Eareckson As Airport (PASY), Alaska
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Eareckson Air Station (PASY / SYA) sits on Shemya Island in the far western Aleutians, roughly 1,263 nm from the nearest metro area, making it one of the most remote paved fields tracked in this registry. The facility is a USAF installation with a single long asphalt runway, closed to civilian operations except for declared emergencies, and civilian landings otherwise require advance permit coordination well ahead of arrival. FAA TFMSC data shows business aviation traffic making up nearly all recorded annual operations at this uncontrolled field, which operates on a limited weekday attendance schedule and is closed on weekends and holidays.
Runways
Eareckson As Airport has one paved runway, 10/28, 10,004 ft long and 150 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.
Business aviation traffic
Eareckson As Airport recorded 364 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in August. Business aviation traffic at PASY builds through spring and peaks in August, then drops off sharply in December according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 41 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Operating constraints
Eareckson As Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
Flights originating outside the United States should refer to the Alaska section of the USAF Foreign Clearance Guide. Prior notice of 30 minutes is required for barrier service.
Remote weather briefings from the base weather station are available 24 hours a day; prior notice of 2 hours is required.
Taxiways A, D, and the primary helicopter pad are closed. The alternate helicopter pad requires prior permission 72 hours in advance.
A 7-day site arrival notice or 45-day foreign national request is required, along with prior permission for the visit.
Airborne aircraft declaring an emergency into Eareckson Air Station should contact Eareckson Metro on 127.2 or 352.05 during operating hours. If there is no answer, contact Eareckson Radio on CTAF and ensure Anchorage ATC is aware of the emergency. As a backup during non-operating hours, Anchorage ATC will notify Eareckson Radio of all aircraft emergencies. During non-operating hours, Eareckson Air Station requests 30 minutes prior notice when possible.
This is a USAF installation, closed to civilian operations. Military and civilian aircraft declaring an emergency or in distress will be honored.
This is an uncontrolled airport; practice approaches, fleet service, customs, and aircraft maintenance are not available. Deicing fluid meeting SAE AMS 1424P Type 1 is available with 1 hour prior notice.
C-130/L-100 aircraft are weight restricted to a maximum of 137 kips for arrival or departure via Taxiway B. Aircraft heavier than 137 kips must use Taxiways C and M.
ALSF-1 lighting is activated on Runway 10; SALSF on Runway 28. HIRL for Runway 10/28 is activated via CTAF. PAPI for Runway 10 and 28 operate continuously.
Caution: illusion of height and usable runway width is possible when landing during low visibility and at night. Non-standard VFR traffic pattern for Runway 10.
The airport has regular and LED obstruction lighting; LED lighting may not be visible to night vision devices.
Runway condition reading and surface condition reporting follow the same hours as the attended schedule. Field condition and runway condition codes are not reported.
Heavy goose activity occurs April through June and August through October; gulls and ravens are also present in the vicinity of the airport. Bird and wildlife strikes on or near Eareckson Air Station should be reported to airfield operations/tower, the wing safety office, or the USDA Wildlife Services office.
Hills 8 NM west, 662 feet MSL.
Caution: 200-foot turn radius maximum. Tow bar and personnel support for large commercial aircraft requiring a greater than 200-foot turnaround are not available. There is no overrun area, and there are sheer drop-offs.
Caution: see general notices for radiation areas at 52-44N/174-05E, bearing 250 to 028 true.
There is an externally mounted electro-explosive device radiation hazard area from the surface to 16,000 feet MSL, extending to 3 NM. Possible interference with electronic equipment above 200 feet MSL within 3 NM for military aircraft or 62 NM for civil aircraft from the phased array antenna at the northwest corner of Shemya Island. Aircraft carrying electro-explosive devices may experience an arrival delay of up to 30 minutes and must advise airfield operations prior to departure.
Shemya is located at 52-44N, 174-05E, bearing 250 to 028 true; information only.
A service fee is required. Transient service is available Monday through Friday, 1800Z to 0300Z, and closed on weekends and holidays. After-hours service may incur overtime charges and a service fee.
CTAF advisory frequency 352.05 is unavailable from 0300Z to 1100Z Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday and holidays. For arrivals outside the scheduled hours, CTAF advisory 352.05 becomes available one hour prior to arrival.
Contact weather/airfield operations for information.
Coordinate ETOPS or airfield criteria with airfield operations.
A civil aircraft landing permit is required, requested 30 days before landing.
Manned weather observation is supplemented by ASOS from 1000Z to 0200Z, Monday through Saturday; not available Sunday or holidays.
Mandatory and information signs are not installed.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Eareckson As Airport has one airfield within 35 NM. The closest is Casco Cove Cgs (PAAT), 34.83 NM west.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at PASY
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.
$1,200.00 catering order at PASY.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
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 PASY open to civilian aircraft?
Eareckson Air Station (PASY) is a USAF installation closed to civilian operations under normal circumstances. Military and civilian aircraft declaring an emergency or in distress will be honored regardless of status. Civilian aircraft otherwise require a landing permit requested 30 days before landing. Practice approaches, fleet service, customs, and aircraft maintenance are not available at this uncontrolled field.
What is the runway length at Eareckson Air Station?
Eareckson Air Station (SYA) has a single paved runway, 10/28, measuring 10,004 feet long and 150 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This is also the airport's max paved runway length. The field has no overrun areas and features sheer drop-offs beyond the runway ends, so caution is advised. There is a 200-foot turn radius maximum, and tow bar and personnel support are not available for large commercial aircraft requiring a greater turnaround radius.
Are there any weight restrictions for aircraft using taxiways at SYA?
SYA restricts C-130/L-100 aircraft to a maximum of 137 kips when arriving or departing via Taxiway B. Aircraft heavier than 137 kips must use Taxiways C and M instead. This restriction reflects taxiway pavement limits rather than a runway restriction. Dispatchers planning heavy C-130/L-100 movements at Eareckson Air Station should route accordingly.
What wildlife hazards should pilots expect at Eareckson Air Station?
Eareckson Air Station (PASY) reports heavy goose activity from April through June and again from August through October, along with gulls and ravens in the vicinity of the airport. Bird and wildlife strikes on or near the field are to be reported to airfield operations. This activity is a recurring seasonal pattern rather than a one-time hazard. Crews operating during these windows should factor in the elevated risk of wildlife encounters near the runway environment.