ICAO Code | KOPF/OPF |
Last Validated | Oct 2009 |
City | Opa-locka, FL |
Position | 25°54'27"N 080°16'41"W |
Runway(s) | 09L/27R, 09R/27L, 12/30 |
Elevation | 8 ft |
Like so many airports in the area, Opa-locka is a former military training base. In fact it is still partly a military base, as Coast Guard Air Station Miami is operating from Opa-locka. The remnants of the training history is especially visible from the runway layout - the base used to have more than ten runways - and the old hangars near the coast guard. Only three runways remain in use.
Apart from the Coast Guard, most flying activity is from corporate jets and props. Opa-locka is not a very busy airport and therefore not really worth spending time to wait for something to happen. But there is a lot happening on the ground. Maintenance is performed here on propliners and older jetliners. But most of all, there are several companies specialising in spares recovery of withdrawn aircraft, after which they are reduced to piles of aluminium. So there are many aircraft stored at Opa-locka, in various stages of being broken up.
The layout of the runways is nearly the same as for Miami International: two parallel east-west runways, with a single diagonal runway 12/30. All hangars and aprons are on the eastern side of the airport, in between the parallel runways. Aircraft storage is mainly confined to the northeast corner, which is also where aircraft scrapping takes place. The US Coast Guard is located at the western edge of the hangar areas.
Opa-locka is just south of highway 826, the Palmetto Expressway. This leads west and south to Miami International Airport, and east to Interstate 95. Take exit 37th Avenue and head south. Then you will pass the east entrance of the airport.
There is no public transportation to the airport, some Metrobusses will bring you within walking distance. Consult the Metro-Dade Transit website for details.
From spot 2 you can usually take a photo of the Douglas quad props parked here. The one shown above was taken with a small diameter lens through the fence. About 150 mm was enough for this photo by Leo Hoogerbrugge.
This An-12 was parked close to spot 1 and was taken through the fence. (Leo Hoogerbrugge)
119.200 | Clearance Delivery |
121.900 | Opa-Locka Ground |
120.700, 118.600 | Opa-Locka Tower |
128.600 | Miami Departure/Approach |
125.900 | ATIS |
Boyington Aviation | DC-3 |
Florida Air Cargo | DC-3 |
Florida Air Transport | DC-4, DC-6, DC-7 |
Legendary Airliners | DC-7 |
Miami City Flight | Ce402 |
TMF Aircraft | Beech 18, C-117 |
Opa-locka Executive | Official website |
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