b'36 B18GENERAL AVIATION An Inside Look at Alton BaysSeasonal Ice Runway BY RONNIE WENDTAfter two long winters of waiting,the official go-ahead, but Mother Nature pilots and community membersactually holds the cards. were thrilled by the returnThis year, locals and aviation enthusiasts of the Alton Bay Ice Runway on Lakecelebrated the runways opening on Jan. Winnipesaukee last winter. Located on the24. News spread quickly via the runways FACTS&FIGURESfrozen surface of New Hampshires largestFacebook page, sparking excitement lake, this FAA-registered, state-managedamong pilots near and far, and leading to Project: Ice Runwayrunway is the only one of its kind in theits busiest season ever. Although the ice Location: Alton Bay Seaplane Base, contiguous United States.runway was only usable on 16 days from on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH For most of the year, Alton Bay SeaplaneJan. 24 to Feb. 28, it accommodated 733 Length: 2,600-3,000 ft. Base (B18) accommodates floatplanes; butaircraft landings. Width: 100-120 ft. weather permitting, Runway 1-19 is plowedOur busiest day Open: Weather permitting and marked, typically at 100 to120 feetwas Jan. 25, when (16 days from Jan. 24-Feb. 28, 2025) wide and 2,600 to 3,000 feet long. Therewe had 164 aircraft Minimum Ice Thickness: 12 in. is also a parallel taxiway, a parking area forland, reports Airport 2025 Landings: 73340 aircraft and a warming hut where visitingManager Jason Runway Operator: New Hampshire Dept. pilots can learn about the community andLeavitt, who is also of Transportation/ Bureau of Aeronautics collect souvenirs of their flights to AltonAeronautics UAS Bayall on top of a frozen cove in the lake.Planner for the StateJASON LEAVITTEst. Annual Cost: $3,600 (varies year-to-year)Funding: New Hampshire Dept. of Transportation/ If and when the runway opens is up toof New Hampshire Bureau of Aeronautics Mother Nature. Ice must be least 12 inchesDepartment of Transportation/Bureau of More Information: www.facebook.com/ along the entire length of the runway. TheAeronautics. It was the busiest day in the AltonBaySeaplaneBaseandIceRunway state Department of Transportation givesrunways history. If you do the math, thats September 2025AirportImprovement.com'