Playas Air Strip Airport (NM86), New Mexico
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Playas Air Strip, identified locally as NM86, is a private-use, unattended airfield in southwestern New Mexico. The field sits at 4,519 feet elevation and offers a single paved runway with no onsite customs processing.
Runways
Playas Air Strip Airport has one paved runway, 06/24, 4,865 ft long and 50 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Playas Air Strip Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Douglas Municipal (KDGL), 61 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Climate
Playas Air Strip Airport averages 26.8 days above 90°F in June and 24.4 freeze days in January. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 95.6°F, and December the coldest, at 57.7°F.
Weather station is 9.9 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Playas Air Strip Airport has published operating constraints in two categories: runway notes and other notes.
Runway 06/24 has medium intensity runway lights (MIRL), activated by 5 clicks on frequency 123.0.
The pavement shows severe alligator cracking.
Military activity and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations occur in the vicinity of the airport.
Rapidly rising terrain lies to the east, accompanied by frequent wind gusts.
For clearance delivery, contact Albuquerque ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Playas Air Strip Airport has four airfields within 47 NM. The closest is Lordsburg Municipal (KLSB), 25.10 NM north.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at NM86
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$600.00 catering order at NM86.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
The $75 minimum applies below $862.50.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is customs clearance available onsite at Playas Air Strip (NM86)?
Playas Air Strip has no onsite customs service. The nearest customs facility is KDGL, located approximately 61 nautical miles away, so crews requiring customs clearance must plan a stop there before or after using NM86.
What runway is available at NM86 and what is its condition?
Playas Air Strip offers a single paved runway, 06/24, measuring 4,865 feet long and 50 feet wide with an asphalt surface. Source remarks note severe alligator cracking on the pavement, which operators should factor into planning.
Are there any operational hazards to know about at Playas Air Strip?
Playas Air Strip sits near rapidly rising terrain to the east and is subject to frequent wind gusts, according to field remarks. Military activity and unmanned aircraft system operations also occur in the vicinity of the airport.