About Us
The Corona Pilot’s Association
We have 150+ pilots and friends who participate in our organization. Corona Pilots Association (CPA) is a social organization, founded in 1980 that was created to promote a positive airport environment.
We host BBQs, Pancake Breakfasts, Holiday Potlucks and of course, fly-outs.
CLUB SUMMARY PARAGRAPH HERE…..
Who Are We:
The Corona Pilots Association, Inc. was founded in 1980. There is an elected board of governance. The official members are invited to run for office and seats are held usually until there is a vacancy. As of 2025, we have a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Our status is that of Non-Profit with a 501(c ) organization.
Our past events included 2 Mud Runs, several fly-ins and open houses, car and aircraft shows for charitable causes and toy drives. In the last 2-3 years we have given scholarship awards to aspiring pilots ages 16-19, for the purpose of flight training – the Young Flyer Scholarship awarded $3,000.00 in 2024 and $2,000.00 in 2025. In support of our pilot friends and family who have ‘Flown West’ the organization has hosted luncheons, complete wth the honorary “Missing Man” formation typically provided by the generosity of the performance pilot team Dawn Patrol
Currently, the Corona Pilots Association is a member/partner with Wreaths Across America that places balsam wreaths on the headstones at veteran cemeteries across the country.
In November 2025, our website was redesigned after our previous hosting provider discontinued the platform, which caused our old site to stop functioning. Because the old site couldn’t be migrated, we rebuilt the site from the ground up. After using that platform for over 20 years, this update marks an exciting new chapter for our online presence with a new, modern look.
A huge thanks to Spencer, who single-handedly volunteered his time and effort to make this entire redesign possible!!!
You can visit a preserved snapshot of our old website, kept online for history and nostalgia:
https://legacy.coronapilotsassociation.org/
The Airport Over The Years
The City of Corona:
Corona was founded in 1886. Following the citrus boom, Corona was originally called the Town of South Riverside and was renamed the City of Corona on July 13, 1896, when it was incorporated. The name change was prompted by its distinctive circular street, Grand Boulevard, which is Spanish for “crown”.
1956 The first public-use airport near Corona was a dirt strip east of the city. It was on land provided by Scott Thursby, an area rancher, near the current location of KREL Radio Towers. The rancher, John Scott Thursby (1903-1980), was born in Corona, CA, and resided on Arlington Avenue until the time of his death. That dirt runway could not remain at that location due to growth and the new roads going through the city.
1958/1959 The original strip was built shortly after the end of World War II by private interests. The field was operated by the City of Corona in 1958. Because of the encroachment from Freeway 19, a lease was obtained from the Corps of Engineers for a site in the Prado Flood Control Basin. In 1959, the airport was completed and accepted into the FAA as Airport L66. It later became KAJO – Corona Municipal Airport.
The runway was approximately 3,000 feet long, with a parallel taxiway, and was built south of the present buildings.
1960 shows the growth of the airport, including an ‘office” and taxiways.
1968 The runway, still in its original location, soon restricted access to potential growth of the airport. In 1963 the City applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for funding to construct a new runway on the north side of the airport buildings. The request was denied due to the lease agreement with the Corps of Engineers and because federal funding was limited and not available at the time. The city applied for funding from the State of California and was awarded a tentative allocation in the fall of 1968.
Then came the rain… During that same year, 1969, a period of extended heavy rainfall occurred. High amounts of runoff were experienced from the mountains surrounding the Upper Santa Ana River Basin. To prevent serious flooding in the populated areas along the lower portions of the river, the flow through Prado Dam was limited. This resulted in excessive short-term storage of runoff water in the Prado Flood Control Basin. Although serious flooding was avoided downstream, the water level behind the dam rose high enough to inundate the airport site. Most aircraft were safely moved to other airports or adjacent vacant areas and parking lots above the flood level. Minimal to moderate damage was sustained by structures and other non-moveable facilities, but catastrophic loss was averted.
The plans and specifications for the new runway and taxiway that exist today were approved in 1970 by the California State Division of Aeronautics. Work began in mid-year and was completed by the end of the year. The result was a 3,200 ft x 60 ft paved runway with a full parallel, 30 ft wide paved taxiway with ancillary equipment. The old runway was abandoned and removed, while the old taxiway remains in service today as the Airport Access Road.
1970 This is the plan that was approved by the California State Division of Aeronautics. You can see there is space allocated for a second runway, an FAA Tower, and additional hangars to the south of the field.
Flooding occurred in 1969 (the first recorded for the airport) and then again in 2010 and 2021. The Army Corps of Engineers completed a dyke project in 2023 to prevent damage to the surrounding property predicted to occur with a major flood associated with a 120-year cycle.
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