Does anyone here have experience landing on WIlding Airfield on Shaw Island? 1500 feet by 30 is what it's listed. Looks like it is just off Blind Bay...it is a one way strip, land south take off north...

Looks like a cool spot

I have landed there about 6 times with a 206. Nice little strip. one way in and one way out. Mr Wilding is a great person. We went in on a 135 flight and called him ahead to make sure it was mowed.

Al died some years ago, I think his daughter is there now. Be careful in the wet season, or when there is a truck parked in the middle........

Wow, I've flown over or around Shaw Island about 2000 times and never saw that, crazy! I have been to the other airstrip on Shaw, pretty good slop on that one.

I learned to fly on the other strip in a champ many decades ago.........

I don't see another strip listed...put in a call to Wilding's daughter but haven't heard back...

Looking at recent google earth imagery it doesn't appear it is maintained as an airstrip any more, but that's just my eye on google earth. It took me a couple minutes to find it, 2006 is the last year there looks to be a defined airstrip. Good luck.

Maybe that's why I never saw it, didn't really start flying around the San Juans till 2007.

Yes...I couldn't really see anything on Google earth either. Haven't heard back from the owner anyway. Probably no functioning strip left on Shaw....

I flew past it yesterday on the way to Stuart Island and it is mowed and looking good. Sorry to hear he had passed, was a good guy. He was a former Seattle cop if my memory serves me correctly and thats difficult sometimes

See:

http://www.airnav.com/airport/6WA5

littlewheelinback wrote:I don't see another strip listed...put in a call to Wilding's daughter but haven't heard back...

If you look at a satelite image of shaw island the other airstrip is just to the west of Wilding. It looks like it has 2 runways that make a V shape, very easy to spot.

robw56 wrote:

littlewheelinback wrote:I don't see another strip listed...put in a call to Wilding's daughter but haven't heard back...

If you look at a satelite image of shaw island the other airstrip is just to the west of Wilding. It looks like it has 2 runways that make a V shape, very easy to spot.

That's the airstrip I've always associated with Shaw, seen the local pumpkin colored 135 land there many times. A former customer of mine operated an amphib beaver out of there for many years until quite recently. Definitely a place to wary of with a north wind.

The Wilding's daughter got back to me. She was very friendly and is a pilot. Their field was originally graded so she could fly in to visit. While it is listed at 1,500 feet she says it really has 2,000 usable. It hasn't been graded in a while. The family has sold the property to an investment company, but Ms Wilder still will be care taking the place. The owners haven't decided wether or not to keep the strip available for use but Ms Wilder says they are fairly open to it. SInce a decision hasn't been made she couldn't give me permission to land this week but maybe later in the summer. I'll post the final results here. Ms Wilder says the other field on the island is fairly tricky...one way in and out, with a narrow window for touchdown and no go around possible for most aircraft. It has been the scene of several accidents (some were credited erroneously to the Wilder's field...no accident history there) and she doesn't know if landings are allowed there now.

The main strip has always been a permission only strip. Its a little tricky since you climb probably 75-100' from touch down to stop at top. Its a one way strip landing north and take off south. With strong north winds, right down the runway, it can give you some good down drafts. With strong south winds (tail winds down the runway you get to live Bernullies principle. The way the trees are you actually accelerate as you get into the tree line and if you don't have the performance for a go around you can end up in the trees which has happened in the past. If winds are are normal its a good and fun runway. This is from my experience of several years of 135 flying into these strips.

The "main" strip has Xs on both ends now...the WIlding strip is longer and in nicer shape with no slope...hope she can make it available again.