Airports / Alaska / WAA
Wales Airport.
Wales, Alaska · 22 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.1/5
Google rating
311 ratings
0
Operators based
22
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
6 nm
To the nearest alternate
Tin City Long Range Radar Station Airport (TNC), 5 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Wales Airport (PAIW / WAA) sits in Wales, Alaska, where it functions as a general aviation field. The airport sits 22 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into WAA for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Tin City Long Range Radar Station Airport (TNC, 6 nm), Diomede Heliport (DIO, 23 nm), and Port Clarence Coast Guard Station (KPC, 38 nm). With a single 3,990-foot unpaved runway, WAA can typically accommodate aircraft as large as turboprops.
Charter pricing from WAA depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Wales.
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Field capability
ICAO
PAIW
IATA
WAA
FAA / Local
IWK
Elevation
22 ft
Coordinates
65.6226° N · 168.0950° 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 22 ft, WAA sits lower than 82% of the 285 Alaska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,990 ft
- 18/363,990 ft × 75 ftGravelUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 3,990 ft
WAA's 3,990 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.
- 6nmTNCTin City Long Range Radar Station AirportTin City
- 23nmDIODiomede HeliportDiomede
- 38nmKPCPort Clarence Coast Guard StationPort Clarence
- 44nmKTSBrevig Mission AirportBrevig Mission
- 49nmTLATeller AirportTeller
- 62nmSHHShishmaref AirportShishmaref
Location
Open the full mapPAIW · Wales Airport · Wales, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from WAA on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 552 nm | 1h 41m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,804 nm | 4h 36m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 2,274 nm | 5h 41m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 2,302 nm | 5h 45m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 2,384 nm | 5h 57m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,551 nm | 6h 20m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 2,567 nm | 6h 22m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 2,572 nm | 6h 23m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use WAA?
- Wales Airport's longest runway is 3,990 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 WAA?
- Wales Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,990 ft.
- What is the nearest major airport to WAA?
- The closest alternate is Tin City Long Range Radar Station Airport (TNC), about 6 nm away, followed by Diomede Heliport (DIO) at 23 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from WAA to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 1h 41m (552 nm), Seattle about 4h 36m (1,804 nm), Jackson Hole about 5h 41m (2,274 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.