Monday, June 6, 2011     17:19
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About Corvallis Aero

Corvallis Aero Service is devoted to providing quality service: our goal is to swiftly,
safely, and efficiently prepare you and your aircraft for your next flight.

We provide 100 Low Lead fuel and Jet A fuel with or without prist.

Our facilities include:

  • A Full Service FBO
  • After Hours Call-Out Service
  • A Flight Planning Desk
  • A Flight Planning Computer
  • A 24hr Self-Serve Fuel Station
  • 24hr-Accessible Clean Restrooms
  • Free Coffee!
  • A Comfortable Lobby
  • Satellite TV.
  • Vending Machines
  • Free Wireless Internet Access
  • A PSI Test Center
 

Airport Info

Overview

Corvallis Municipal Airport (KCVO) is located in the Willamette Valley about 2 nm south of Corvallis, 23 nm north of Eugene (KEUG), and 72 nm south of Portland (KPDX). Corvallis is a city of about 57,000 people and home of Oregon State University. KCVO is located on the boundary between the Seattle and Klamath Falls sectionals. It appears on both charts and also on the L-1 IFR enroute low altitude chart. The CVO VOR is located on the field and it provides navigational guidance for four Victor airways. The airport is in uncontrolled airspace (class G) but has a Class E overlay whose floor is 700 AGL.

 

Communications & Frequencies


AWOS-3: 135.775 (541-754-0081)
CVO VOR: 115.4
Seattle Center: 125.8
CTAF/Unicom: 123.0
Cascade Approach from the air: 119.6
Cascade Approach from the ground: 127.5
McMinnville FSS: 122.3 (Eugene RCO), 122.6 (Salem RCO)

 

Airport Layout

KCVO has two long, lighted runways. Runway 17-35 is 5900' and runway 9-27 is 3545' x 75'. Runway 17 is the calm wind runway (below 5 knots) and has an approach lighting system (MALSR). All except runway 9 have either VASIs (17, 35) or a PAPI (27). All lights are pilot controlled (7, 5, 3 clicks on 123.0) including the VASIs and the PAPI, so if it is daytime and you would like to use the VASI/PAPI or approach light system, click your mic.

Airport layout

The taxiways, indicated on the diagram, are well marked and straightforward. The only caveat is that Bravo and Charlie both cross runway 9-27, so look both ways and announce on the CTAF before crossing the runway.

There are convenient run-up pads near the end of runway 17 and runway 35. For runway 9, use the runway 17 pad. There is no run-up pad for runway 27, but there are two taxiways that intersect the alpha taxiway near the end of runway 27, where one can pull off and perform a run-up.

 

Traffic Pattern

The traffic patterns for all runways are standard, left-hand patterns with entries of 45 degrees and an altitude of 1050 MSL (800 AOL). Since CVO VOR is located on the field, it can be used to help set up for a 45 degree pattern entry for all runways.  

Arrivals

VFR:  There is nothing tricky about arriving at KCVO in VMC. Simply listen to the AWOS, announce on the CTAF when you're approximately 10 miles out, turn on your landing lights, and enter the appropriate left-hand pattern on a 45. Announce on the 45, downwind, base, and final.

IFR:  IFR arrivals are handled by Cascade Approach (119.6) during the daytime and Seattle Center (125.8) at night. There are six IFR approaches into KCVO: ILS, NDB, GPS, and VOR/DME to runway 17; GPS and VOR/DME to runway 35; and a VOR-A approach that lines up reasonably well with runway 27, provided you can get down fast enough (the circling MDA is 1400'). Cascade Approach is typically very accommodating and will usually vector you to final so you don't have to fly the full procedures. There are no STARS into KCVO.

 

Departures

VFR:   For all runways, depart either straight out or make a 45 deg. left turn when able. You should maintain a minimum of 1500 MSL when flying over the city of Corvallis which is just north of the airport.

IFR:   Cascade Departure can be reached from the ground at KCVO on 127.5 during the daytime so get your clearance directly from them. You will most likely be given a void time so be ready to depart before requesting your clearance. They will ask you to report airborne on 119.6. At night, you'll have to call FSS for a clearance or contact Seattle Center (125.8) once airborne.

There are two Charted Departure Procedures for KCVO and an obstacle departure procedure, all easy to fly with any aircraft, there are no high climb rates or unreasonable altitudes.

 

Things To Watch For

The football stadium for Oregon State University is only 3.9 nm north of the departure end of runway 35 and right in line with the runway. On football days there is an automatic TFR, beginning one hour before and ending one hour after the game. The TFR extends for a radius of 3 nm around the stadium and up to 3000 AGL, so if you are departing runway 35 you have less than 1 nm to make a left turn to avoid the TFR. There is a safety exception to the stadium TFR rule that allows takeoffs and landings for aircraft authorized by ATC. Thus, in IMC it is possible to fly an IFR approach to runway 17 over the stadium during a game, as long as you are cleared by ATC to do so.