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      • Sep 27-29, 2019: Kern Valley Airport Annual Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sep 28-30, 2018: Kern Valley Airport 2017 Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sep 22-24, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Fall 2017 Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sept 22-24, 2017: Mt. Sac Fly-In
      • Aug 25-27, 2017: Carver's Cut fly-in/campout/work party
      • July 15-16, 2017: Millennial Wings of California Fly-In
      • May 5-7, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Spring 2017 Backcountry Fly-In
      • April 29-30, 2017: AOPA Members Campout
      • April 22, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Campground Work Party
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Kern Valley Airport
  • Home
  • Events
    • LAKC
    • Past Events >
      • Sep 27-29, 2019: Kern Valley Airport Annual Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sep 28-30, 2018: Kern Valley Airport 2017 Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sep 22-24, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Fall 2017 Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sept 22-24, 2017: Mt. Sac Fly-In
      • Aug 25-27, 2017: Carver's Cut fly-in/campout/work party
      • July 15-16, 2017: Millennial Wings of California Fly-In
      • May 5-7, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Spring 2017 Backcountry Fly-In
      • April 29-30, 2017: AOPA Members Campout
      • April 22, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Campground Work Party
  • Cafe
  • Campground
  • Connect
  • Raven Aviation Service
  • Tie-downs/Hangar space
  • Area Activities
  • Weather+
  • Other

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If you're coming up to Carver's Cut, here's a few things to know:
The strip is on a private ranch holding completely surrounded by National Forest, gorgeous granite peaks, a stream with natural rock water slides and swimming, fishing, and hiking.  If you would like to join us, you can stay for the day and enjoy a hearty Sierra Nevada flapjacks breakfast, good company, and beautiful mountain scenery.  ALL ATTENDEES MUST COMPLETE THE "PERMISSION TO LAND REQUEST FORM" (blue box on the right side of this page).

THE AIRSTRIP: Located a 10min flight north of Kern Valley Airport (L05), the 4500’ MSL dirt airstrip is 1400' x 50' with an approx. 4% slope downhill towards the south. There is a short windsock at the southwest end of the airstrip.
NOTE:
  • FREQ: 122.8 
  • LAT/LONG: 36.006/-118.490
  • CAPABLE AIRPLANES ONLY
  • PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PERFORMANCE CHARTS
  • The airstrip is too new to be seen on Google Maps, sorry :/
  • If you need to land at Kern Valley Airport (L05) and get shuttled up, please call ahead of time to make arrangements with our Kernville Uber/Lyft driver Jim Warner 760-223-3635.  The price is usually about $35/car ride.

THE AMMENITIES AND ACCOMODATIONS: Carver’s Cut airstrip has a cabin, toilet, shower, kitchen, BBQ, covered kitchen and eating patio, tent platforms and plenty of open space to camp. There's a shooting range area near the cabin, a swimming hole, the famous Tea Cups Waterfalls, hiking, fishing in the creek, and natural rock waterslides.

THE PLAN/CAMPING: We'll be hanging out and cooking a hearty flapjack breakfast and sides.


WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
  • Clothing/gear: tie-down straps and stakes, swim trunks, sunscreen, hiking shoes, etc​

​THE COST: Free, but donations are kindly accepted to go towards paying for the food  and grounds/equipment upkeep.


