Ice Airport?

tis · 02-12-2009, 08:46 AM

What fun to hear from you Paul. We know each other. I love reading what you are doing. Let me say, I just hope you don't quit your day job!

Seaplane Pilot · 02-12-2009, 11:40 AM

ALL TAKEOFFS & LNDGS MUST BE NORTH OF THE BANDSTAND. ALL TRAVEL SOUTH OF THE BANDSTAND MUST NOT EXCEED HEADWAY SPEED.

Found this statement on AIRNAV listing. Pretty funny if Marine Patrol is out there issuing tix to planes for exceeding headway speed in a no-wake zone!

Iceguy · 02-12-2009, 05:20 PM

Hi Everyone.
Had to close the runway down today because of standing water and slush. Did not want to make ruts in the runway ice when it freezes. Tonight and tomorrow should be colder, hopefully this will be good for the weekend.
Hope to see you all on the weekend!

Paul (Iceguy)

dbahn · 02-12-2009, 05:54 PM

Good move.

I'm kind of curious. How do you manage to keep the snowmobiles off the runway when it's wet like this?

Sunday is expected to be a gorgeous day - sunny with temps right at the freezing level and a few cold nights before that. We're keeping our fingers crossed...

TexASH Pilot · 02-12-2009, 07:32 PM

The weather's looking great! Looks like the only variable might be the runway conditions, but hopefully your decision to close (a wise one!) and a few cold nights will fix it right up.

Looking forward to another trip to B18!

Iceguy · 02-12-2009, 09:48 PM

It's not easy. Only if we are at the bay or near the runway we can stop them. Fish & Game will stop the snowmobilers if they see them too. But for the most part they have been cooperative.

upthesaukee · 02-13-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbahn

Good move.

I'm kind of curious. How do you manage to keep the snowmobiles off the runway when it's wet like this?

.

Iceguy and his crew have done a good job of getting the word out: Stay off the runway, and as he says, for the most part it has been good.

It would only take one idiot to run down the runway when it is starting to freeze, that would make the strip unsafe for you pilots.

As hard as the guys have worked, I hope temps down to 15 over night, and pretty cool temps during the day will salvage at least one more weekend.

Thanks to all you pilots for supporting their efforts, and the town of Alton.

Dave

Iceguy · 02-13-2009, 08:32 PM

Airport is open. Runway looks good but it will be slick. The parking area we have will take about 30 planes at a time however, we may be able to park a few out side of that area. Hope to see you all at the carnival. I will be on the ice if you should need assistance. I'll will be wearing a green vest.
Ice guy

dbahn · 02-14-2009, 01:41 AM

Paul, do you have any advice for pilots who fly in and find the parking area full? Should they avoid landing there, or can they be pushed into an alternative area for parking?

Tomorrow may be a bit windy, but it sounds like Sunday will be a picture perfect February winter day. There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for this event.

Iceguy · 02-14-2009, 07:42 PM

Hello.
The runway will still be opened. However, the taxi way is shut down due to standing water on top of 2 feet of ice. We do not want anyone slipping into a snowbank. As it stands now, all flights will have to back taxi on the runway. As far as the parking area, at best 30 planes. I will be on the ice for any assistance. It may be possible to bring some planes into where I drive onto the parking area. This area is bumpy. It would be up to the pilots to park in this area. It was a shame that we had all the rain and warm temps this week. The ice is still safe.
Iceguy

TexASH Pilot · 02-14-2009, 08:48 PM

Thanks for the update, Paul.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, and again, we really appreciate all the hard work.

TexASH Pilot · 02-15-2009, 07:25 PM

We had a blast at Alton Bay today. The weather couldn't have been better, great food (Olde Bay Diner for Breakfast, Shibley's Drive In for Clam/Lobster rolls), airplanes, helicopters, snowmobiles, good people... what more can you ask for?

Considering Alton Bay is the only remaining FAA approved Ice Runway in the US, it's fantastic that Paul and his crew stepped up to keep it that way and very refreshing to see a community support an airport rather than try to close it down.

Here's a shot of the hardest working man at Alton Bay:

Hope you got a better meal than that frozen burger when you got home, Paul... you earned it!

hazelnut · 02-15-2009, 08:16 PM

It really was amazing to see that today! What a great effort on behalf of that man. It was incredible to watch the planes taking off and landing today. Add the helicopter and the bed races and the sleigh ride and the..... etc. etc. It was a fun day indeed. My twin boys loved it. Here is a crude cell phone photo of a long shot of the airstrip plane parking with two planes ready for takeoff.

This'nThat · 02-15-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexASH Pilot

Here's a shot of the hardest working man at Alton Bay:

[ Hope you got a better meal than that frozen burger when you got home, Paul... you earned it!

