Set on the outskirts of the city, the Foggy Crosswind Airport (FCA) of San Siesta is quite the sight for any visitors, or rather, it would be if you could actually see it. More often than not, it’s engulfed in a low-hanging fog that gives it its name, making it seem like a hidden base from an action movie, minus the action, plus a few tumbleweeds.
The constant winds sweep across the wide-open landscape, creating mini tornados of dust and litter making it a challenge to land any plane. The result is a semi-permanent haze that gives the impression that the airport is trying to hide its identity. It’s like the Witness Protection Program for airports – very top secret.
The runway, a combination of cracked asphalt and stubborn weeds, resembles an aged crinkle-cut potato chip more than an airstrip. It’s the kind of runway that makes pilots reconsider their life choices and wish they’d paid more attention during landing practice.
A few weather-beaten buildings stand on the edge of the runway, their paint jobs faded to the point where the original color is a mystery for the ages. One such building, the control tower, is more of a ‘suggestion’ than an actual tower. It’s a tall-ish shack with a rusted satellite dish on top, presumably for receiving flight instructions or possibly catching the latest telenovelas.
As for the airport’s terminal, well, calling it a terminal is a stretch. It’s more like a waiting room at an old train station. There’s a single, rickety wooden bench, a snack machine filled with questionable edibles, and a ticket counter that’s manned by a cat named Scratch, the unofficial yet adored mascot of the FCA.
Overall, the FCA is a testament to the town’s charm and sheer determination. It’s rough around the edges, and maybe a bit in the middle too, but it has character. Or perhaps, in the spirit of San Siesta, it’s just taking a siesta from being a traditional airport. Either way, the Foggy Crosswind Airport is a place you won’t forget, no matter how hard you try.