K55 Thompson Pass Airport | Valdez, Alaska

Before you fly into K55

Conditions

VFR

Good for visual flying

Airport

Non-towered

Self-announce on CTAF

Pattern alt

3,080'

MSL · field 2,080' + 1,000 AGL

Favored RWY

Calm

No wind component

METAR & TAF K55

K55 does not publish a METAR.

Showing the nearest reporting station: PAVD (VALDEZ PIONEER FLD) · 16.3 NM away. Conditions at K55 may differ.

METAR · PAVD

Observed 01:56Z

PAVD 270156Z 23005KT 10SM FEW019 BKN037 BKN055 14/11 A2992

Wind: 230° @ 5 kt
Visibility: 10 SM
Temp / Dew: 14°C / 11°C
Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
Clouds: BKN
Density alt: 2,459 ft
Ceiling: 3,700 ft AGL
Rules: VFR

K55 does not issue a TAF.

Showing the forecast from the nearest station: PAVD (VALDEZ PIONEER FLD) · 16.3 NM away. Conditions at K55 may differ.

Forecast · TAF

Valid 26 21:00Z–27 18:00Z

TAF PAVD 262106Z 2621/2718 VRB05KT P6SM SCT009 OVC030 TEMPO 2621/2624 -SHRA BKN009 FM270500 08005KT P6SM VCSH FEW025 OVC045 FM270900 07003KT P6SM OVC030

BASEMVFR

26 21:00Z–27 05:00Z

Wind: Variable at 5 kt
Visibility: ≥ 6 SM
Sky: Overcast 3,000 ft, Scattered 900 ft
Weather: None forecast

21Z

00Z

03Z

06Z

09Z

12Z

15Z

18Z

NOW

How to read

The top lane is always the active baseline (BASE + FM). Secondary lanes stack temporary and probabilistic deviations in the order they appear in the TAF.

Tap any pill to see the decoded conditions for that period.

Change indicators

BASEBase

Initial conditions at the start of the forecast.

FMFrom

A new baseline that replaces the previous forecast completely, starting at the stated time.

BECMGBecoming

Conditions change gradually over the window shown. By the end, the new conditions apply.

TEMPOTemporary

Fluctuating conditions lasting less than an hour at a time within the window — not the dominant forecast.

PROB30/40Probability

30 or 40% chance of the conditions occurring within the period. Never combined with BECMG.

Airport info & contacts

Manager on record, flight service, ARTCC, attendance schedule and pattern altitude — published by the FAA and refreshed every 28 days.

Location

From city: 17 NM E
VFR sectional: ANCHORAGE
ARTCC: ZAN · ANCHORAGE
NOTAM facility: JNU (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name: STATE OF ALASKA, DNR, DMLW
Phone: 907-269-8400
Address: 550 W 7TH AVE STE 900C, STE 900C, ANCHORAGE AK 99501-3577

Flight service · Hours

FSS JNU: JUNEAU907-586-73801-866-297-2236
Attendance: Unattended

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway

230° · 5 kt

See full METAR & TAF

Pattern entry · RWY —

No runway selected.

Runway	Heading (°M)	Length	Surface	Traffic

Approaches & charts

Chart Supplement

K55 · CHART_SUPP

Chart Supplement

K55 · CHART_SUPP

Services on the field

Fuel grades, oxygen, maintenance, ramp storage and lighting — as declared to the FAA by the airport operator.

Fuel & services

Fuel: Not available

Ramp & ground

Transient storage: Not published
Landing fee: No fee published
Customs: Not available
Wind indicator: No
Segmented circle: No

Fuel & FBOs

Cheapest 100LL and Jet A on the field and nearby. Always confirm with the FBO before taxi.

No fuel prices published right now. Call the FBO directly.

Airport notes

Surface conditions, obstructions, local procedures, lighting outages and other notes published with each FAA cycle.

