Ketchikan International Airport

Ketchikan International Airport (IATA: KTN, ICAO: PAKT, FAA LID: KTN) is a state-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile (2 km) west of the central business district of Ketchikan, a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.

The airport is located on Gravina Island, just west of Ketchikan on the other side of the Tongass Narrows. Passengers must take a seven-minute ferry ride across the water to get to the airport from the town.

History

Around the World War II era, air service to Ketchikan was possible using an old military airfield on Annette Island. Aircraft used in that era included the Grumman Goose and Catalina PBY. The current airport was opened on August 4, 1973 and dedicated the following day. The airport opening was the culmination of an effort by local residents, a 1965 study by the Alaska State Division of Aviation, another study in 1967 choosing the current site on Gravina Island, and land clearing in 1969.

Facilities and aircraft

Ketchikan International Airport covers an area of 2,600 acres (1,052 ha) at an elevation of 88 feet (27 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 11/29 with 7,500 x 150 ft (2,286 x 46 m) asphalt pavement. It also has a seaplane landing area designated NWW/SEW which measures 9,500 x 1,500 ft (2,896 x 457 m).

For the 12-month period ending January 1, 2006, the airport had 16,208 aircraft operations, an average of 44 per day: 60% air taxi, 33% scheduled commercial, 6% general aviation and 1% military. At that time there were 13 aircraft based at this airport: 77% single-engine, 8% multi-engine and 15% helicopter.

In 2004, a new taxiway "Bravo" was added to facilitate taxiing to the end of the frequently used runway 11 (the runway is located about 30 feet (9.1 m) higher than the apron further up the hillside, requiring long, gently sloped taxiways to either end). Before that taxiway, some smaller planes were allowed to use taxiway "Alpha" to take off and land because it was not worthwhile to backtaxi on the actual runway. In addition this allows the airport's system of taxiways to be used by more than one plane at once. More recently the airport is applying to construct another runway on a different heading which is better suited to handle the infamous crosswinds, sometimes up to 90 knots (170 km/h). These winds have been known to blow approaching planes out across Tongass Narrows in certain conditions.

Proposed road access

There is no road access between Ketchikan and the airport. A bridge, sometimes referred to "bridge to nowhere", was proposed costing an estimated $398 million. After protracted attention to the high cost of the bridge, the U.S. federal government changed its original decision to fund the bridge in 2007. The money was transferred to the state of Alaska to determine the use of the funds.

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled passenger service

Cargo Airlines

Charter and flightseeing

Accidents

Our Mission is to provide and promote safe, dependable and efficient transportation infrastructure and services for the general public.

Transportation Services
1000 Airport Terminal Building, Suite 10
Ketchikan, Alaska
907-225-6800

Ketchikan International Airport Short History:

The Ketchikan International Airport was jointly constructed by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, the State of Alaska, Department of Public Works and the Federal Aviation Administration to serve the residents of Ketchikan and Southeast Alaska, the Airport was dedicated on August 4 - 5, 1973.

Airplanes must have airports - just as ships require docks and trains need railroad stations. An airport provides a place for planes to take off and land. It also includes areas in which aircraft are loaded, unloaded, fueled, repaired and stored. Airports vary in size. The large ones used by airlines utilizing jet transports are called "air carrier" airports. The smaller activities that serve mostly private planes are known as general aviation airports. Airports are classed according to the size of the aircraft that use the airport, and the frequency of those flights per day. Classification is by letter designation, A, B, C, or D. Index "A" is the smallest, and index "D" being the largest. Ketchikan is classed as an index "B" airport.

Ketchikan International Airport has four main types of facilities. One is for transporting passengers and freight to and from the airport (Ferry System), one is for passengers arriving and departing (Airport Terminal), one is for planes on the ground, (Aircraft Ramp and Parking Areas), and one is for aircraft that are taking off or landing (Runway).

The history of Ketchikan International Airport starts before W.W.II. Air travel to Ketchikan was via Grumman Goose from the old military airfield on Annette Island. Many Ketchikan residents wanted an airport closer to Ketchikan and in 1965 the Alaska State Division of Aviation contracted for a site study of the areas around Ketchikan. In 1967 another more detailed study was done and Gravina Island was chosen as the best site. Clearing the land began in 1969. The runway, taxiway and aircraft parking areas were funded by State and Federal money, and Ketchikan Gateway Borough voters approved a bond for the Terminal building, utilities and related facilities. The official opening dedication for Ketchikan International Airport was August 4 & 5, 1973.

Location & QuickFacts

FAA Information Effective:	2006-02-16
Airport Identifier:	KTN
Longitude/Latitude:	131-42-49.5000W/55-21-20.0000N -131.713750/55.355556 (Estimated)
Elevation:	88 ft / 26.82 m (Surveyed)
Land:	2600 acres
From nearest city:	1 nautical miles W of Ketchikan, AK
Location:	Ketchikan County, AK
Magnetic Variation:	26E (1985)

Owner & Manager

Ownership:	Publicly owned
Owner:	State Of Ak Dotpf Se Rgn
Address:	6860 Glacier Highway Juneau, AK 99801-7999
Phone number:	907-465-1786
Manager:	Mike Carney
Address:	1000 Arpt Terminal Way Ketchikan, AK 99901
Phone number:	907-225-6800

Airport Operations and Facilities

Airport Use:	Open to public
Wind indicator:	Yes
Segmented Circle:	Yes
Control Tower:	No
Attendance Schedule:	SEP-MAY/ALL/0600-2130,JUN-AUG/ALL/0600-2200
Lighting Schedule:	RDO-CTL FOR ROTG BCN CTC KTN FSS.
Beacon Color:	Clear-Green (lighted land airport)
Landing fee charge:	Yes NO LNDG FEE FOR GA ACFT UNDER 6000 LBS ON RY. $2.00 PER FLOAT PLANE FOR USE OF SPB FLOAT.
Sectional chart:	Ketchikan
Region:	AAL - Alaska
Boundary ARTCC:	ZAN - Anchorage
Tie-in FSS:	KTN - Ketchikan
FSS on Airport:	Yes
FSS Phone:	907-225-9481
FSS Toll Free:	LC225-9481
NOTAMs Facility:	KTN (NOTAM-d service avaliable)
Certification type/date:	I BS 6/1973
Federal Agreements:	NGY

Airport Communications

CTAF:	123.600
Unicom:	122.950

Airport Services

Fuel available:

100LLA
FUEL AVBL AT 122.95 OR CALL 907-247-5701 FM 0700-2000L WEEKDAY AND 0700-1800L WEEKEND(WINTER) & 0600-2100 WEEEKDAY AND 0600-2000 WEEKEND(SUMMER).

Runway Information

Runway 11/29

Runway NWW/SEW

Radio Navigation Aids

Remarks

Based Aircraft

Major Carriers Serving This Airport