 1943, purchased an additional 35 acres, built support buildings and the concrete ramp. On October 23, 1943, the airport was commissioned as Naval Air Auxiliary Station Watsonville (NAAS Watsonville) and served as a satellite to Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda. As the World War II ended, so did operations at NAAS Watsonville, on Nov. 1, 1945 it was closed and placed on caretaker status

Instrument Approaches

The airport has three approaches, making it a popular instrument training area.

Instrument pilots have been advised that Watsonville is occasionally surrounded by non-IFR traffic that (illegally) climbs/descends to low stratus layer. ATC usually calls them out, but they can not always see them. There are frequent traffic calls to CTAF even when IMC prevails become important.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Watsonville Municipal Airport". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-05-03.

External links