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Playas Air Strip Private

NM86 · Playas, NM · 4,519 ft elevation · var 11E · Non-towered

Airport information

FAA LID
NM86
Coordinates
31.9368, -108.5370
Elevation
4,519 ft MSL
Magnetic variation
11E
Sectional chart
EL PASO
Airport use
Private
Control tower
No
ARTCC
ALBUQUERQUE (ZAB)
Flight service (FSS)
ALBUQUERQUE
Attendance
UNATNDD
Segmented circle
No
Wind indicator
yes
Activated
1978/07
Distance from city
4 SE

Weather

METAR observed

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TAF forecast

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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21

EventLocal (MDT)UTC
Morning civil twilight
Loggable night ends
05:40 AM11:40Z
Sunrise06:09 AM12:09Z
Sunset08:23 PM02:23Z
Evening civil twilight
Loggable night begins
08:51 PM02:51Z
Loggable night (§1.1)
08:51 PM → 05:40 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
09:23 PM → 05:09 AM

Plan a flight from NM86

Night operations

Airport lighting
SEE RMK
Pilot-controlled lighting
Usually keyed on CTAF 122.8 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement

FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.

Traffic pattern

06TPANSEW
LEFT traffic
Landing
Rwy 06 · 060°
Pattern
left (turns left)
TPA
5,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
CTAF
122.8

Enter the left downwind for Rwy 06 at 5,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).

Runway 06/24

4,865 ft × 50 ft · Asphalt (Poor)

Edge lights: Med.

06
Heading
060° mag · 71° true
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Fence, 5 ft, 257 ft from threshold
24
Heading
240° mag · 251° true
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Fence, 162 ft from threshold
ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports

Communication frequencies

ServiceFrequencyNotes
MISC123
UNIC122.8UNICOM

No published instrument procedures or Chart Supplement for NM86. VFR sectional link above.

Ownership & management

Owner
NEW MEXICO INST. OF MINING & TECH.
801 LEROY PLACE, SOCORRO, NM
575-835-5434
Manager
CARLOS ROMERO
PLAYAS RESEARCH & TRAINING CENTER, 1 PLAZA AVE., PLAYAS, NM
575-574-2161

Remarks FAA

  • MIL ACT & UAS OPS INVOF ARPT.
  • RAPID RISING TRRN E & FREQ WIND GUSTS.
  • FOR CD CTC ALBUQUERQUE ARTCC AT 505-856-4861.
  • RWY 06/24 MIRL - 5 CLICKS 123.0.
  • AFT HR - 575-418-8314.
  • SVR ALLIGATOR CRACKING.

Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open NM86 in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.

About NM86

Playas Air Strip (NM86) is an airport in Playas, NM, at 4,519 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 4,865 ft, with no control tower (pilot-controlled). This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for NM86, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.

Does NM86 have a control tower?

No. Playas Air Strip is a non-towered (pilot-controlled) airport; use the published CTAF/UNICOM on the Comms & NavAids tab.

What is the longest runway at NM86?

Playas Air Strip has 1 runway; the longest is 4,865 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.

Where is NM86?

Playas Air Strip is in Playas, NM, at an elevation of 4,519 ft MSL. Coordinates: 31.9368, -108.5370.

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