RESTORATION, IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE AT LONE PINE WITH ANOTHER RAF GRANT
The RAF has awarded California Liaison Katerina Barilov another grant to help fund continued improvements at California’s Lone Pine Airport. This 2025 project will continue the upgrade to the original terminal building that serves as a pilot shelter, meeting room, and kitchen for visitors. The terminal building had fallen into disrepair over several decades. The nonprofit Friends of Lone Pine Airport, (FLPA) saw its cultural, historic, and economic value and in 2022 coordinated with Barilov to help fund materials and organize volunteers to begin restoration. A previous RAF grant helped fund FLPA volunteer efforts to improve the outdoor restrooms, damaged doors, and windows.
In addition to the 2025 RAF grant, this project will be funded with a financial contribution from Inyo County, and community project sponsorship program funds, with FLPA volunteers providing labor. They will undertake more extensive restoration of the building, both inside and out. Plans are to complete refinishing of the pilot’s lounge and front office floors, install tongue and groove ceilings, repair and paint interior walls and trim, install floating floors in the kitchen and county office, and install new lighting. The project will also secure the area that houses the AWOS system.
Located between the depths of Death Valley National Park and Mount Whitney’s 14,505-ft peak, “Lone Pine Airport, serves pilots arriving from all over the US and Canada, with many staying for multiple days,” Barilov said. Lone Pine Airport hosts an annual October Backcountry Fly in, which has received national recognition.
“Together, we aim to make this airport the aviation gem of the Owens Valley,” Barilov said. The FLPA wrote, “By restoring the terminal building, FLPA will be taking the first step towards making the airport an even more attractive aviation destination, as well as providing substantial benefits to the rural community. We are excited to revitalize this aviation gem.”
For more information on Lone Pine Airport, see the Airfield Guide.
Submitted January 13, 2025
By Carmine Mowbray
Posted in News
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