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Merle K Mudhole Smith Airport

Welcome to Merle K. Mudhole Smith Airport. This airport sits 11 nautical miles southeast of Cordova, Alaska. It serves as a vital link for travelers since Cordova has no road access to the outside world. The airport is state-owned and offers public-use services. It plays an important role in the community, with airline service supported by the Essential Air Service program. In recent years, the airport has seen thousands of passengers each year. It is named after Merle K. Smith, a pilot who helped shape the airport's history. Cordova Airlines used this airport as a hub for many years before it was acquired by Alaska Airlines. Whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, Merle K. Mudhole Smith Airport welcomes you to the beautiful landscapes of Alaska.

Live Air Traffic

Welcome to Merle K. Mudhole Smith Airport. This airport serves the city of Cordova, Alaska. It sits 11 nautical miles southeast of the city center. The airport is state-owned and open for public use. It has no road access to the outside world. This makes it an important hub for air travel in the region. The Essential Air Service program supports airline service here. In recent years, the airport has seen over 15,000 passenger boardings each year. It is classified as a primary commercial service airport. The airport honors Merle K. Smith, a notable pilot and former president of Cordova Airlines. This airline operated from 1934 to 1968 before being acquired by Alaska Airlines. Enjoy your travels through this unique Alaskan airport!

air Arrivals
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Basic information about airport

Airport code: PACV
Type: medium
Continent: NA
Country code: US
Country: United
City Cordova
IATA: CDV
Longitude: -145.4779968
Latitude: 60.4917984

Merle K Mudhole Smith Airport on Google Maps

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Cordova, Alaska: Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport

Introduction

Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport, located in Chugach Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska between Prince William Sound and Eyak Lake, is the main airport serving Cordova's city. Medenhall Lake State Airport, an 11 nautical miles away southeast of the central business district in Cordova, is a crucial link between this isolated community and the outside world.

Airlines and Destinations

The Aleutian Airways, Bering Air, and Ravn Alaska comprised part of the airline service that serves Cordova with Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport enjoying being an Essential Air Service community benefiting from government subsidies that keep regularly scheduled commercial flights running between airports in Kodiak Island Borough and elsewhere around Alaska's outlying communities on 10-14 seat planes such as to include scenic vistas for takeoff/landing services offered year-round. The only commercial carrier currently serving the airport offers direct service to Anchorage, Alaska's largest city.

Passengers and number of flights

Federally conducted development programming variously portrayed the output associated with the airport as generating 16,640 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, a total of 15,372 enplaned passengers during CY09 or about an additional 11 thousand such activities by late September that fiscal year and expected to reach 17,862 before this FY closed. The airport had 16,061 enplanements in 2012 (up from the previous year), making it a primary commercial service (nonhub) airport. During the 12-month period ending January 1, 2011, there were an average of only about 38 aircraft operations per day at the airport (14 total annually), including: General aviation from private & commercial sources = 46%, Air taxi = 29%, and scheduled military flight training together with scheduled medical flights accounted for less than two dozen annual combined operation types.

How to Get Here

Only a half-hour by air from Anchorage, Cordova is the city with no road access to anywhere outside of it -- passengers have come in recent years only via plane or ferry. Passengers can book flights through several online booking companies on their nearest major airport being Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (IATA: ANC) over 300 miles north.

Parking

There are parking facilities for travelers needing short-term and long-term on-site airport parking. From the parking area, you can easily leave your car and enter the terminal.

Transportation Price

Because the airport is subsidized by EAS, transportation costs in and out of Cordova are very reasonable for passengers from Anchorage. This will allow for travelers to have reasonably priced airfare when coming into this remote Alaskan community.

Terminal Layout

Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport has two runways: 9/27 is a 7,500 by 150 feet, asphalt runway and a secondary runway built in June of a cement-concrete-gravel mix with faded numbers below the double red angle indicators.

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Navigate the Airport

The compact design and small pocket layout of the airport improve navigation for users. Passengers enjoy swift access to the terminal building, where they can check-in as well as proceed through security and reach their departure gates.

Getting Between Terminals

Because it is a one-terminal facility, passengers will avoid costly and inconvenient transfers. The Terminal: the same terminal building housing all arrivals and departures.

Services and Amenities

Though it may come nowhere close to the plethora of services and amenities you find in a major international hub, the airport offers enough basic facilities for all your travel needs. Basic services that travelers can hope to find in the terminal include restrooms, waiting areas, and car rental/ground transportation.

Restaurants and Shops

As the airport is quite small, there are not many dining and shopping areas in it. However, a few modest food and beverage options are available in the terminal building to serve your hunger.

Security and Customs

Since Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport is a domestic airport, passengers are subject to regular screening procedures before boarding their flights. There are no immigration/arrival or customs/departure processes at this airport.

Accessibility

The airport is equipped with barrier-free walkways, wheelchair-accessible toilets, and supports for passengers needing special assistance.

Travel Tips

Cordova is a great destination, but remember that air travel to and from the town can be restricted by its distance from a major city. Extra time should therefore be budgeted to arrive at the airport for check-in, boarding, and to account for possible flight delays or cancellations due to risky summer weather in this part of Alaska.