Katama Airpark

Katama Airpark (FAA LID: 1B2) is a public airport in the Katama section of Edgartown, Massachusetts, in Dukes County on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The airport, owned by the Town of Edgartown, has three runways, averages 22 takeoffs and landings per day, and has approximately four aircraft based on its field.[1]

Katama Airpark
Edgartown Airfield, as it appeared in the 1920s
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorTown of Edgartown
LocationEdgartown, Massachusetts
Elevation AMSL18 ft / 5 m
Coordinates41°21′30.4220″N 70°31′28.09″W
Websitehttp://katamaairfield.com/
Map
1B2
Location of airport in Massachusetts / United States
1B2
1B2 (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 3,700 1,128 Turf
6/24 2,700 823 Turf
17/35 2,600 792 Turf
Statistics (2006)
Based aircraft4

Katama is one of three airports on the island. The main airport Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY) is the only airport with commercial service, and handles the majority of the island's general aviation traffic as well. The third airport is the smaller Trade Wind Airport, a grass airfield in Oak Bluffs.

History

During World War II, Martha's Vineyard Airport functioned both as an outer defense and a training facility for gunnery and pilots. In addition to the main airport there was a small airfield at Katama near a gunnery practice area at the beach. Following World War II this airport was purchased by Steven Gentle, who ran the Katama Airpark until the 1980s when it was purchased with state conservation funds (as this airfield has five endangered plant or animal species).

Facilities

The airport is managed by the town of Edgartown. During the season (roughly May 31 to Labor Day), there are biplane and glider rides available, as well as flight instruction in four different aircraft.[2]

There is a restaurant located adjacent to the airfield, currently named "The Right Fork Diner."[3] The restaurant was named "Mels" until the retirement of its namesake.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute has a small data monitoring building adjacent to the hangar. It monitors wave action, beach erosion, and offshore wave action.[4] It is not open to the public.

References
  1. AirNav.com: 1B2, AirNav.com, 2006, accessed April 26, 2006.
  2. http://katamaairfield.com/flight-instruction/
  3. http://katamaairfield.com/diner/
  4. http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=2425
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.