Alton Bay Ice Runway
 

Wanted to head over to Alton bay, anyone know if people are flying today?

per their Facebook page

Yes too windy for small planes on an ice runway.

The runway status (open or closed) can be checked here:
https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html#/

Enter the airport number which is B18

NOTAMs are notices to airmen.

Alton Runway
 

:)I looked on their facebook page and they are open today. No snow on runway and very smooth ice. They recommend ice cleats to walk on, it's that slippery.

Crash
 

A plane just crashed on the runway due to a problem with the landing gear. Thankfully there were no injuries.

Is there a restaurant with a good view of the airstrip?

Shibley's. Limited winter hours:

http://www.shibleysatthepier.com/

Not the cause
 

The Piper aircraft landed on runway 19 with a tailwind, and was unable to slow down and ran out of runway. Went through a snow bank at the end of the runway which tore off the nose gear, which resulted in the prop being damaged. Pilot and two passengers goit out of the aircraft almost immediately and reportedly no injuries (thank goodness).

Dave

Landed with a tailwind? Major no-no.

aids?
 

Isn't there a windsock? Unicom?

there is a windsock.

Yes
 

Besides a windsock and a flag on the "floating bandstand ", the are some other flags in and around the bay.

No unicom, however a check on Laconia (LCI) weather or Rochester (Skyhaven) weather would have indicated that runway 01 would be the favored runway.

Unfortunately, the pilot had never landed here before and was probably not aware of the lack of braking on glare ice.

Dave

Runway 19 is a bad choice anyway, very little chance for a late go-around given the obstacle clearance required.

Denis D

Plane gone
 

Driving thru the bay today I did not see the disabled plane. Anyone know how they were able to remove it so quickly? Dave? And how.

video seen on WMUR ...video by Anne Morrell


https://www.wcvb.com/article/plane-s...unway/26290976

Yes the plane was gone mid afternoon today. In past incidents the process was remove the wings (if possible) and transport on flatbed truck. With a prop strike that probably means engine removal and tare down then inspection. Maybe they can do that at Laconia. Good no injuries

Wrong, the plane is still there parked in the F&G boat launch lot at the tip of the bay.

Full house today. We were impressed with the efforts of the local crew both in preparation of the runway/parking and the management of so may aircraft.

Thanks, Slickcraft :) I was hoping someone would post some pics. Were you there for the bed race? Who won?

We were disappointed that the bed race was cancelled. My conjecture is that there was just too much airplane traffic to shut down air operations for the race to take place. They would have had to use a section of the runway or taxi way. We have never seen so many planes there. And cars were parked all the way up to Sandy Point.
WMUR had coverage.
https://www.wmur.com/article/hundred...nival/26381856

??
 

You mean Sandy Point???

Yes Sandy Point

A record for planes
 

From the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway FB page:

Was a fantastic Day today in Alton BayWinter Carnival was awesome. And the airport could not have been better. I believe we had a record breaking day on the Runway we had approximately 150 Aircraft in and out of the airport. I believe busiest airport in New Hampshire for the day!!!!!

Sorry the bed race couldn't be held. Perhaps next year the winter Carnival folks can plow off a section of ice to hold the event.

Dave

Parking
 

Due to the great turnout for the Winter Carnival, the parking was worse than for the July 3rd fireworks. The cars were parked past Sandy Point, and people were walking 2 or 3 abreast in the road. I parked up at the ABCCC, but I liked a suggestion someone mentioned on the Alton Community Facebook page:. Have parking at the school and provide shuttle service. The turnout yesterday was great to see. The weather was perfect, and there was enough snow on the lake to make walking less treacherous. Had my Yak Trax on & never slipped once.

Not quite sure why the highway department couldn’t have plowed all of the new parking lot that they had to have, to accommodate all the people. Huge safety issue as people parked on the back bay bridge were way out in the road, absolutely ridiculous especially with people walking in the road it brought that section down to one lane of traffic.

Cool video
 

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ydeznNNAYaY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://youtu.be/ydeznNNAYaY

Skis?
 

All these planes seem to have wheels. Does anybody fly in-out with skis? I'll always remember my first flight with skis, out of Merrymeeting field, landing on the un-marked bay on the coast of Bowdoinham, Maine. J-3 Cub, 1974.

Just awesome I am so sorry I couldn’t make the festival this year [emoji22]


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Skis?
 

Yes, I saw at least one plane with skis

Just got back from q couple hours of hanging out at the airport. Big crowd and saw that today is the last day of it being open. My 2 yo and father-in-law had a great time watching planes and helicopters landing and taking off. So get down there now or wait till next year!! I might try to go after the kid's nap to see them all take off.

Too bad but a pretty season.
 

Too bad they have to close, but given the bad weather tomorrow and then the warmer temperatures forecasted for the coming week, it makes sense. They cannot stay open later than March 15 anyway.

Congratulations to Airport Manager Paul Larochelle and his all volunteer crew for yet another job well done.

Dave