Aircraft Disinsection at McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ)
McClellan-Palomar is North San Diego County’s business aviation airport, home to a large corporate and charter fleet. Pacific and Latin American departures leave from CRQ.
If your next departure from CRQ is to a country that requires disinsection, we come to your aircraft here, treat it empty before boarding to the WHO pre-embarkation method, and issue the certificate for the flight. Book 36 to 48 hours ahead for Carlsbad; booked departures are guaranteed for the date.
About McClellan-Palomar Airport
McClellan-Palomar is North San Diego County’s business aviation airport, home to a large corporate and charter fleet in Carlsbad. Pacific and Latin American departures leave from CRQ, and its FBOs handle midsize and large-cabin aircraft.
Where the aircraft disinsection requirement comes from
Think of it from the arrival end: the destination expects a treated aircraft and a certificate. Pre-embarkation gives it both, provided the treatment happens at the last port before that country. Non-stop from CRQ, that is CRQ; with a stop en route, the plan changes and we tell you how.
From CRQ the requirement is mostly a Pacific one: Australia and New Zealand require disinsection on every arriving international aircraft, and the Cook Islands, Fiji and the Solomon Islands require it too. Many itineraries from Carlsbad stop in Hawaii, which then becomes the last US port and the place for pre-embarkation treatment; non-stop departures are treated here at CRQ. Australia, New Zealand, Chile appear on the list as well.
The aircraft disinsection process on the CRQ ramp
Once the plan is set we work directly with the CRQ FBO and your crew on access, ramp position and timing. Our technician arrives before the agreed slot, confirms the aircraft is empty with catering and cleaning done, and applies the WHO pre-embarkation treatment through the cabin, flight deck and holds. After the specified rest and ventilation the aircraft is released for boarding, certificate in hand.
CRQ at a glance
| Airport | McClellan-Palomar Airport |
|---|---|
| IATA | CRQ |
| ICAO | KCRQ |
| Location | Carlsbad, California |
| Region | West Coast |
| Typical disinsection destinations | Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Chile |
| Treatment | Pre-embarkation, empty aircraft, before boarding, at your FBO or hangar |
| Reviewed | August 2026 |
Countries that require disinsection, served from CRQ
From CRQ: Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and the rest of the destinations we serve. The full table of aircraft disinsection requirements by country covers every destination we have verified for CRQ departures. Australia and New Zealand carry operator paperwork we help with; if either is on a Carlsbad itinerary, start early.
Tell us your route and we will confirm exactly what your aircraft needs.
Destination, departure airport, dates. We confirm the requirement, come to the aircraft, and handle the certificate.
CRQ disinsection questions, answered
Do you come to CRQ?
Yes. We travel to your aircraft at McClellan-Palomar Airport and treat it on the FBO ramp or in the hangar before boarding. We coordinate access and timing with the FBO and your crew.
Does a flight from CRQ to Cook Islands need disinsection?
Yes, Cook Islands requires it on arriving aircraft, and pre-embarkation treatment at CRQ before boarding is a method it accepts for a non-stop flight. Australia, New Zealand, Chile are other common cases from Carlsbad. Send us the route and we will confirm the plan.
How much notice do you need for a departure from CRQ?
We can often accommodate short-notice requests at CRQ. Send us the destination and date as soon as the trip is likely and we will plan the treatment at Carlsbad around your boarding.
What if our routing from CRQ has a stop after leaving the US?
Pre-embarkation covers the flight it is performed for and is done at the last port before the destination country. Send us the full itinerary from Carlsbad and we will tell you exactly where the treatment belongs.
Do you also serve other airports near Carlsbad?
Yes. In the West Coast we also come to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Boeing Field / King County International Airport (BFI), Portland International Airport (PDX), Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Eugene Airport (EUG), Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR), and to any other US airport your aircraft departs from.