The Ventura County Department of Airports is providing three important community notices below:
The Golden Knights Are Coming to Oxnard Airport
The United States Army’s Golden Knights, a well-known competition parachute team, will be coming to Oxnard Airport next week to conduct skydiving operations for a three-day period. The team will arrive on Monday, April 21st, in a De Havilland DCH-8, similar to the one in the attached photo, and will establish a “jump classroom” where they will spend the first part of the next three days instructing jumpers selected from the community.
Approximately eight jump missions will be conducted daily on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (likely two jumpers per mission). Each jump will be tandem with an assigned member of the Golden Knights team. Jumps will begin at approximately 8:45 a.m. and will continue through 2 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Departures will be out of Oxnard Airport with the landing zone being on the south end of Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard or Oxnard Airport. The DCH-8 will depart from Oxnard for a final time on Friday morning.
Jumpers were selected from the community and include educators, law enforcement, and more as a means of supporting the Army’s education and recruiting mission. Community jumpers will have the opportunity to wear an official Army jumpsuit as part of their experience. This event is one of 12 that the Golden Knights conduct throughout the country each year.
Increased Helicopter Activity
Residents of Ventura County have likely noticed an increase in helicopter activity, primarily involving the Coulson CH47 Chinook (photo attached). This is because Coulson, who operates the aircraft, is conducting a mandated annual pilot currency training that will prepare the highly trained crew for the upcoming fire season.
As you may know, the Coulson firefighting helicopter began to call Camarillo Airport home after the Thomas Fire, which occurred in December 2017. The aircraft works in partnership with the Ventura County Fire Department’s Aviation Unit and is a 24-hour firefighting asset for Ventura County, specializing in rapid response. The crew is required to complete a series of currency trainings periodically throughout the year. This particular training is expected to be completed by the end of next week, weather permitting.
Military C-130 To Make a Temporary Stop at Camarillo Airport Tonight
A United States Navy C-130 will be making a temporary fuel stop at Camarillo Airport tonight at approximately 8 p.m. Once refueling is complete, the aircraft will depart Camarillo Airport for its final home base destination. The Department of Airports wants to be sure to notify neighbors of both Camarillo and Oxnard airport of this atypical operation. Landings such as this generally happen when weather does not permit a landing at Point Mugu and/or when Point Mugu is unable to accommodate an aircraft. As a general aviation airport system, we continue to support military aircraft when needed and when feasible as a proud partner of both Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, and all regional military partners.