b'GENERAL AVIATIONB1837one plane landing every four minutes for 10 straight hours. Wepeople were just waiting for airplanes to leave so they could find were the busiest airport in the Northeast that day, even busiera place to park, he reports. than Logan International Airport.Thats quite an achievement for a seasonal airport without aReviving a Legacycontrol tower, terminal facilities or any airfield pavement. WithThe Alton Bay Ice Runway was originally established in the 1960s, pilots self-announcing their arrivals and departures over the radio,but began fading into obscurity in the 1980s. Years of inconsistent focus and cooperation are paramount.maintenance had taken its toll, and the iconic winter airstrip was on the verge of disappearing altogether. But a simple request during We have planes of all sizes coming in, Leavitt says. So,preparations for the local Winter Carnival in 2009 changed everything.getting that many aircraft in and out safely on a single day is no small task. We were just looking for someone to do helicopter rides, explains Paul LaRochelle, a longtime Alton Bay resident, local During the 2025 season, one pilot came all the way from Sancontractor and member of the Alton Business Association. Antonio, TX. The trip took a day and a half, but he relished theWe had no idea the runway wasnt being actively managed novel experience of landing on ice without the aid of skis andanymore. proudly collected a commemorative certificate and ice chip before flying back home. When he and fellow Association members contacted the state Department of Transportation to ask if helicopters could operate Another standout moment occurred when a Cessna Caravanon the ice runway, they were surprised by the response.touched down. It was the largest aircraft weve ever had land on the runway and then park on the ramp, Leavitt remarks. It wasThe guy on the other end of the line said, Wow, Alton Bay. pretty neat to see it parked next to the smaller planes (such asWe actually need someone to manage the runway, LaRochelle Cessna 172s and Piper Cherokees) we normally see. recalls. We werent expecting that. There were three of us in the room. They others looked at me, and thats how I became the ice Like the weather, sometimes the traffic was almost too brisk.runway manager.We had one day where the ramp and taxiway were full, and AirportImprovement.comSeptember 2025'