Klawock Airport (PAKW), Alaska
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Klawock Airport (PAKW / KLW) serves the community of Klawock, Alaska, with a single paved runway on Prince of Wales Island. The field sits about 48 nautical miles from customs clearance at Ketchikan International and operates unattended, with pilot-controlled lighting and a mix of terrain and approach considerations that call for careful pre-flight planning.
Runways
Klawock Airport has one paved runway, 02/20, 5,000 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Klawock Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Ketchikan International (PAKT), 48 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Klawock Airport recorded 5,659 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July and August. Traffic at Klawock Airport concentrates in the summer months, peaking in July and August, according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 811 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Klawock Airport averages 0.4 days above 90°F in July and 18.0 freeze days in March. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 64.3°F, and January the coldest, at 39.5°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Klawock Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
Approach slope is 0:1. A road runs on both sides of the runway from 0 to 200 feet from the threshold.
Approach slope is 0:1. A road runs on the left side of the runway from 0 to 200 feet from the threshold.
The airport is closed to air carrier operations with more than 30 passenger seats.
The airport is closed to aircraft over 12,500 pounds gross takeoff weight, except with prior permission from the airport manager.
Pilot-activated on 122.25: PAPI for runway 02 and 20, MIRL for runway 02/20, windsock, and apron lights.
The runway slopes down 55 to 65 feet from the threshold to the center. Expect downdraft and turbulence in the vicinity of the runway 02 touchdown zone.
A 700-foot hill is located 2 miles northeast of the threshold.
The runway 20 PAPI is unusable beyond 3 degrees left of centerline.
Runway condition is unmaintained and maintenance is irregular. A visual inspection is recommended before use.
Aircraft on floats operating on the runway, taxiway, and parking apron are not authorized.
Birds and wildlife are present on and in the vicinity of the airport. Report bird activity to the airport manager or Flight Service Station.
The rotating beacon is pilot-activated via CTAF.
High terrain surrounds the airport in all quadrants.
Daylight operations only are recommended.
Wind conditions are irregular.
Weather cameras are available on the internet at the FAA weather camera website.
This is a cold temperature airport. Altitude correction is required at or below -10 degrees Celsius.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Alternates
Klawock Airport has one alternate within 49 NM. The nearest alternate is Ketchikan International (PAKT), 48.38 NM east.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PAKW
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.
$2,400.00 catering order at PAKW.
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
What runway does Klawock Airport (PAKW) offer?
Klawock Airport, identified as PAKW or KLW, has a single paved runway, 02/20, measuring 5,000 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. The runway slopes down 55 to 65 feet from the threshold toward the center, a factor pilots should account for during approach and landing planning. Downdraft and turbulence are expected in the vicinity of the runway 02 touchdown zone. The airport is unattended, so runway condition should be visually inspected before use given irregular maintenance.
Is there a weight restriction at PAKW?
Yes, Klawock Airport is closed to aircraft over 12,500 pounds gross takeoff weight, except with prior permission from the airport manager. The field is also closed to air carrier operations with more than 30 passenger seats. These restrictions make PAKW suitable primarily for smaller general aviation and regional aircraft rather than larger transport category operations. Operators planning flights above the weight threshold need to coordinate directly with the airport manager before arrival.
How does traffic at Klawock Airport vary through the year?
Traffic at Klawock Airport, PAKW, concentrates heavily in the summer months according to FAA TFMSC data. July recorded 811 business aviation operations and August recorded 784, the two highest months of the year. By comparison, February saw only 301 operations, among the lowest counts recorded. This pattern reflects a strong seasonal skew toward mid-year activity at this Alaska airport.
Where does Klawock Airport handle customs clearance?
Klawock Airport itself has no onsite customs service; the nearest customs facility is at Ketchikan International, located about 48.38 nautical miles away on a bearing of 106 degrees. Operators requiring customs clearance near PAKW need to route through Ketchikan International rather than clearing at Klawock directly. This distance should be factored into fuel and routing plans for international arrivals into the Klawock area. No customs onsite designation applies at this field.
What visual and lighting aids are available at Klawock Airport?
Klawock Airport, PAKW, has pilot-activated lighting reachable on 122.25, including PAPI on both runway 02 and 20, MIRL for runway 02/20, a windsock, and apron lights. The rotating beacon is also pilot-activated via CTAF. On runway 20, the PAPI is unusable beyond 3 degrees left of centerline, a limitation pilots should note when flying that approach. There is no control tower, so these lighting systems depend on pilot activation rather than airport staff.