
Airports / Alaska / AIN
Wainwright Airport.
Wainwright, Alaska · 41 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.7/5
Google rating
29 ratings
0
Operators based
41
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#64 / 225
Alaska airports by Google rating
4.7★ across 29 Google ratings , ranked against 225 rated AK fields.
52 nm
To the nearest alternate
Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr Memorial Airport (ATK).
Overview
Wainwright Airport (PAWI / AIN) sits in Wainwright, Alaska, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 41 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list AIN as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr Memorial Airport (ATK, 52 nm), Wiley Post Will Rogers Memorial Airport (BRW, 74 nm), and Point Lay LRRS Airport (PIZ, 82 nm). The field has a single 4,494-foot unpaved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to turboprops.
Trip costs from AIN are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as 5WW. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from AIN to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
PAWI
IATA
AIN
FAA / Local
AWI
Elevation
41 ft
Coordinates
70.6380° N · 159.9950° 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
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs AK fields
state range 2–3,318 ft
At 41 ft, AIN sits lower than 72% of the 285 Alaska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 4,494 ft
- 05/234,494 ft × 90 ftOtherLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 4,494 ft
AIN's 4,494 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.
- 52nmATKAtqasuk Edward Burnell Sr Memorial AirportAtqasuk
- 74nmBRWWiley Post Will Rogers Memorial AirportUtqiaġvik
- 82nmPIZPoint Lay LRRS AirportPoint Lay
- 165nmLURCape Lisburne LRRS AirportCape Lisburne
- 182nmNUINuiqsut AirportNuiqsut
- 195nmWTKNoatak AirportNoatak
Location
Open the full mapPAWI · Wainwright Airport · Wainwright, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from AIN on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 617 nm | 1h 50m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,757 nm | 4h 29m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 2,171 nm | 5h 27m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 2,303 nm | 5h 45m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 2,304 nm | 5h 45m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 2,459 nm | 6h 7m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 2,483 nm | 6h 10m |
| Denver (DEN) | 2,489 nm | 6h 11m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use AIN?
- Wainwright Airport's longest runway is 4,494 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 AIN?
- Wainwright Airport has one runway; the longest measures 4,494 ft and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to AIN?
- The closest alternate is Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr Memorial Airport (ATK), about 52 nm away, followed by Wiley Post Will Rogers Memorial Airport (BRW) at 74 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from AIN to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 1h 50m (617 nm), Seattle about 4h 29m (1,757 nm), Jackson Hole about 5h 27m (2,171 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
