Perris Valley Airport
Encyclopedia
Perris Valley Airport is a privately owned and operated airport
open to public use and located one mile (1.6 km) southeast of Perris
serving Riverside County
, California
. The airport has one runway
and is used for general aviation
and extensive skydiving. The airport operates from dawn to dusk daily year-round. A skydiving drop zone
operates at the airport, and skydivers land about 50 feet from the runway.
The primary occupant is Perris Valley Skydiving. Skydiving operations run from early morning to dusk daily unless limited by weather or safety factors. Perris Valley Skydiving (PVS) operates a fleet of six aircraft. The fleet consists of a Skyvan, a Super 300 Twin Otter, two Super Twin Otters, a Pilatus Porter
and a twin engine DC-9 jet. The DC-9 is the only civilian jet FAA
-certified for skydiving. Skydivers fly to jump altitude (13,000 feet) in about 12 minutes. PVS provides skydiving opportunities to beginners and experts alike. Beginners can choose static line
, tandem
, or Accelerated Freefall
skydiving.
The airport does not have a control tower, runway lights, or approach lights. The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) classifies the northern 1900 feet (579.1 m) section of runway in poor condition. FAA inspectors determined the remaining 3200 feet (975.4 m) section of runway is in good condition. The northern 1000 feet (304.8 m) is closed indefinitely. Aircraft maintenance and repair services are available. The airport provides aviation fuel to the general public only on an emergency basis. The airport is home to 125 ultralight aircraft and 16 conventional aircraft. Conventional aircraft include ten single engine planes, five twin engine planes, and one jet aircraft.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
open to public use and located one mile (1.6 km) southeast of Perris
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
serving Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The airport has one runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
and is used for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and extensive skydiving. The airport operates from dawn to dusk daily year-round. A skydiving drop zone
Drop zone
A drop zone is a place where parachutists or parachuted supplies land. It can be an area targeted for landing by paratroopers, or a base from which recreational parachutists and skydivers take off in aircraft and land under parachutes...
operates at the airport, and skydivers land about 50 feet from the runway.
The primary occupant is Perris Valley Skydiving. Skydiving operations run from early morning to dusk daily unless limited by weather or safety factors. Perris Valley Skydiving (PVS) operates a fleet of six aircraft. The fleet consists of a Skyvan, a Super 300 Twin Otter, two Super Twin Otters, a Pilatus Porter
Pilatus PC-6
|-See also:-References:* Lambert, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–1994. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Data Division, 1993. ISBN 0 7106 1066 1.* Taylor, John W. R. Janes's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965....
and a twin engine DC-9 jet. The DC-9 is the only civilian jet FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
-certified for skydiving. Skydivers fly to jump altitude (13,000 feet) in about 12 minutes. PVS provides skydiving opportunities to beginners and experts alike. Beginners can choose static line
Static line
A static line is a fixed cord attached to a large, stable object. It is used for safety in construction andto open parachutes automatically for paratroopers and novice parachutists.-Use in parachuting:...
, tandem
Tandem skydiving
Tandem skydiving or tandem parachuting refers to a type of skydiving where a student skydiver is connected via a harness to a tandem instructor. The instructor guides the student through the whole jump from exit through freefall, piloting the canopy, and landing. The student needs only minimal...
, or Accelerated Freefall
Accelerated Freefall
Accelerated freefall is a method of skydiving training. This method of skydiving training is called "accelerated" because the progression is the fastest way to experience solo freefall, normally from 10,000 to 15,000 feet "Above Ground Level"...
skydiving.
Facilities
Perris Valley Airport has one runway:- Runway 15/33: 5100 feet (1,554.5 m) x 50 feet (15.2 m). Surface: AsphaltAsphaltAsphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
.
The airport does not have a control tower, runway lights, or approach lights. The Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) classifies the northern 1900 feet (579.1 m) section of runway in poor condition. FAA inspectors determined the remaining 3200 feet (975.4 m) section of runway is in good condition. The northern 1000 feet (304.8 m) is closed indefinitely. Aircraft maintenance and repair services are available. The airport provides aviation fuel to the general public only on an emergency basis. The airport is home to 125 ultralight aircraft and 16 conventional aircraft. Conventional aircraft include ten single engine planes, five twin engine planes, and one jet aircraft.
Accidents and incidents
- On 4 May 1984, Douglas DC-3CDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
N157U of Perris Valley Paracenter was damaged beyond economic repair when the port engine lost a propellor blade on take-off, causing the engine to be torn from its mountings. There were no injuries amongst the two crew and 31 parachutistsParachutingParachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
on board. A mandatory Airworthiness DirectiveAirworthiness DirectiveAn Airworthiness Directive is a notification to owners and operators of certified aircraft that a known safety deficiency with a particular model of aircraft, engine, avionics or other system exists and must be corrected....
had been issued concerning the propellor, but an investigation found no evidence that it had been complied with.
- On April 22, 1992, a skydiving aircraft lost engine power during takeoff and crashed. The plane never climbed more than 50 feet above the runway. Sixteen people (2 pilots and 14 skydivers) died in the crash. The National Transportation Safety BoardNational Transportation Safety BoardThe National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
(NTSB) attributed engine failure to aviation fuel contaminated by improper fuel handling. The pilots' response to engine failure also contributed to the crash.