Marana Regional Airport, formerly known as the Avra Valley Airport, also known as Marana Northwest Regional Airport, was classified in 2004 is a general aviation reliever airport for the Tucson International Airport. It is located in Marana, approximately fifteen nautical miles (24 km) northwest of Tucson and five miles west of Interstate 10.on Avra Valley Road. In 1999, the airport was purchased from Pima County by the town of Marana. The airport is home to over 300 based aircraft and counted over 90.000. take-offs and landings in 2004. As Southern Arizona's only full-service fixed-base operator (FBO), privately owned Tucson Aeroservice Center provides a huge range of services including offering Jet A, 100LL, fueling, chartered flights, car rental, shuttle service, aircraft maintenance, and flight instruction. The airport's ICAO identifier is KAVQ, FAA airport identifier is AVQ. Marana Northwest Regional Airport covers 571 acres and has two runways:
- Runway 12/30: 6,901 x 100 ft. (2,103 x 30 m), Surface: Asphalt
- Runway 3/21: 3,893 x 75 ft. (1,187 x 23 m), Surface: Asphalt
Pima Aviation is currently responsible for all based and transit aircraft at the airport. They currently lease 232 T-Hangars, 28 covered tie downs, and 94 open tie downs on the airport. Airport director is currently Charles Mangum.
Marana Regional Airport in 2005
Originally constructed in 1943 and known as Auxiliary No. 2, the Marana Regional Airport began life as one of five "landing mats" for the Marana Air Base (now known as Pinal Airpark). These "mats" were 3000 feet square with four 3000-foot runways. The purpose of these were to allow the military student pilots to practice take-off and landings. During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Force trained in the North American AT-5 "Texan". During the Korean War the U.S. Air Force pilots were trained in the North American T-28 "Trojan" airplanes. |
Aerial view of airport in 1958
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Info excerpts from Town of Marana website, and Town of Marana Community Profile 2007.
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