Meanwhile, Corona Municipal Airport, about 20 miles east of Los Angeles, reopened after a devastating flood last month, but had to close again as the water keeps coming back. “They just got done cleaning up the mud, repainting the taxiway and runway markings, fixing the gates, inspecting the buildings, restoring water and power, and reopening the airport to traffic,” says local CFI Ron Rapp, when the flooding returned. Corona reopened for limited use over the weekend, but more rain was expected. “The upside is that if that airport wasn’t on a floodplain, the way property values are, it would have been developed a long time ago,” Rapp told AVweb. This year’s trouble could have long-term implications. The airport is prone to flooding when winter storms and mountain meltwater overfill a nearby reservoir, Rapp told AVweb on Saturday, but this year is the worst it’s been in at least a decade. “Many of the master leaseholders lost tenants on the field, including both private pilots and businesses that chose not to rebuild here,” said Susan Brunner, of the Corona Pilots’ Association. About 400 GA aircraft are based at the field.
…Corona Airport Recovers — In Time For More Floods
Key Takeaways:
- Corona Municipal Airport repeatedly closed due to severe flooding, reopening only briefly after extensive cleanup before water returned and forced another closure.
- The airport is prone to flooding from winter storms and mountain meltwater overfilling a nearby reservoir due to its floodplain location, with this year's event being the worst in at least a decade.
- The persistent and severe flooding has resulted in significant long-term implications, including the loss of tenants (private pilots and businesses) who chose not to rebuild at the airport.
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