This notice is an update to skydiving operations at Oxnard Airport. As you may know, the Department was approached several months ago by iSkydive requesting to begin skydiving operations out of Oxnard Airport. iSkydive has operated out of Camarillo Airport for several years with jumps taking place in the Somis area. Because skydiving operations are an FAA recognized aeronautical use, the Department is prohibited from denying this type of request unless there are some unusual and verifiable safety issues.
It was agreed that a test jump period would be required to ensure that all general aviation operations could safely continue. In addition, it has been vital throughout the discussions that there would be no impact to the progress made through Fly Friendly VC with regard to noise.
The Department briefed the Aviation Advisory Commission, Oxnard Airport Authority, City of Oxnard leadership, local pilots, and community members of the impending operations. The test jump period began in February and lasted several weeks and included members of the iSkydive team, air traffic control, local pilots, and Department of Airports’ staff. Initial operations verified safe procedures but resulted in an increase in noise due to changes in the traffic pattern. The Department of Airports’ team immediately addressed these issues with iSkydive leadership and the air traffic control tower resulting in a change in location of the skydiving landing zone (now on the southside of the runway) which easily accommodates right turn traffic.
Skydiving operations have now moved beyond the testing phase and will operate six days a week, weather permitting. iSkydive jumps are scheduled every 30-45 minutes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended summer hours. iSkydive is maintaining their Somis jump zone when weather is not ideal in Oxnard.
iSkydive operates using tandem jumps from 8,000-10,000 feet. Each jump is 5-7 minutes from jump to landing.
“Our business model is to be good neighbors and good airport users,” said Luther Kurtz, owner of iSkydive. “One thing I love about our kind of aviation operation is that it makes the airport available to almost anyone. Oxnard Airports offers great views. Safety is the first priority, and we always want to fly in a way that the neighbors appreciate us.”