​QUESTIONS?: call Anthony 949-312-8782 or Rick 661-345-7755

APPROACH and DEPARTURE TIPS:
  • The PIC bears the ultimate authority and responsibility for safe and approaches and departures from the airstrip.  
  • Watch the video at the top right of this page before flying in.
  • Use a typical backcountry pre-landing checklist to circle and carefully assess the situation on the ground, such as possibility of cattle in the vicinity, number of planes on the ground, parked or moving and to determine their abort point and abort path.  If the winds so favor it, landing uphill will require an earlier abort point due to rising terrain.
  • Typical morning canyon wind pattern: flowing lightly down-canyon during the very early morning hours then reversing and flowing up-canyon from Lake Isabella with gradually increasing intensity as the daytime temperature goes up.  Afternoon winds have been very often out of the south in the canyon and variable south to southwest at the windsock. Maybe 5 or at most 10 degrees off the strip, with some variability in magnitude. The south wind creates an amazing amount of lift off the south slopes of the flat-top east of the strip.
  • Therefore, there are a couple schools of thought of how to land at Carver's Cut depending on the time of day you come in:
    • 1) Early morning landings: Heavy airplane guys might anticipate the wind would still be flowing down canyon and land Runway 02 (uphill), but with the uphill landing, your go-no point should be picked slightly earlier in anticipation of applying go-around power in the slight uphill direction..  This would give the benefit of both a slight headwind and an uphill slope to reduce ground roll. Light airplane guys typically land downhill (Runway 20) as the slope is gentle enough that they are stopped and slowed in 70% of the strip with minimal braking. And they have the go around option until touchdown practically -they have much less go around option going uphill due to low horsepower.  
    • 2) Afternoon to late-afternoon landings: Bearing that the typical up-canyon winds are flowing up from Lake Isabella, land downhill (Runway 20) as the slope is gentle enough and headwind strong enough that you will be stopped and slowed in 70% of the strip with minimal braking. This also gives the downhill/down-canyon go-around option until touchdown.
Carver's Cut approach and departure video.
Watch this before flying in ↓↓
Picture

Permission to land request form

Carver's Cut is a private airstrip for use by permission and accompaniment of the founding pilots only. YOU MUST READ AND SUBMIT THE CONSENT FORM TO REQUEST PERMISSION TO LAND/ATTEND THE AIRSTRIP/EVENT.

    ​By clicking submit, I am requesting permission to land and intend to operate my aircraft for the purposes of safe takeoff and landing at the Carver's Cut Airstrip. I agree and understand that doing so is solely at my own risk and expense. I further understand and agree that the backcountry airstrips are not improved airstrips and that any operations from those airstrips are considered unimproved landings/take-off areas. I further agree and understand that I am responsible for evaluating the landing/take-off area and making the determination for myself as to the safety of using the unimproved field for such a purpose.
    I also agree that neither Carver's Cut Airstrip nor any of its founders, landowners, managers, or land lessees have made any representations as to the safety of using the unimproved backcountry airstrip for operating my aircraft, and my use of the airstrip is being undertaken at my own risk. I alone am responsible for determining whether my aircraft is suitable for operating in and out of these unimproved airstrips. I further agree and understand that fly-in hosts or airstrip owners may place cones or other boundary or signaling devices at the respective airstrips and that any reliance upon the same for safety is taken at my own risk, and that neither the fly-in hosts or airstrip owners is responsible for the same.
    I hereby waive and release Carver's Cut Airstrip and any of its founders, landowners, managers, or land lessees from any liability and take full responsibility for any damages of any kind including, but not limited to, property damage, bodily injury, and death in any way related to the operation of my aircraft or myself on the property.   ​
Submit

Location

  • Home
  • Events
    • LAKC
    • Past Events >
      • Sep 27-29, 2019: Kern Valley Airport Annual Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sep 28-30, 2018: Kern Valley Airport 2017 Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sep 22-24, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Fall 2017 Backcountry Fly-In/Campout
      • Sept 22-24, 2017: Mt. Sac Fly-In
      • Aug 25-27, 2017: Carver's Cut fly-in/campout/work party
      • July 15-16, 2017: Millennial Wings of California Fly-In
      • May 5-7, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Spring 2017 Backcountry Fly-In
      • April 29-30, 2017: AOPA Members Campout
      • April 22, 2017: Kern Valley Airport Campground Work Party
  • Cafe
  • Campground
  • Connect
  • Raven Aviation Service
  • Tie-downs/Hangar space
  • Area Activities
  • Weather+
  • Other