Akutan Airport[2] (IATA: KQA[3], ICAO: PAUT[4], FAA LID: 7AK) is a state-owned public-use airport serving Akutan,[1] a city on Akutan Island in the Aleutians East Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. The airport is located on Akun Island, 6 miles (10 km) east of Akutan Island. Scheduled air service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

Akutan Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerAlaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
ServesAkutan, Alaska
LocationAkun Island
Elevation AMSL133 ft / 41 m
Coordinates54°08′41″N 165°36′15″W / 54.14472°N 165.60417°W / 54.14472; -165.60417
Map
KQA is located in Alaska
KQA
KQA
Location of airport in Alaska
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
9/27 4,500 1,372 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Operations624
Based aircraft0
Passengers2,729
Freight118,000 lbs

The airport was opened in 2012. Akutan was previously served by amphibious airplane service to Akutan Seaplane Base, located on Akutan Island. However, in 2012 operator PenAir announced that they would retire their Grumman Goose aircraft and as a result the traditional airport on Akun Island was built to serve Akutan. The airport on Akun was originally connected to Akutan by a hovercraft,[5][6] but the connection is now provided via helicopter[7][8] operated by Maritime Helicopters.

Facilities edit

Akutan Airport covers an area of 369 acres (149 ha) at an elevation of 133 feet (41 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 9/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 4,500 by 75 feet (1,372 x 23 m).[1]

Airlines and destinations edit

The following airline offers scheduled passenger service at this airport:

AirlinesDestinations
Grant Aviation Unalaska/Dutch Harbor[9]
Maritime Helicopters Akutan Seaplane Base[10]

Statistics edit

Carrier shares: April 2016 - March 2017[11]
Carrier   Passengers (arriving and departing)
Grant Aviation
3,020(100%)
Top domestic destinations: April 2016 - March 2017[11]
Rank City Airport name & IATA code Passengers
1 Unalaska, AK Unalaska Airport (DUT) 1,410

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for 7AK PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective January 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "Akutan Airport". Aleutians East Borough. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  3. ^ "IATA Airport Code Search (: Akutan)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  4. ^ "Airport information for 7AK (PAUT)". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  5. ^ "New airport, and now a new hotel, for tiny Akutan". Anchorage Daily News. December 24, 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-05-30. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "Alaska's $64 million 'runway to nowhere'". The Week. September 30, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  7. ^ "Akutan hovercraft, costly government gift, will finally be sold and replaced by helicopter". Alaska Dispatch. March 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Akutan Helicopter Service". Aleutians East Borough. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. ^ "Schedules (Akun to Dutch Harbor)". Grant Aviation. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  10. ^ Maritime schedule Retrieved Sep 11, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Akun, AK: Akun Airport (7AK)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of Transportation. December 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2017.

Other sources edit

  • Essential Air Service documents (Docket DOT-OST-2000-7068) from the U.S. Department of Transportation:
    • Order 2012-11-15 (November 16, 2012): selecting Grant Aviation, Inc., to provide Essential Air Service at Akutan, Alaska, for two years, beginning as soon as the carrier inaugurates scheduled service (November 28, 2012) at annual subsidy rates of $724,025 for the first six months of service and $579,220 for the remainder of the contract (through September 30, 2014). Akutan receives 12 nonstop round trips per week to Dutch Harbor with 9-seat Piper PA-31 Navajo aircraft.
    • Order 2014-6-3 (June 6, 2014): requesting proposals from air carriers interested in providing Essential Air Service (EAS) at Akutan, Alaska, for a new contract period beginning October 1, 2014.

External links edit