Pauloff Harbor /Sanak Is/, US 🇺🇸 Closed Airport
ICAO
US-11545
IATA
-
Elevation
- ft
Region
US-AK
Local Time
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 54.459113° N, -162.693872° E
Continent: North America
Type: Closed Airport
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Approximately late 1970s to early 1980s. An exact date is not documented, as the closure was a gradual process tied to the abandonment of the settlement it served. The Pauloff Harbor post office closed in 1973 and the school closed in 1979, indicating that regular, scheduled air service would have ceased around this period due to the complete depopulation of the village.
The closure was a direct result of economic decline and the subsequent abandonment of the Pauloff Harbor village. The local Aleut (Unangan) population relocated to larger communities like Sand Point in search of better economic opportunities, schools, and services. There was no single event like an accident or military action; rather, the seaplane base became obsolete as the community it supported ceased to exist, making air service economically unviable.
The site is now an abandoned water landing area within the natural harbor of the ghost town of Pauloff Harbor. There is no remaining infrastructure, maintenance, or official designation as an active facility. The landside area consists of the decaying remnants of the former village, which is now considered an archaeological site. The harbor itself remains physically accessible to seaplanes, but any landings are informal and at the pilot's own risk. The ICAO code 'US-11545' is a historical identifier from the Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF) and is not an active FAA or ICAO code.
The Pauloff Harbor Seaplane Base was the primary transportation and supply link for the remote village of Pauloff Harbor on Sanak Island. In an area with no roads connecting to the outside world, the base was a vital lifeline. Operations consisted of general aviation and air taxi services, likely utilizing amphibious aircraft such as the Grumman Goose. These flights transported mail, essential supplies, groceries, and passengers. The base was critical for medical evacuations and connected residents to regional hubs, playing a crucial role in the survival and daily life of this isolated Aleutian community throughout the mid-20th century.
There are zero known plans or prospects for reopening the Pauloff Harbor Seaplane Base as an official, maintained facility. The complete and permanent abandonment of the settlement it served means there is no population or economic activity to support regular air service. Re-establishing the base would be logistically and economically infeasible.