Avi Suquilla Airport: Colorado River Aviation on the Mohave Tribal Lands
Avi Suquilla Airport serves Parker, Arizona on the Colorado River in La Paz County, providing aviation access to one of Arizona's most popular boating and water recreation destinations. The name "Avi Suquilla" derives from the Mohave language of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), whose reservation encompasses much of the Parker area. The airport sits at approximately 415 feet MSL—exceptionally low by Arizona standards—along the Colorado River corridor, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 115°F, creating among the most extreme density altitude conditions for any low-elevation airport in the state. The Colorado River Indian Reservation government and the Parker area's large seasonal boating community both generate aviation traffic through Avi Suquilla.
Parker is a hub for Colorado River water sports—houseboating, jet skiing, and fishing draw visitors from across the Southwest, and some arrive by private aircraft through Avi Suquilla Airport. The airport operates within the FAA Western-Pacific Region and is overseen by the Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics Group within the state general aviation system. The CRIT reservation's governance context means the airport may operate under coordination between the tribal government and state/federal aviation authorities. Pilots landing at Avi Suquilla should be prepared for extreme heat operations and plan fuel and performance calculations based on actual temperature conditions, which can produce density altitudes far above the field's 415-foot MSL elevation on hot summer afternoons.
What does "Avi Suquilla" mean?
Avi Suquilla is a Mohave-language name reflecting the Colorado River Indian Tribes' cultural heritage and their governance of lands along the Colorado River in the Parker area. The airport's name honors the CRIT connection to this stretch of the Arizona-California border.
What are the extreme heat operations challenges at Avi Suquilla?
Parker's Colorado River location at just 415 feet MSL sees summer temperatures regularly above 110–115°F. At these temperatures, density altitude can exceed 4,000 feet even at the airport's low elevation, severely affecting aircraft performance. Pilots should obtain performance data from aircraft checklists for maximum expected temperature before any summer operation at Avi Suquilla.
What activities attract visitors to Parker and Avi Suquilla Airport?
The Colorado River at Parker is famous for houseboating, jet skiing, fishing, and off-road recreation. The Parker Strip—a 16-mile stretch of the river—is one of the busiest recreational waterways in the American Southwest during summer weekends, drawing visitors who may arrive by private aircraft through Avi Suquilla.
Is fuel available at Avi Suquilla Airport?
Fuel availability at Avi Suquilla should be confirmed through the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory and pre-departure NOTAMs. Pilots flying to the Parker area should plan adequate fuel reserves given the remote location and potential limitations of on-airport fueling services.
Avi Suquilla Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Parker, Arizona.
| Name | Avi Suquilla Airport |
| Address | 28940 Airport Road, Parker AZ 85344 Map |
| Phone | (928) 669-2168 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Avi Suquilla Airport
Flying into the Parker Strip: Colorado River Recreation by Air
Arriving at Avi Suquilla Airport delivers pilots to one of Arizona's most vibrant summer recreation corridors. The Parker Strip's marinas, resorts, and campgrounds cater to water sports enthusiasts from Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Southern California, and private aircraft arriving from these metros find Avi Suquilla a time-efficient alternative to the long summer weekend drives. The Colorado River Indian Tribes Cultural Center and Museum near Parker offers insight into the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi, and Navajo communities who make up the CRIT, providing cultural depth to what might otherwise be purely a recreation-focused visit.
La Paz County aviation relies on Avi Suquilla Airport as one of its primary public-use general aviation facilities alongside Indian Hills Airport near Salome to the east. The Arizona Department of Transportation Aeronautics Group's aviation planning for western Arizona accounts for the seasonal demand fluctuations at airports like Avi Suquilla, which sees significantly higher traffic during summer recreation season than the winter months. The FAA Western-Pacific Region coordinates the airspace along the Colorado River corridor, including the interfaces with California aviation authorities where the river forms the state boundary. Pilots transiting between Arizona and California through the Parker corridor enjoy scenic river flying with relatively simple airspace—a refreshing contrast to the complex Class B airspace of Phoenix to the east or Los Angeles to the west.