North Cascade Smokejumper Base

The Methow Valley State Airport also known as  the North Cascade Smokejumper Base is located five miles south of Winthrop, Washington in the beautiful Methow Valley. Originally constructed as a Forest Service installation, the airport has acquired an increasing importance as an airport covering the east side of the northernmost VFR routes through the Cascades. The airport also serves as an important access to the local recreational areas and the growing Methow Valley community. The airport sits at 1,706 ft,  3 miles east of Winthrop and open to the public.

Location

FAA Identifier:  S52
Lat/Long:  48-25-29.8140N 120-08-45.1880W
48-25.496900N 120-08.753133W
48.4249483,-120.1458856
(estimated)
Elevation:  1706 ft. / 520 m (estimated)
Variation:  20E (1985)
From city:  3 miles SE of WINTHROP, WA
Time zone:  UTC -7 (UTC -8 during Standard Time)
Zip code:  98862

 

Airport Operations

Airport use:  Open to the public
Activation date:  12/1938
Control tower:  no
ARTCC:  SEATTLE CENTER
FSS:  SEATTLE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION
NOTAMs facility:  SEA (NOTAM-D service available)
Attendance:  UNATNDD
Wind indicator:  yes
Segmented circle:  yes
Lights:  ACTVT MIRL RY 13/31 - CTAF.
Beacon:  white-green (lighted land airport)
ACTVT ROTG BCN - CTAF.

 

Airport Communications

CTAF/UNICOM:  122.8
WX AWOS-3:  118.425 (509-997-0142)
  • USDA FOREST SVC SMOKE JUMP BASE UNICOM. LTD ADVISORIES RELATED TO BASE OPS MOSTLY DURING SUMMER FIRE SEASON.

 

Airport Services

Fuel available:  100LL JET-A
100LL AND JET A AVBL 24 HRS. LOCATED 100 YARDS NORTH OF SMOKE JUMPER BASE.
Parking:  tiedowns
Airframe service:  NONE
Powerplant service:  NONE
Bottled oxygen:  NONE
Bulk oxygen:  NONE

 

Runway Information

Runway 13/31

Dimensions:  5049 x 75 ft. / 1539 x 23 m
Surface:  asphalt, in excellent condition
Weight bearing capacity: 
Single wheel:  30.0
Runway edge lights:  medium intensity
  RUNWAY 13    RUNWAY 31
Latitude:  48-25.844583N   48-25.149183N
Longitude:  120-09.094067W   120-08.412267W
Elevation:  1694.0 ft.    
Traffic pattern:  left   left
Displaced threshold:  129 ft.   231 ft.
Declared distances:  TORA:5049 TODA:5049 ASDA:4749 LDA:4619   TORA:5049 TODA:5049 ASDA:4919 LDA:4619
Markings:  basic, in good condition   basic, in good condition
Visual slope indicator:  2-light PAPI on left (3.50 degrees glide path)    
Obstructions:  4 ft. other, 200 ft. from runway, 175 ft. left and right of centerline
ROAD AT 0 FT.
  39 ft. trees, 538 ft. from runway, 33 ft. left and right of centerline, 9:1 slope to clear
ROAD 0 FT, 125 FT L, ROAD 182 FT, +5 FT STEEL POST & FENCE AT 78 FT, 80 FT L.

Airport Ownership and Management from official FAA records

Ownership:  Publicly-owned
Owner:  WSDOT AVIATION DIVISION
7702 TERMINAL STREET SW
TUMWATER, WA 98501-7264
Phone (800) 552-0666
800 NUMBER FOR WA STATE CALLS ONLY.
Manager:  G. PAUL WOLF
7702 TERMINAL STREET SW
TUMWATER, WA 98501-7264
Phone (360) 618-2477

 

Airport Operational Statistics

Aircraft based on the field:   9
Single engine airplanes:   7
Multi engine airplanes:   1
Ultralights:   1
     
Aircraft operations: avg 21/day *
92%  transient general aviation
4%  local general aviation
4%  air taxi
<1%  military
* for 12-month period ending 31 December 2017

 

Additional Remarks

MOUNTAINOUS TRRN SURROUNDS ARPT.
SOME OBSTNS IN PRIMARY AND TRANSITIONAL SFCS.
HEAVILY LOADED ACFT MAY BE MAKING STRAIGHT OUT DEPS AND LONG FINAL APCH ALL DALGT HRS TO INCL FOREST FIRE HELIBASE OPS, MAY-SEP.
PEDESTRIANS, VEHICLES, AND ANIMALS ON AND INVOF RY.
CTC WA STATE AVIATION DIVISION 360-709-8015 OR 1-800-552-0666 WA AREA FOR FACILITY INFO PRIOR TO USE.
FOR ACFT ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS CTC WA STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER 800-258-5990.
FOR CD CTC SEATTLE ARTCC AT 253-351-3694.
CONTACT INFO

Address: 23 Intercity Airport Road, Winthrop, WA 98862