The Dunsmuir Municipal-Mott Airport

AT A GLANCE THE DUNSMUIR MUNICIPAL-MOTT AIRPORT WHAT: A public-use airport WHERE: In Siskiyou County, northern California WEBSITE: www.ci.dunsmuir.ca.us/airport T he Dunsmuir Municipal-Mott Airport is located approximately three miles north of the City of Dunsmuir, and ten miles south of Mt. Shasta, in the southernmost portion of Siskiyou County in northern California near the Oregon border. Built and operated by Siskiyou County in the 1930s, Dunsmuir Municipal-Mott Airport originated as an unpaved emergency landing facility for civilian airlines. The Airport featured a rotating beacon and obstruction lights on several nearby power lines, as well as a dirt runway surrounded by perimeter lighting. In 1946, Bert Hawkins became the first Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at the Airport, using war surplus trainers and a large wooden hangar, with which he provided service for two years. In 1948, a second FBO, Mount Shasta Flying Service, operated by Jack Keinath and John Sparks, began operating at the Airport. Since that time, several other FBOs have operated at the Airport, although none do currently. The City of Dunsmuir took over the ownership and operation of the Airport from Siskiyou County in 1964, and also annexed the Airport property contiguous to the city limits. Today, the Airport is still used as an emergency landing facility, especially when fog settles in to the Shasta Valley, north of Dunsmuir. It also continues to be used by the U.S. Forest Service, bank courier aircraft, visitors, and tourists. There are ten home-based GA aircraft there. Two of the most important roles which Dunsmuir Municipal-Mott Airport plays are as a medical evacuation and emergency aviation transportation resource in case of public disaster. The airport is classified as a small aircraft, utility airport that is adequate for small (under 12,500 pounds at takeoff) aircraft operations. Due to surrounding terrain, the Airport lacks instrument approaches and is therefore considered to be visual airport. It’s one runway, 14/32, is 2,700 X 60 feet, and was paved in 1962. Because of obstructions, aircraft operations at the Airport are restricted to daytime only. There are two general aviation areas at the Airport connected A M O U N T A I N J E W E L