Monterey Bay Academy Airport

Summary

Monterey Bay Academy Airport (FAA LID: CA66) is a small daytime only airfield located near the city of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. This private-use airport is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is located on the campus of Monterey Bay Academy, previously the military installation Camp McQuaide. The grass airfield is currently managed by AirSpace Integration. Prior permission for use is required from the airport owner.

Monterey Bay Academy Airport
Monterey Bay Academy Airport, prior to its conversion to a grass runway
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorSeventh-day Adventist Church
LocationMonterey Bay Academy
Elevation AMSL70 ft / 21 m
Coordinates36°54′22″N 121°50′35″W / 36.90611°N 121.84306°W / 36.90611; -121.84306
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10/28 2,200 671 Grass

History edit

Improvements and management of the airstrip were previously directed by Ocean Shore Aviation. The group restored the dirt strip, converting it from dirt into a grass runway. The group also secured a parking/tie-down area (paved with concrete), and has added a picnic area within walking distance to the parking/tie-down area overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

In the 1940s, a small aircraft landing strip was built at Camp McQuaide so airplanes could drop targets into the ocean. After the end of the war, in 1948, it was converted to the private boarding school Monterey Bay Academy.[1]

Between 1980 and 1984 the airport was home to Pterodactyl Limited, which manufactured ultralight aircraft.[2]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Monterey Bay Academy Beginnings". MBA website. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  2. ^ Adam Hunt. "Pterodactyl History". Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.

External links edit

  • "El Salto Resort, Camp McQuaide, & the Capitola Airport -1934". photo page of Capitola Museum website. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  • Paul Freeman (2009). "Santa Cruz - Capitola Airport, Santa Cruz, CA". Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: California: Monterey area. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  • Resources for this airport:
    • FAA airport information for CA66
    • AirNav airport information for CA66
    • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
    • SkyVector aeronautical chart for CA66