Airports / Alaska / NIB
Nikolai Airport.
Nikolai, Alaska · 441 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
5.0/5
Google rating
12 ratings
0
Operators based
441
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#3 / 225
Alaska airports by Google rating
5.0★ across 12 Google ratings , ranked against 225 rated AK fields.
34 nm
To the nearest alternate
McGrath Airport (MCG), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Nikolai, Alaska, Nikolai Airport (PAFS / NIB) operates as a general aviation field. The field lies at an elevation of 441 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
NIB has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include McGrath Airport (MCG, 34 nm), Tatalina LRRS Airport (TLJ, 45 nm), and Takotna Airport (TCT, 45 nm). NIB offers a single 4,003-foot unpaved runway, which supports charter types through the turboprop class.
Quotes for flights out of NIB vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as 5N1. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from NIB, or browse verified operators serving the area.
Run an FBO at PAFS? Become the preferred FBO
Field capability
ICAO
PAFS
IATA
NIB
FAA / Local
FSP
Elevation
441 ft
Coordinates
63.0179° N · 154.3604° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs AK fields
state range 2–3,318 ft
At 441 ft, NIB sits higher than 77% of the 285 Alaska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 4,003 ft
- 04/224,003 ft × 75 ftGravelUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 4,003 ft
NIB's 4,003 ft runway typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 34nmMCGMcGrath AirportMcGrath
- 45nmTLJTatalina LRRS AirportTakotna
- 45nmTCTTakotna AirportTakotna
- 76nmLMAMinchumina AirportMinchumina
- 96nmSRVStony River 2 AirportStony River
- 107nmRBYRuby AirportRuby
Location
Open the full mapPAFS · Nikolai Airport · Nikolai, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from NIB on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 165 nm | 47m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,415 nm | 3h 41m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 1,892 nm | 4h 48m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 1,916 nm | 4h 51m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 1,999 nm | 5h 3m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,162 nm | 5h 26m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 2,184 nm | 5h 29m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 2,186 nm | 5h 29m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use NIB?
- Nikolai Airport's longest runway is 4,003 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at NIB?
- Nikolai Airport has one runway; the longest measures 4,003 ft.
- What is the nearest major airport to NIB?
- The closest alternate is McGrath Airport (MCG), about 34 nm away, followed by Tatalina LRRS Airport (TLJ) at 45 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from NIB to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Seattle about 3h 41m (1,415 nm), Jackson Hole about 4h 48m (1,892 nm), San Francisco about 4h 51m (1,916 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.