Airports / Alaska / KBW
Chignik Bay Seaplane Base.
Chignik, Alaska. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
Z78
IATA KBW
0
Operators based
n/a
Elevation ft
Field standing
1 nm
To the nearest alternate
Chignik Airport (KCG), 4 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Chignik Bay Seaplane Base (KBW) sits in Chignik, Alaska, where it functions as a seaplane base. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
KBW has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Chignik Airport (KCG, 1 nm), Chignik Lake Airport (KCQ, 13 nm), and Perryville Airport (KPV, 35 nm). KBW offers 2 runways, the longest 10,000-foot unpaved runway, which supports charter types through the turboprop class.
Quotes for flights out of KBW vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from KBW, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
Z78
IATA
KBW
FAA / Local
Z78
Elevation
n/a
Coordinates
56.2956° N · 158.4010° 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
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 10,000 ft
- NE/SW10,000 ft × 4000 ftWaterUnlit
- E/W6,000 ft × 4000 ftWaterUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 10,000 ft
KBW's 10,000 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.
- 1nmKCGChignik AirportChignik
- 13nmKCQChignik Lake AirportChignik Lake
- 35nmKPVPerryville AirportPerryville
- 40nmPTHPort Heiden AirportPort Heiden
- 82nmPIPPilot Point AirportPilot Point
- 93nmSDPSand Point AirportSand Point
Location
Open the full mapZ78 · Chignik Bay Seaplane Base · Chignik, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from KBW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 393 nm | 1h 19m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,419 nm | 3h 42m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 1,820 nm | 4h 38m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 1,945 nm | 4h 55m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 2,016 nm | 5h 5m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 2,098 nm | 5h 17m |
| Honolulu (HNL) | 2,100 nm | 5h 17m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,117 nm | 5h 19m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use KBW?
- Chignik Bay Seaplane Base's longest runway is 10,000 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 KBW?
- Chignik Bay Seaplane Base has 2 runways; the longest measures 10,000 ft.
- What is the nearest major airport to KBW?
- The closest alternate is Chignik Airport (KCG), about 1 nm away, followed by Chignik Lake Airport (KCQ) at 13 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from KBW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 1h 19m (393 nm), Seattle about 3h 42m (1,419 nm), San Francisco about 4h 38m (1,820 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.