Salty Approach: Where Pilots Don’t Take Excursions—They’re on One

Regardless of whether these individuals choose to utilize an aerial or a marine vessel as their preferred mode of transport, there are a number of sights to see in the vicinity of the bridgeless barrier island. Some of the natural water-adjacent points of interest in the area include:

As a pilot though, McDonald is quick to point out some Floridian sites that are more readily accessible by air. 

“The reason I moved to Upper Captiva was because of the airstrip, and it’s just fantastic,” McDonald said. “From here, it’s about an hour and 10 minutes to Key West, about an hour to Tampa or Saint Petersburg, and Miami is about an hour and a half away. You can just go anywhere from here, and it’s a fine feeling of freedom.”

Not only are airplanes useful for Salty Approach (FL90) runway users who want to see the Sunshine State by air, their utility is unparalleled for an entirely different type of mission: errands. McDonald explained the time savings that come from flying to the mainland, compared to the only other available option.  

“One of my favorite things is going to town and getting groceries,” he said. “Instead of taking about two and half hours to take a boat, then finding a car, driving to a grocery store, and returning, we can fly to Page Field (KFMY) in Fort Myers. A lot of us leave our cars there and we can be at the grocery store in 20 to 30 minutes. So [flying] makes living on a bridgeless island a lot easier.”

This full-length video showcases a flight between these two airports. 

For many residents, returning to the island, which is only a few miles removed from the coast of Florida, is being reunited with solitude. 

In addition to bikes and foot traffic, electric golf carts are a common mode of transport between homes, boat docks, and other spots. These vehicles are forbidden from operating on the airstrip (except for loading and unloading aircraft). 

The Salty Approach community sits at the northernmost point of Upper Captiva. The neighborhood’s homes are almost perfectly bisected by a sole fenced airstrip measuring 2,000 feet long (roughly 1,900 feet of which is usable) by 100 feet wide. Both ends of the runway are capped by white sand beaches which flank a healthy portion of the 4-mile-long by half-mile-wide island.  

“It’s a real thrill to fly here,” McDonald said. “Nothing feels better than engaging the well-learned short- and soft-field techniques, rumbling down the grass field at full throttle until the wings raise you softly aloft into the sweet, smooth air above the grass. The Gulf [of Mexico], or pristine Pine Island Sound, fills the windscreen with the lovely opportunity to fly wherever one may care to go. It is always just a gorgeous and free feeling.”

McDonald provided an example of why pilots must be ready to utilize both short- and soft-field techniques when operating into and out of Salty Approach. 

“When I moved here, I had a 1964 Mooney M20E, which wasn’t necessarily built for a grass strip. The first time that I ever flew in, someone taking off told me to be careful of the gopher tortoises. This didn’t really calm me down at all, before landing for the first time on this reasonably short grass strip. But it was no problem.”

Additionally, weather sometimes can create additional potential challenges—especially during landings. 

“I’ve been able to bring planes in with up to about 30-mile-an-hour crosswinds. The runway runs east and west, with most of our rough weather coming from either of those directions. But in the winter, there are gales that fly down from the north, so it can make for a challenging landing. You adjust for the crosswind and then hit the shadow of the houses on the north side of the airstrip, which creates a little drop. There has been more than one little bounce on initial contact of the runway [during those conditions],” McDonald added with a chuckle. 

Now, as caretaker of the field, the aviator is happy to report that the surface is presently in great shape. Some of the managing LLC’s rules help to minimize potential damages to the daytime-use-only surface. As noted on the organization’s Operating Rules page, “All members will use utmost caution to prevent surface damage to the grass, e.g. use minimum braking on landing and caution to prevent locked wheels when turning. Pilots should make wide turns on the airstrip when safely possible.”

Other outlined rules help to ensure good stewardship of this common-use aviation asset, as well as being good neighbors to those in the community who are not pilots (a majority percentage). Those on-island are a mix of full-time residents, as well as part-time residents and short-term renters. The latter of which McDonald noted have become more prevalent in recent years, showing that the secret of the island has become known by the masses. And there is the real possibility of it becoming better known in the aviation community as well, with several presently listed vacation properties noting airstrip access. 

“Upper Captiva is one of those forgotten natural sanctuaries away from the din and buzz of trucks, automobiles, and the hustle of American 21st century life. The pilots here don’t take excursions, they are on one. The natural beauty of Florida’s sands, shells, water, and native vegetation are always on display here for the slightly adventurous exploring aviator.”