I want to also salute the pilots and runway keepers (plowers), in addition to Paul. You pilots were the attraction, and you couldn't have done it unless the runway was kept in tip-top shape. As I said before, my only view was the webcam; but from what I saw, you thrilled all the kids there -- from 3 to 63! Thanks for your time and your enthusiasm. I'm like you -- it's good to see good people soaking up the fun today.

Ropetow · 02-15-2009, 09:01 PM

Thank to you for everyone for making the Winter Carnival an amazingly fun afternoon. Special thanks to the crew that made the ice airport possible. It was truly a day to remember.

PS---The helicopter rides were a blast!

SteveA · 02-15-2009, 10:52 PM

We were on our way through Alton and stopped to take a couple of quick pics.

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TexASH Pilot · 02-16-2009, 11:05 AM

Some of the pilots that flew into Alton Bay (and have posted here... dbahn, Collybus, myself) also belong to a pilot-oriented forum called "The Purple Board for Pilots." This is where we all originall met and we use the forum to discuss aviation topics, shoot the bull, and plan fly outs to events such as our two trips this season to Alton Bay.

There's a great, albeit long, thread on our forum that shows the genesis of our planning of the event from the disappointment in the very beginning when we thought AB wouldn't open this year, to our excitement and appreciation when it did open. Some of you might find it interesting.

At Dave's (dbahn) suggestion, I've created a user account any of you can use to view the thread if you're interested. The latter pages contain discussion of our latest trip, including a whole bunch of our pictures and videos.

To view the thread, click here:

http://www.purpleboard.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9778

The user name you can use is: Alton Bay Guest
and the password is: guest

Any of you are more than welcome to join up, register and post.

Enjoy!

dbahn · 02-16-2009, 12:30 PM

Everyone who had anything to do with pulling this thing off should be commended. "Build it and they will come" worked for us as pilots, and we shouldn't be credited with anything except wanting to have a good time.

As I mentioned on our own (Purple) board, the whole thing just represents a slice of Americana that should be cherished. It's very refreshing to me to see a community event like this that also attracts outsiders like us, and to see everyone having such a good time.

(For anyone who wants to login in as "Alton Bay Guest" and enter password "guest" (rather than register) and just pick up on the posts and pictures for Winter Carnival weekend, you can just go directly to page 31 to start.)

Thanks again for all of the hard work.

upthesaukee · 02-17-2009, 12:02 AM

and you guys are waaaaayyyyy too funny.

Nice to see other folks having a good time on their forum.

Dave

TexASH Pilot · 02-17-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

and you guys are waaaaayyyyy too funny.

Nice to see other folks having a good time on their forum.

Dave

Life's more fun when you don't take everything too seriously.

02-12-2009, 05:20 PM	#3
Iceguy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 4 Posts	Update on Runway Hi Everyone. Had to close the runway down today because of standing water and slush. Did not want to make ruts in the runway ice when it freezes. Tonight and tomorrow should be colder, hopefully this will be good for the weekend. Hope to see you all on the weekend! Paul (Iceguy)

02-12-2009, 09:48 PM	#6
Iceguy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 4 Posts	Snowmobiles It's not easy. Only if we are at the bay or near the runway we can stop them. Fish & Game will stop the snowmobilers if they see them too. But for the most part they have been cooperative.

02-13-2009, 08:32 PM	#8
Iceguy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 4 Posts	Update Airport is open. Runway looks good but it will be slick. The parking area we have will take about 30 planes at a time however, we may be able to park a few out side of that area. Hope to see you all at the carnival. I will be on the ice if you should need assistance. I'll will be wearing a green vest. Ice guy

02-14-2009, 07:42 PM	#10
Iceguy Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 19 Times in 4 Posts	Runway Update Hello. The runway will still be opened. However, the taxi way is shut down due to standing water on top of 2 feet of ice. We do not want anyone slipping into a snowbank. As it stands now, all flights will have to back taxi on the runway. As far as the parking area, at best 30 planes. I will be on the ice for any assistance. It may be possible to bring some planes into where I drive onto the parking area. This area is bumpy. It would be up to the pilots to park in this area. It was a shame that we had all the rain and warm temps this week. The ice is still safe. Iceguy

02-15-2009, 08:16 PM	#13
hazelnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,348 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 508 Thanked 462 Times in 162 Posts	It really was amazing to see that today! What a great effort on behalf of that man. It was incredible to watch the planes taking off and landing today. Add the helicopter and the bed races and the sleigh ride and the..... etc. etc. It was a fun day indeed. My twin boys loved it. Here is a crude cell phone photo of a long shot of the airstrip plane parking with two planes ready for takeoff. Attached Images

02-12-2009, 08:46 AM	#1
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,760 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,462 Times in 1,018 Posts	What fun to hear from you Paul. We know each other. I love reading what you are doing. Let me say, I just hope you don't quit your day job!

