Pilot Paul Russo on the ice at the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway on Lake Winnipesaukee. Courtesy photo/Aviation Museum of New Hampshire

LONDONDERRY — For many Granite Staters, Lake Winnipesaukee is the mecca of summertime activities and the king of Lakes Region; however, for pilot Paul Russo, it is something much different.

Since 2005, Russo has landed more than 100 times at the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway, the only frozen landing strip in the continental U.S. to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Landing on frozen lakes has been done for years,” he said during his Jan. 15 presentation at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. “If you manage your speed it’s not an issue.”

Located at the southern end of the lake, the runway is 2,800 feet long by 100 feet wide and is only open a few weeks out of the year when the ice is 12 inches thick. For safety reasons, the runway must cease operations each year by March 15.

Although it only takes Russo 12 minutes to fly from Concord to Alton Bay, he said other pilots have flown in from New Jersey, Texas and Virginia just for the experience of landing on ice. After touching down, pilots receive ice chip tokens and a certificate for a successful landing.

An aerial view of the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway on the southern end of Lake Winnipesaukee. Courtesy photo

Russo said there is usually a stiff crosswind coming off Mt. Major, which can make approaches challenging for twin engine planes. However, snow cover is always beneficial when landing at Alton Bay.

“Even though you’re landing on ice, there is some traction,” said Russo.

He also said the airport’s management never puts a snowbank at the end of the runway.

“Inevitably, someone will slide off the runway and we don’t want them sliding into a snowbank,” he said.

In addition, Russo warned that when the temperature rises above 32 degrees, water begins pooling on the runway.

Pilot Paul Russo describes his experiences landing at the Alton Bay Seaplane Base and Ice Runway on Lake Winnipesaukee during his presentation at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire on Jan. 15. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON    

“Those pools are like sandpits,” he said.

With nearly 3,000 flying hours, Russo specializes in flying tailwheel aircraft and competition aerobatics. He has also competed in aerobatic contests for 20 years piloting aircraft from Cessnas to a North American AT-6 warbird.

He is also a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association and Chapter 35 of the International Aerobatic Club.