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 Valdez-Cordova Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska.^[1]

Quick Facts Valdez Airport Pioneer Field, Summary ...

Valdez Airport Pioneer Field
Valdez Airport, left background, as seen in an aerial photo taken 1974
IATA: VDZ ICAO: PAVD FAA LID: VDZ
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
Map
VDZ
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 6/24 6,500 1,981 Asphalt
Statistics (2021)
Aircraft operations 10,300 Based aircraft 35
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

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Valdez 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]

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.

• 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]

• List of airports in Alaska