General notes

UNCTLD VEHICLE TFC ON RWY.
EXP TURBULENT WIND.
HIGH TRRN ALL QUADS.
RWY COND UNMNT: RCMD VISUAL INSP PRIOR TO USE.
ALL OPS PPR - AMGR.

Runway surface & condition

05/23RWY UNSAFE FOR LNDG, TKOF OR TGL DUE TO DEBRIS ON RWY - AMGR.
05/23E SIDE 9 FT UNUSBL; RMNG OVERGROWN WITH 4 FT BRUSH.

Approach & departure obstructions

05FIRST 300 FT SOFT & RUTTED. 1 FT GRASS & BRUSH FIRST 1200 FT; REMAINDER 10 FT BRUSH.
23PWR LINE CROSSES HILL ON APCH END.

Other notes

ALSO KNOWN AS 30 MILE.
20 SM E VALDEZ.
05/23EAST HALF OF RWY OVERGROWN WITH 10 FT BRUSH; STRIP 10X2270 FT UNUSABLE. WEST HALF OF RWY LOOSE GRAVEL & SMALL BRUSH TO 6 IN.
05/23SOFT AFT RAIN. RISES SLIGHTLY AT EACH END.

VFR map & nearby airports

VFR sectional. Tap any ICAO chip to open that airport.

Key facts · K55

Answer card

ICAO: K55
Name: THOMPSON PASS
Location: VALDEZ, ALASKA
Elevation: 2,080 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude: 3,080 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower: Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways: 0
Longest runway: –
Published ILS approaches: 0
Published frequencies: 1
Magnetic variation: 27°
Current flight rules: VFR
Current wind: 230° at 5 kt
Favored runway now: –

Thompson Pass (K55) is near Valdez, Alaska. The field elevation is 2,080 ft MSL. No runways are listed in the facts, so check the current FAA Chart Supplement and contact the airport manager before planning any arrival. There is no control tower. CTAF is 122.9. No ILS approaches are published.

The airport is also known as 30 Mile. It sits about 20 statute miles east of Valdez. The published remarks call out high terrain in all quadrants. Expect turbulent wind. The runway area is also reported as unsafe for landing, takeoff, or touch-and-go due to debris, brush, soft spots and uncontrolled vehicle traffic. A power line crosses the hill on the approach end of runway 23. That is a serious local hazard.

Pattern altitude is not published. For light piston operations, use the standard 1,000 ft AGL only if the current Chart Supplement or airport manager does not publish something different. There are no on-field FBOs listed. All operations require prior permission from the airport manager. This is not a casual stop. Verify current field status before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Is Thompson Pass (K55) usable for takeoff or landing right now?

The published remarks say the runway is unsafe for landing, takeoff, or touch-and-go due to debris on the runway. They also note brush, soft areas and uncontrolled vehicle traffic. Check with the airport manager before any plan to use the field.

What is the pattern altitude at K55 Thompson Pass?

Pattern altitude is not published in the facts. For light piston aircraft, use the standard 1,000 ft AGL only if the current FAA Chart Supplement or airport manager confirms no special procedure.

Does K55 have an ILS approach?

No ILS approaches are published for K55. If you need instrument guidance, verify current approach options in the FAA Chart Supplement before departure.

Is Thompson Pass towered or uncontrolled?

There is no control tower at K55. CTAF is 122.9.

What should a pilot know about terrain at Thompson Pass?

High terrain is present in all quadrants. The remarks also warn of turbulent wind. Plan for mountain flying conditions. Verify weather carefully before committing.

Are there any FBOs on the field at K55?

No on-field FBOs are listed. Contact the airport operator directly before arrival. Call the field on CTAF for current local handling information.

Do I need permission to use Thompson Pass airport?

Yes. The published remarks say all operations require prior permission from the airport manager. Get that approval before you plan to land.

What hazards are published for runway 05/23 at K55?

The remarks list overgrown brush, loose gravel, soft surface after rain, a power line near the approach end of runway 23 and debris on the runway. The field is also described as having uncontrolled vehicle traffic.

K55