Santa Catalina Island is off the coast of California, near Los Angeles. The airport is known as "Catalina Island Airport in the Sky" because it is near the island's highest point at 1,602 feet. It is a tabletop runway that extends nearly to the edges of the flattened area, allowing no overrun protection.

Catalina Casino was constructed in 1929 in Avalon. It is the largest building on the island and the most visible landmark in Avalon Bay when approaching from the mainland. It has a height equal to a 12-story building, and has a large theater, ballroom and promenade. It also serves as the island's civil defense shelter, large enough to accommodate Catalina's entire year-round population. It has stored enough food and water for all of Avalon's residents for two weeks.

Runway that departs in the direction of the flight plan: 04

Distance: 18 miles

No navigation or GPS instruments are required; simply follow the on-screen markers.

Do not engage the copilot or autopilot. They may alter or suppress waypoints.

MSFS settings for the best experience with this flight plan: Options > Assistance Options >

  • Piloting > AI Radio Communications (ATC) > Off (required to properly display the waypoints)
  • Navigation Aids > Route and Waypoints > On
  • Points of Interest > Landmark Markers > On
  • Points of Interest > City Markers = Off (optional - declutters the screen)
  • Points of Interest > Display Direction to Chosen POI > Off (disable confusing destination marker during flight)
  • Points of Interest > Display All Labels > Off
  • User Experience > ATC Enforce Flight Plan > On (prevent current conditions from overriding selected runway number)

How to Use This Flight Plan

  • Unzip the downloaded file into any folder.
  • The flight plan is the file that has the “ .pln ” filename extension.
  • MSFS > Welcome tab > World Map > Press Spacebar twice (More > Load) > Load From ...
  • Navigate to where you saved the flight plan and select it.
  • In the "From" airport, select the departure runway (provided in this description, above).
  • Click on the Flight Conditions window at the top right to adjust time and month.
  • Click on "Fly" at the bottom right of the screen.