Flying The Channel Islands National Park

Flying The Channel Islands National Park

Pilots based on the west coast of the United States have a restricted
number of destinations west of the Pacific coastline from which to
choose. Santa Catalina Island's “Airport In The Sky”
http://www.catalina.com/airport.html (KAVX) is the only one of which
I am aware that is publicly accessible with a light general aviation
aircraft. However, there is a very interesting and beautiful
destination offshore that is well worth the trip: Channel Islands
National Park.

Channel Islands National Park http://www.nps.gov/chis/index.htm lies
about 25 nautical miles south of Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
(KSBA). I charted a course that provided a view of the entire
coastline of all four islands within the Channel Islands National
Marine Sanctuary.

I chose a sparkling, clear, late February day that I was sure would
provide a verdant view of the islands cloaked in emerald green. After
receiving a flight briefing, and discussing the flight with Beaver
Control by telephone, the Warning Area using authority controller, we
departed about noon local time. Soon we were approaching the strait
between Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. We flew down the east
coast of Santa Rosa, and back up the west coast of Santa Cruz, and
turned east along the north coast of Santa Cruz at 2,200’ about half a
mile offshore. The deep blue of the ocean faded to crystal azure as
the surf broke on the beaches, with their high palisades capped in a
cloak of green above. The natural beauty of the sight was stunning.
Continuing east along the shore line each sheltered cove and sandy
beach shown with inner warmth. Magnificent indeed.

Perched atop the eastern spine of Santa Cruz Island is a radome and
ancillary buildings. This is about the most sophisticated development
on the islands; they are largely undisturbed by man.

In 2005 the National Park Service (NPS) and The Nature Conservancy
eradicated the feral pigs from Santa Cruz Island to save the
endangered island fox and nine rare plants from extinction and protect
archaeological sites.[1] Santa Cruz Island is home to plants and
animals that are found nowhere else on Earth. There are a large
number of archeological sites on the island that are associated with
the Chumash native people who occupied the island from at least 9,000
years ago until the early 1800s. Golden eagles have been captured and
relocated. A captive breeding program for island foxes was established
as insurance against losses due to golden eagles. Also, native bald
eagles have been reintroduced. This predator disappeared in the 1950s
due to DDT poisoning. Bald eagles eat fish, seabirds, and animal
carcasses, not live foxes, and are very territorial. It is hoped that
once they mature, they will establish territories and drive off any
newly arriving golden eagles. In 2006, this program paid off. For the
first time in more than 50 years, two bald eagle chicks were hatched
unaided from two separate nests on Santa Cruz Island.

While the Santa Cruz Island Airport's (KSZN), owned by The Nature
Conservancy, dirt runway beckons, its owners state, “Trespassers Are
Prosecuted.” But viewing the islands from the air doesn't require a
landing, and seaplanes may be able to make a water landing. While
there are several other dirt landing strips within the Channel Islands
National Marine Sanctuary, it is unclear who a pilot might contact to
request permission to use them.

The four Channel Islands, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and
Anacapa, that are within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
are surrounded on the Los Angeles sectional chart by a blue line with
dots depicting the sanctuary and Channel Islands National Monument
boundaries, and are overlain by Warning Area special use airspace. The
US Navy intermittently conducts weapons tests within these Warning
Areas, so it imperative that the pilot receive a briefing that
includes the status of these warning areas before departure.

A prudent pilot will also want to remain in radio contact with Beaver
Control on 123.425 MHz, and it is a good idea to discuss the flight
with the ATC controller by telephone: (805) 989-8280. [Fleet Area
Control and Surveillance Facility San Diego (FACSFAC SD) is a U.S.
Navy facility, based at Naval Air Station, North Island, California.
The FACSFAC SD mission is to provide off-shore air traffic control and
surveillance as well as active management of assigned airspace,
operating areas, ranges and training resources in order to support
homeland defense and enhance combat readiness of u.s. Pacific Fleet
units in all warfare areas. FACSFAC SO, call-sign “Beaver control” or
“Beaver” manages the Southern California (SOCAL) offshore military
operating area (OPAREA).]

Additionally, the chart advises: “Pilots are requested to maintain a
minimum altitude of 2000’ AGL over the Channel Islands National Marine
Sanctuary.” Consult Code of Federal Regulation Title 14 Part 91 §
91.205 “Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S.
airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements” for
applicable regulations governing over water operations.

So, enjoy the islands from the air, and fly courteously so as not to
disturb the wildlife that make the Channel Islands home.

Here's my high-definition video of Anacapa Island:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx44qnVyzhA
[Anyone interested in licensing the footage of the entire coast lines
of all four islands may contact me at: ]

And here's The Official (standard-definition) Film of Channel Islands
National Park (24 minutes):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_PSWKq-OlE




[1] Feral Pig Eradication Begins on Santa Cruz Island

http://www.nps.gov/chis/parknews/fer...ruz-island.htm



This article © Copyright L. Dighera 2010, 2013