Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport (PABR), Alaska
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport, identified by the code PABR, serves Utqiagvik, Alaska, as a tier 1 facility with a single paved runway measuring 7,100 feet in length. The airport is unattended outside its posted service hours of 0600 to 2030 daily, and it sits far from the nearest customs facility, requiring advance planning for any international arrivals. Business aviation traffic makes up the majority of the airport's annual operations, and the field supports both 100LL and Jet A fuel.
Runways
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport has one paved runway, 08/26, 7,100 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport has Jet A1 and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 6am to 8:30pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Fairbanks International (PAFA), 436 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport recorded 2,823 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in August. Business aviation traffic at PABR is concentrated in the mid-to-late summer months, with August recording the highest monthly total among the months reported for 2025.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 349 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport averages 31.0 freeze days in January and 3.1 snow days in October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 47.7°F, and February the coldest, at -5.5°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: runway notes, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
MALSR on runway 08 and REIL on runway 26 are activated via CTAF. HIRL on runway 08/26 is preset to low intensity, with increased intensity available through BRW FSS from 0600 to 2200; after hours, control is via CTAF. PAPI on runway 08 and runway 26 operates continuously.
The main ramp taxi lane has non-standard wingtip clearance; use runway back-taxi when large aircraft are parked on the main ramp.
Snow removal, wildlife control, condition reporting, and airport maintenance services are available during maintenance duty hours of 0600 to 2030. After hours, contact the airport manager.
PCR value: 458/F/C/X/U.
The rotating beacon operates continuously.
Waterfowl are present in the vicinity of the airport from spring through fall.
The airport sand has a larger gradation than recommended by the FAA; see AC150/5200-30.
Larger aircraft are recommended to use the elephant ear area to turn around.
A weather camera is available on the internet at https://weathercams.faa.gov.
This is a TSA-regulated airport; see 49 CFR 1542. Gates and doors must be secured at all times. Transients should contact the airport manager or BRW FSS for information.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Alternates
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport has two alternates within 75 NM. The nearest alternate is Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr Memorial (PATQ), 50.82 NM south.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PABR
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 PABR.
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
Is there customs clearance available at PABR?
PABR, Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport, has no onsite customs service. The nearest customs facility is at PAFA, located approximately 436 nautical miles away. Operators requiring customs clearance need to plan a stop at that airport or coordinate clearance arrangements in advance. This distance makes PABR unsuitable as a direct port of entry for international flights arriving without prior customs planning. Dispatchers should factor this routing requirement into any international itinerary involving this airport.
What runway lighting is available at Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport?
Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport operates a MALSR system on runway 08 and REIL on runway 26, both activated via CTAF. High intensity runway lights on runway 08/26 are preset to low intensity, with intensity increases available through BRW FSS from 0600 to 2200; after those hours, control shifts to CTAF. PAPI is installed on both runway 08 and runway 26 and operates continuously. The rotating beacon also runs continuously. This lighting configuration supports operations outside the staffed hours of the airport.
What is the pavement strength rating at PABR?
The pavement at PABR, Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport, carries a PCR value of 458/F / C/X / U according to airport records. This rating applies to the single paved runway, 08/26, which measures 7,100 feet long and 150 feet wide with an asphalt surface. Operators of larger aircraft should reference this PCR code directly when evaluating weight-bearing suitability for their specific airframe. No additional pavement classification detail beyond this coded value is published for the field.
Are there wildlife hazards to consider when operating at PABR?
Yes, PABR reports waterfowl activity in the vicinity of the airport from spring through fall. This seasonal wildlife presence is a published operational remark for Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport and should be factored into approach and departure planning during those months. The airport also notes that its sand has a larger gradation than FAA-recommended standards, referencing AC150/5200-30, which relates to surface conditions rather than wildlife but is relevant to overall field awareness. Crews should stay alert for bird activity particularly during the warmer operating season.
What ground handling guidance applies to larger aircraft at PABR?
PABR recommends that larger aircraft use the elephant ear turnaround area when maneuvering on the field. The airport also notes non-standard wingtip clearance on the main ramp taxi lane, requiring runway back-taxi when large aircraft are parked on the main ramp. These notes reflect the physical layout constraints at Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport and are particularly relevant for business aviation operators flying larger cabin-class jets into the field. Crews should review these ground movement notes before taxiing at this airport.