π Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting comments from the aviation industry and general public (including federal, state, tribal, and local agencies) regarding the importance of Midway Atoll Airport/Henderson Airfield (MDY) for trans-Pacific Ocean aviation operations. Specifically, MDY serves in a "flight planning" role for routes across the North-Central Pacific Ocean, as an Extended Range Operation with Two-Engine Airplanes (ETOPS) alternate airport under Federal Aviation Regulations. However, MDY's infrastructure is deteriorating and will require significant financial investments and rehabilitation within the next three to five years to maintain its operational capability and compliance with the FAA's airport certification requirements and ETOPS requirements. The FAA is requesting responses to questions contained in this notice in order to better understand the potential impacts if MDY were no longer available as an ETOPS alternate airport.