Chena Hot Springs Airport (CEX)

Chena Hot Springs Airport (AK13 (CEX)) is a private airstrip primarily serving the remote Chena Hot Springs Resort, rather than functioning as a commercial passenger airport. Consequently, there are no typical traveler reviews regarding terminal facilities, security, or customs. Most visitors arrive via a shuttle service from Fairbanks International Airport, with pilot experiences and resort reviews offering the only insights into the airstrip and overall travel to the area.

What Pilots (and indirect travelers) Note Positively:

• Direct Access for Private Aircraft: For private pilots with prior permission, AK13 offers the closest direct air access to the Chena Hot Springs Resort.
• Flightseeing Tours: Flightseeing tours are available directly from the private airstrip, offering unique aerial perspectives of the region.

Key Considerations:

• Private Use and Restrictions: AK13 is strictly for private use; commercial passenger pick-up or drop-off, hunting, and ultralights are prohibited. Prior permission is required before landing.
• Runway Conditions and Lack of Maintenance: The 3,000 x 60 ft gravel runway is not maintained or monitored, with reports of loose 3-inch rocks and some 12-inch ruts. It also slopes downhill 3% from east to west.
• Unattended and No Services: The airport is unattended and lacks a control tower, airframe, powerplant, or oxygen services.
• Environmental Challenges for Pilots: Pilots should be alert for strong crosswinds, an often unreliable windsock, and the presence of animals and machinery on the runway. Rapidly rising terrain surrounds the airport.
• General Traveler Transportation: Most travelers rely on the Chena Hot Springs Resort's shuttle service for transportation to and from Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), which is about a 60-90 minute scenic drive away.
• Resort Amenities (indirectly related to travel experience): While not airport-specific, some resort reviews mention high prices for food and rooms, inconsistent staff service, and often slow and expensive satellite internet with no cell service. Locker rooms for the hot springs have also been described as lacking in cleanliness.

Chena Hot Springs Airport (AK13) is a functional private airstrip for those with the appropriate permissions and aircraft capabilities, offering direct access to the resort. However, for the general public, the travel experience primarily revolves around the resort's shuttle service from Fairbanks, with the airstrip itself being an operational rather than passenger-focused facility.