Merrill Field (PAMR), Alaska
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Merrill Field (PAMR) is a towered, public-use airport in Anchorage, Alaska, sitting under a mile and a half from downtown and roughly 5 nautical miles from Ted Stevens Anchorage International. It operates three paved runways, including a 4,000-foot main strip and a shorter crosswind runway with a gravel remainder beyond the first 60 feet of pavement. Customs is available onsite as a landing rights airport, meaning prior CBP permission is required rather than walk-up clearance. The field sees business aviation traffic alongside general aviation activity typical of a busy Alaska community airport, with tower staffing on a set weekday schedule.
Runways
Merrill Field has three paved runways. The longest, 07/25, is 4,000 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Merrill Field has Jet A and 100 available on the field. Fueling is available from 7:30am to 5:30pm, daily, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Merrill Field has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Merrill Field recorded 5,963 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in September. Business aviation traffic at PAMR is concentrated in the warmer months, peaking in September according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month September, 833 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Merrill Field averages 30.6 freeze days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 68.4°F, and January the coldest, at 22.6°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Merrill Field has published operating constraints in five categories: weight restrictions, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental and other notes.
Prior permission is required for aircraft over 12,500 pounds.
Pilot-controlled REIL lighting is available for runways 07, 16, 25, and 34, along with MIRL for runways 07/25 and 16/34, activated via CTAF. PAPI is available for runways 07, 25, and 34, while VASI on runway 16 operates continuously.
This runway is used seasonally as a snow runway. Ski-equipped aircraft are recommended to minimize wheel rutting.
The first 60 feet of this runway are paved, with the remainder being gravel.
All runway and taxiway lights are of nonstandard height.
Snow berms 1 to 8 feet high form adjacent to runways and taxiways during winter.
Taxiway B south of taxiway M, taxiway G between taxiway N and runway 05/23, taxiway Q east of taxiway C, and all surfaces south of runway 05/23 are uncontrolled.
Noise abatement procedures prohibit touch-and-go and pattern work between 2200 and 0700.
Birds and seagulls are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
Alaska Regional Hospital operates a helipad (2OK) on the airport; see separate listing for details.
When the control tower is closed, contact Merrill weather by CTAF.
Flight planning in the Anchorage Bowl area can be done via RCO on 122.55.
Aircraft in the nonmovement area must contact ground control before taxiing.
An Anchorage weather camera is available online through the FAA weather camera website.
Portions of taxiway C between taxiway S and taxiway N, and portions of taxiway Q, are not visible from the tower.
A compass rose is available with prior coordination through the control tower.
Arrival and departure routes are detailed in area notices; see the special notice regarding Cartee airspace.
Overflight of the airport below 300 feet is not authorized.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Merrill Field has five airfields within 24 NM. The closest is Elmendorf AFB (PAED), 2.52 NM northeast.
Part of the Southern Alaska area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PAMR
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$1,200.00 catering order at PAMR.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Does PAMR have customs available onsite?
Merrill Field is a landing rights airport, meaning customs clearance is available but only with prior CBP permission arranged in advance. There is no walk-up or on-demand customs processing. Operators planning an international arrival at PAMR need to coordinate clearance ahead of time rather than assume onsite availability on arrival.
What is the longest runway at Merrill Field?
The longest runway at Merrill Field (PAMR) is 07/25, a paved asphalt strip measuring 4,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. The airport's other two runways are shorter: 16/34 at 2,640 feet and 05/23 at 2,000 feet, the latter with only the first 60 feet paved and a gravel remainder beyond that.
Are there weight restrictions for aircraft operating at PAMR?
Yes, aircraft over 12,500 pounds require prior permission to operate at Merrill Field. This PPR requirement applies specifically to that weight threshold and should be factored into planning for larger business aircraft. Dispatchers should confirm PPR status before scheduling operations above this weight at PAMR.
Is there a noise abatement procedure at Merrill Field?
Merrill Field enforces a noise abatement restriction that prohibits touch-and-go and pattern work between 2200 and 0700 local time. This applies to training and circuit operations rather than all traffic. Operators planning pattern work at PAMR need to schedule within the permitted daytime and evening window.