Airports / Alaska / JBT
Bethel Seaplane Base.
Bethel, Alaska · 15 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
Z59
IATA JBT
0
Operators based
15
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
3 nm
To the nearest alternate
Bethel Airport (BET), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Bethel Seaplane Base (JBT) is a seaplane base serving Bethel, Alaska. The field lies at an elevation of 15 feet. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
JBT has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Bethel Airport (BET, 3 nm), Napaskiak Airport (PKA, 5 nm), and Kwethluk Airport (KWT, 9 nm). JBT offers a single 3,000-foot unpaved runway, which supports charter types through the turboprop class.
Quotes for flights out of JBT vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from JBT, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
Z59
IATA
JBT
FAA / Local
Z59
Elevation
15 ft
Coordinates
60.7820° N · 161.7430° 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
Seaplane
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs AK fields
state range 2–3,318 ft
At 15 ft, JBT sits lower than 91% of the 285 Alaska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,000 ft
- NE/SW3,000 ft × 500 ftWaterUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 3,000 ft
JBT's 3,000 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.
- 3nmBETBethel AirportBethel
- 5nmPKANapaskiak AirportNapaskiak
- 9nmKWTKwethluk AirportKwethluk
- 9nmWNANapakiak AirportNapakiak
- 11nmKKIAkiachak AirportAkiachak
- 16nmATTAtmautluak AirportAtmautluak
Location
Open the full mapZ59 · Bethel Seaplane Base · Bethel, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from JBT on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 343 nm | 1h 12m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,568 nm | 4h 3m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 2,025 nm | 5h 7m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 2,070 nm | 5h 13m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 2,162 nm | 5h 26m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,298 nm | 5h 45m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 2,300 nm | 5h 45m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 2,362 nm | 5h 54m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use JBT?
- Bethel Seaplane Base's longest runway is 3,000 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 JBT?
- Bethel Seaplane Base has one runway; the longest measures 3,000 ft.
- What is the nearest major airport to JBT?
- The closest alternate is Bethel Airport (BET), about 3 nm away, followed by Napaskiak Airport (PKA) at 5 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from JBT to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 1h 12m (343 nm), Seattle about 4h 3m (1,568 nm), San Francisco about 5h 7m (2,025 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.