Gambell Airport

Gambell Airport (IATA: GAM, ICAO: PAGM, FAA LID: GAM) is a public airport located in Gambell, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. The airport is owned by the state.[1]

Gambell Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerState of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region
ServesGambell, Alaska
Built1943
Elevation AMSL27 ft / 8 m
Coordinates63°46′00″N 171°43′58″W
Map
GAM
Location of airport in Alaska
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16/34 4,500 1,372 Asphalt/Concrete

Facilities

Gambell Airport covers an area of 200 acres (81 ha) which contains one asphalt and concrete paved runway (16/34) measuring 4,500 x 96 ft (1,372 x 29 m).[1]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Bering Air Nome, Savoonga[2]

Prior to its bankruptcy and cessation of all operations, Ravn Alaska served the airport from multiple locations.

History

Gambell Airport was used as a transport base during World War II as Gambell Army Airfield, facilitating the transit of Lend-Lease aircraft to the Soviet Union. It was also used by the USAAF as an emergency landing field for aircraft patrolling the west coast of Alaska.

On 27 February 1974, a Soviet Union An-24LR carrying a crew of 3 and 10 scientists on an ice-reconnaissance mission landed at Gambell due to fuel exhaustion in bad weather, causing a minor Cold War incident. Villagers, mostly Yupik Native Americans, provided space heaters and food. A U.S. Air Force C-130 flew in a load of fuel bladders with JP-1 fuel from Anchorage to refuel the An-24, which departed at 7:30 pm. She dipped her wings in salute in a pass over the airfield, then returned to Soviet airspace.[3]

On 30 August 1975, Wien Air Alaska Flight 99, a Fairchild F-27B on approach to landing, crashed into Sevuokuk Mountain after multiple missed approaches, killing the pilot and co-pilot and eight others out of the 32 crew and passengers on board. The weather was a low ceiling with sea fog, and below approach minimums.[4]

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References
  1. FAA Airport Master Record for GAM (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2007-07-05
  2. Bering Air: Nome Flight Schedule Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine (PDF). Retrieved 29-August-2007.
  3. CAF Digest: February 26 - March 4, Commemorative Air Force.
  4. NTSB Report on the Crash
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