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The Only FAA Ice Runway in The Continential USA

101k Wallaby  6.6 years ago


The Alton Bay Seaplane Base (FAA code: B18) is known as the only FAA approved ice runway in the continential United States. The airport is sometimes only open to conventional airplanes for a few days a year. As assumed, the entire airport is on the frozen Lake Winnipesaukee in central New Hampshire, about an hour and a half from where I live (I broke the rules lol).

The planes landing there have to be careful though, because the runway is short (Less than 3000 feet) and you can't use brakes. According to the airport owner, there is at least one incident per year at the airport, which usually involves a plane hitting a snow bank, overshooting, and collapsing landing gear. Nonetheless, hundreds of pilots take on the challenge of landing at Alton Bay every year so they can say they landed on ice.

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    101k Wallaby

    @RailfanEthan Papa Stoolin knows all comrade.

    6.6 years ago
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    101k Wallaby

    @Caveman999 oof

    6.6 years ago
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    @ForeverPie crep, dont tell stallen :(((((((

    6.6 years ago
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    6,266 FlexNoTape

    Alton bay? How? Well, Just some google earth work of mine. @ForeverPie

    6.6 years ago
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    101k Wallaby

    @RailfanEthan yOu BrOkE tHe RuLeS gO tO gUlAg

    6.6 years ago
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    Im from canada, we put mini houses on "roads" which are actually just a frizen lake with snow cleared off. We have a few Ice airports in Canada

    6.6 years ago
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    oh sheet i didn't know that, its like a 10min drive from me

    6.6 years ago
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    32.3k CRJ900Pilot

    @AndrewGarrision we need this

    6.6 years ago
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    Wow

    6.6 years ago
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    101k Wallaby

    @everyone

    6.6 years ago