Valdez Airport (IATA: VDZ, ICAO: PAVD, FAA LID: VDZ),[2] also known as Pioneer Field, is a state-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) east of the central business district of Valdez, a city in the Chugach Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska.[1]
Valdez Airport Pioneer Field | |||||||||||
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 Valdez Airport, left background, as seen in an aerial photo taken 1974 | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region | ||||||||||
| Serves | Valdez, Alaska | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 128 ft / 39 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 61°08′02″N 146°14′54″W / 61.13389°N 146.24833°W | ||||||||||
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  VDZ | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2021) | |||||||||||
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Facilities and aircraft
editValdez Airport covers an area of 836 acres (338 ha) at an elevation of 128 feet (39 m) above mean sea level. It has one asphalt paved runway designated 6/24 which measures 6,500 by 150 feet (1,981 x 46 m).[1]
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 10,300 aircraft operations, an average of 28 per day: 37% air taxi, 53% general aviation, 5% commercial, and 5% military. At that time there were 35 aircraft based at this airport: 25 single-engine, 1 multi-engine, 7 helicopter and 2 ultralight.[1]
Airlines and destinations
edit| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Ravn Alaska | Anchorage[3] |
Historically, the airport had scheduled passenger jet service provided by Alaska Airlines during the mid-1970s. The Alaska Airlines system timetable dated February 1, 1975 lists a Boeing 727-100 flight nonstop to Anchorage. Era Aviation served the airport during the 1980s with Convair 580 and de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 turboprops.
Accidents near VDZ
edit- On April 25, 1964, an Air National Guard Fairchild C-123 Provider impacted Prince William Sound 1.5KM off shore 3 minutes after takeoff at night during heavy snowfall. All 4 occupants were killed.[4]
- On February 25, 1985, a USAF Boeing RC-135 crashed into a mountain after a few MLS approaches to Valdez Airport in poor visibility. All 3 occupants died.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for VDZ PDF, effective 2023-08-10
- ^ Great Circle Mapper: VDZ/PAVD - Valdez, Alaska
- ^ "Route Map". Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ Accident description for 56-4388 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on August 14, 2023.
- ^ Accident description for 55-3121 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on August 14, 2023.
External links
edit- FAA Alaska airport diagram (GIF)
- FAA Terminal Procedures for VDZ, effective October 31, 2024
- Resources for this airport:
- FAA airport information for VDZ
- AirNav airport information for PAVD
- ASN accident history for VDZ
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations for PAVD
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for VDZ
