Minami Torishima Airport

Minami Torishima Airbase Marcus Island Airport
Minami Torishima Airbase in view on the island, Minami Torishima
IATA: MUS ICAO: RJAM
Summary
Airport type	Military
Operator	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Serves	Minami Torishima
Elevation AMSL	22 ft / 7 m
Coordinates	24°17′23″N 153°58′45″E / 24.28972°N 153.97917°E / 24.28972; 153.97917 (Minamitorishima Air Field)Coordinates: 24°17′23″N 153°58′45″E / 24.28972°N 153.97917°E / 24.28972; 153.97917 (Minamitorishima Air Field)
Map
Location
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 1,371 4,498 Concrete
Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1]

Minami Torishima Airbase (南鳥島航空基地, Minami Torishima Kōkūkichi), often called Marcus Island Airport, is a one runway airport serving the island of Minami Torishima. The aerodrome used to be a military airstrip and according to the Japanese Aeronautical Information Service, is still operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.^[1]

View of original airstrip in 1945

The airstrip existence dates to 1935 when the Imperial Japanese Navy built one to serve a meteorological station. The original airfield consisted of two airstrips (cleared area of 4000' and 4500', but only shorter sections used as landing area) in a v-shaped formation.^[2]

The airstrips facilities were damaged by US bombing of the island during World War II,^[3] and was re-built with a single runway by the United States. Until 1993, the airstrip was used and controlled by the United States Coast Guard to service the nearby LORAN-C station. In 2009 the airstrip was transferred to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force which currently retains control of the airstrip and is used by the Japan Meteorological Agency to service and staff their operations on the island.

References