02-12-2009, 11:40 AM	#2
Seaplane Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 664 Thanked 943 Times in 368 Posts	ALL TAKEOFFS & LNDGS MUST BE NORTH OF THE BANDSTAND. ALL TRAVEL SOUTH OF THE BANDSTAND MUST NOT EXCEED HEADWAY SPEED. Found this statement on AIRNAV listing. Pretty funny if Marine Patrol is out there issuing tix to planes for exceeding headway speed in a no-wake zone!

02-12-2009, 05:54 PM	#4
dbahn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mendon, Vermont Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Good move. I'm kind of curious. How do you manage to keep the snowmobiles off the runway when it's wet like this? Sunday is expected to be a gorgeous day - sunny with temps right at the freezing level and a few cold nights before that. We're keeping our fingers crossed...

02-12-2009, 07:32 PM	#5
TexASH Pilot Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	The weather's looking great! Looks like the only variable might be the runway conditions, but hopefully your decision to close (a wise one!) and a few cold nights will fix it right up. Looking forward to another trip to B18!

02-14-2009, 01:41 AM	#9
dbahn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mendon, Vermont Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Paul, do you have any advice for pilots who fly in and find the parking area full? Should they avoid landing there, or can they be pushed into an alternative area for parking? Tomorrow may be a bit windy, but it sounds like Sunday will be a picture perfect February winter day. There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for this event.

02-14-2009, 08:48 PM	#11
TexASH Pilot Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Thanks for the update, Paul. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, and again, we really appreciate all the hard work.

02-15-2009, 07:25 PM	#12
TexASH Pilot Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	We had a blast at Alton Bay today. The weather couldn't have been better, great food (Olde Bay Diner for Breakfast, Shibley's Drive In for Clam/Lobster rolls), airplanes, helicopters, snowmobiles, good people... what more can you ask for? Considering Alton Bay is the only remaining FAA approved Ice Runway in the US, it's fantastic that Paul and his crew stepped up to keep it that way and very refreshing to see a community support an airport rather than try to close it down. Here's a shot of the hardest working man at Alton Bay: Hope you got a better meal than that frozen burger when you got home, Paul... you earned it!

02-15-2009, 09:01 PM	#15
Ropetow Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rochester, NH / Bartlett, NH Posts: 322 Thanks: 228 Thanked 33 Times in 13 Posts	Thank to you for everyone for making the Winter Carnival an amazingly fun afternoon. Special thanks to the crew that made the ice airport possible. It was truly a day to remember. PS---The helicopter rides were a blast!

02-15-2009, 10:52 PM	#16
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	Pics from Alton Bay today We were on our way through Alton and stopped to take a couple of quick pics. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

02-16-2009, 11:05 AM	#17
TexASH Pilot Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 23 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Some of the pilots that flew into Alton Bay (and have posted here... dbahn, Collybus, myself) also belong to a pilot-oriented forum called "The Purple Board for Pilots." This is where we all originall met and we use the forum to discuss aviation topics, shoot the bull, and plan fly outs to events such as our two trips this season to Alton Bay. There's a great, albeit long, thread on our forum that shows the genesis of our planning of the event from the disappointment in the very beginning when we thought AB wouldn't open this year, to our excitement and appreciation when it did open. Some of you might find it interesting. At Dave's (dbahn) suggestion, I've created a user account any of you can use to view the thread if you're interested. The latter pages contain discussion of our latest trip, including a whole bunch of our pictures and videos. To view the thread, click here: http://www.purpleboard.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9778 The user name you can use is: Alton Bay Guest and the password is: guest Any of you are more than welcome to join up, register and post. Enjoy!

02-16-2009, 12:30 PM	#18
dbahn Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mendon, Vermont Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Everyone who had anything to do with pulling this thing off should be commended. "Build it and they will come" worked for us as pilots, and we shouldn't be credited with anything except wanting to have a good time. As I mentioned on our own (Purple) board, the whole thing just represents a slice of Americana that should be cherished. It's very refreshing to me to see a community event like this that also attracts outsiders like us, and to see everyone having such a good time. (For anyone who wants to login in as "Alton Bay Guest" and enter password "guest" (rather than register) and just pick up on the posts and pictures for Winter Carnival weekend, you can just go directly to page 31 to start.) Thanks again for all of the hard work.

02-17-2009, 12:02 AM	#19
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,602 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,468 Thanked 1,983 Times in 1,083 Posts	Thanks for the link to the Purple board and you guys are waaaaayyyyy too funny. Nice to see other folks having a good time on their forum. Dave __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!