Mudhole Smith Airport

Overview

Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport is the main air gateway for Cordova, United States, linking this remote Alaskan community with the wider region. Identified by IATA code CDV and ICAO code PACV, it is classified as a medium airport and sits at a low elevation of 54 feet (16 m), close to sea level. For travelers, that means an airport built around practicality rather than scale: it is small enough to navigate without much stress, but important enough to play a central role in reaching Cordova for fishing trips, outdoor adventures, work travel, and local connections.

Key facts

• Airport name: Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport
• Location served: Cordova, United States
• Codes: CDV (IATA) and PACV (ICAO)
• Time zone: America/Anchorage
• Main runway: 09/27, 7,500 feet, asphalt, lighted
• Secondary runway: 16/34, 1,934 feet, gravel

What travelers should know

The airport’s runway setup is especially useful for understanding operations before you fly. Runway 09/27 is the primary strip, with a long 7,500-foot lighted asphalt surface that supports most regular aircraft movements and helps maintain access in a place where weather and daylight can shape travel plans. A shorter gravel runway, 16/34, adds operational flexibility. Because Cordova is a destination where conditions can change quickly, visitors should keep an eye on schedules, allow extra time around arrivals and departures, and be prepared for a travel experience that feels more regional and weather-aware than at major urban airports.