Marana Regional Airport

Marana Regional Airport (IATA: AVW, ICAO: KAVQ, FAA LID: AVQ), also known as Marana Northwest Regional Airport or Avra Valley Airport, is a non-towered, general aviation airport about 15 miles (13 nmi; 24 km) northwest of Tucson, Arizona in Marana a town in Pima County, Arizona, United States.[1] In 1999, the airport was purchased from Pima County by the town of Marana.

Marana Regional Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorTown of Marana
ServesTucson, Arizona
LocationMarana, Arizona
Built1943
Elevation AMSL2,031 ft / 619 m
Coordinates32°24′34.40″N 111°13′06.20″W
WebsiteMaranaAZ.gov/airport
Map
AVQ
Location of airport in Arizona
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 3,893 1,187 Asphalt
12/30 6,901 2,103 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations90,252
Based aircraft245

According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2007–2011, it is categorized as a relief airport.[2] It is not served by any commercial airlines at this time.

Although most U.S. airports use the same three-letter location identifier for the FAA and IATA, Marana Regional Airport is assigned AVQ by the FAA and AVW by the IATA.[3]

Facilities

Marana Regional Airport covers 630 acres (250 ha) at an elevation of 2,031 ft (619 m) above mean sea level. AVQ has two asphalt paved runways:

  • 12/30 measuring 6,901 ft × 100 ft (2,103 m × 30 m)
  • 3/21 measuring 3,893 ft × 75 ft (1,187 m × 23 m)[1]

For the 12-month period ending April 19, 2017, the airport had 90,252 aircraft operations, an average of 248 per day: 67% general aviation, 11% air taxi, and 22% military. At that time there were 245 aircraft based at this airport: 88% single-engine, 2% ultralight, 6% multi-engine, 3% jet, 0.5% gliders and 0.5% helicopters.

History
1945 Phoenix sectional chart shows Marana Regional Airport as Marana Auxiliary Army Airfield No. 2 (aka Rillito Field).

In 1943 then Marana Auxiliary Army Airfield No. 2 (a.k.a. Rillito Field) was one of five auxiliary fields that served Marana Army Air Field (now Pinal Airpark) and is part of many Arizona World War II Army Airfields. The United States Army Air Forces trained at Marana through World War II and the Korean War in North American T-6 Texan and North American T-28 Trojan aircraft.

The military sold the airport to a private operator. It was renamed Avra Valley Airport, and in 1968 expanded the runway by 1200 feet. By 1972 there were more than 30 civilian aircraft based at the airport. In 1973 Pima County Department of Transportation bought the airport and expanded the runways even more. Further improvements into 1980s included adding a parking lot, terminal building, and offices. Skyrider Cafe opened in 1983.

In 1999 the Town of Marana bought the airport for Pima County and changed the name to Marana Northwest Regional Airport, then in 2002 renamed it to Marana Regional Airport.[4]

According to the Marana Regional Airport 2017 Airport Master Plan, the airport plans to extend the end of runway 3 to 5,830 ft × 75 ft (1,777 m × 23 m), a 50% increase. A timeline for the improvements is not specified.[5]

USGS topo of Avra Valley Airport circa 1980s

See also

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for AVQ PDF, effective 2007-07-05
  2. FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems: 2007-2011
  3. Great Circle Mapper: AVW / KAVQ - Tucson, Arizona (Marana Regional Airport)
  4. "Airport history". Town of Marana. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  5. "2017 Marana Regional Airport Master Plan". calameo.com. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
Flight training at Marana Regional Airport
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