🇺🇸 Cypress Island Airport

Cypress Island Airport (US-6849), also identified as KCYI, is not a commercial airport but rather a small, unimproved gravel airfield located on Cypress Island, Anacortes, US. It was originally created in the early 1980s and later acquired by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. As such, there are no traditional traveler reviews concerning terminal facilities, security, customs, or commercial flight experiences. Public access to Cypress Island is currently limited to boats. However, there is an ongoing proposal to reopen and rehabilitate the airfield for recreational aviation.

What Travelers (Pilots/Aviation Community) Might Appreciate (Proposed):

• Potential for Fly-in Camping and Hiking: The airfield is surrounded by woods and over 20 miles of trails, making it ideal for fly-in camping and hiking experiences.
• Backcountry Airfield Experience: The proposal highlights its potential as an excellent backcountry airstrip, being unimproved and away from civilization.
• Emergency Services Access: It could serve as a safe location for staging quick emergency wildland firefighting teams or air medical evacuations.
• Scenic Location: The airfield is carved out of the mountain at 920 feet elevation, offering potential for scenic views.

Common Complaints (Based on Current State/Nature of Airfield):

• No Commercial Facilities: The airfield lacks any terminal facilities, amenities, or services typically found at commercial airports.
• Unimproved Runway: It is an unimproved gravel airfield, which may not be suitable for all aircraft types and requires specific piloting skills.
• Limited Public Access: Currently, the only option for public access to the island is by boat.
• No Security or Customs: As a private, unimproved airstrip, there are no security checkpoints or customs/immigration services.

Cypress Island Airport (US-6849) is a rudimentary gravel airfield with no current commercial operations or associated traveler services. While it does not cater to typical air travelers, there is strong interest within the aviation community to reopen and rehabilitate it as a backcountry fly-in destination for recreational activities and potential emergency support.