Tinian International Airport Explained

Tinian International Airport
Nativename:West Tinian Airport
Iata:TIQ
Icao:PGWT
Faa:TNI
Type:Public
Owner:Commonwealth Ports Authority
Location:Tinian
Elevation-F:270
Elevation-M:82
Pushpin Map:Northern Mariana Islands
Pushpin Label:TIQ
Website:cpa.gov.mp/tinapt.asp
R1-Number:8/26
R1-Length-F:8,600
R1-Length-M:2,621
R1-Surface:Asphalt/concrete
Stat-Year:2022
Stat1-Header:Aircraft operations (year ending 3/17/2022)
Stat1-Data:29,207
Footnotes:Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Tinian International Airport, also known as West Tinian Airport, is a public airport located on Tinian Island in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This airport is owned by Commonwealth Ports Authority.

This airport is assigned a three-letter location identifier of TNI by the Federal Aviation Administration, but the International Air Transport Association (IATA) airport code is TIQ (IATA assigned TNI to Satna Airport in India). The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airport code is PGWT.[2] [3] [4] Tinian International Airport is the hub of Star Marianas Air.

Facilities and aircraft

The airport was established on the site of the World War II era West Field.

Tinian International Airport covers an area of 1416acres which contains one paved runway (8/26) measuring 8,600 x 150 ft (2,621 x 46 m).

For 12-month period ending March 17, 2022, the airport had 29,207 aircraft operations, an average of 80 per day: 74% air taxi, 26% general aviation and <1% military.

The head office of Star Marianas Air is in Hangar 1 at the airport.[5]

In May 2012, the United States Marine Corps VMFA-121 operated its F/A-18D Hornets from the airport using M-31 expeditionary aircraft arresting gear systems similar to arresting systems used aboard aircraft carriers during Exercise Geiger Fury.[6]

In 2019 the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands acting through the Commonwealth Ports Authority and the United States Department of Defense signed an agreement to operate a divert airfield at the airport in case Andersen Air Force Base on Guam is unable to be used.[7]

In early March 2023 United States Air Force Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors deployed to Tinian for the first time from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa as part of exercise Agile Reaper 21-1.[8] Work is planned for 2024 to expand dispersal facilities at Tinian International, as well as restoration of facilities at Tinian North Field. [9] [10]

Accidents and incidents

External links

Notes and References

  1. , retrieved June 13, 2024.
  2. Web site: Airline and Airport Code Search . International Air Transport Association (IATA) . November 14, 2016.
  3. Web site: Tinian International (IATA: TIQ, ICAO: PGWT, FAA: TNI) . Great Circle Mapper . November 14, 2016.
  4. Web site: Satna (IATA: TNI, ICAO: VIST) . Great Circle Mapper . November 14, 2016.
  5. Web site: Star Marianas Air - Company Information. Star Marianas Air. 12 August 2017. Our corporate offices are located at Hangar One on West Tinian International Airport on the beautiful island of Tinian..
  6. Web site: MAG-12 Hornets swarm to be first on Tinian. Gage Karwick. MCAS Iwakuni. 22 May 2012. 7 December 2020.
  7. News: Torres says investors are now expanding to Tinian. Saipan Tribune. 27 November 2020.
  8. Web site: Exercise Agile Reaper 23-1 Kicks Off in Guam, Tinian. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Tech Sgt Hailey Staker. 2 March 2023. 6 March 2023.
  9. News: Nakamura . Ryo . U.S. to reclaim WWII airfield in Pacific, clearing jungle by summer . 22 December 2023 . Nikkei Asia . December 17, 2023.
  10. News: Lendon . Brad . US Air Force to reclaim Pacific airfield that launched atomic bombings as it looks to counter China . 22 December 2023 . CNN . December 21, 2023.
  11. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Curtiss R5C-1 Commando (C-46) 39579 Tinian Island International Airport (TIQ) . 2023-07-23 . aviation-safety.net.