RAF Ascension Island

RAF Ascension Island
Wideawake Airfield Ascension Island Auxiliary Field
Near Georgetown in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
A Royal Air Force TriStar at RAF Ascension Island.
Auxilium trans mare (Latin for 'Support across the Sea')
RAF Ascension Island Location on Ascension Island Show map of Ascension Island RAF Ascension Island RAF Ascension Island (South Atlantic) Show map of South Atlantic RAF Ascension Island RAF Ascension Island (Atlantic Ocean) Show map of Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	07°58′10″S 014°23′38″W / 7.96944°S 14.39389°W / -7.96944; -14.39389
Type	Permanent Joint Operating Base
Area	55 hectares (135.9 acres)
Site information
Owner	UK Ministry of Defence
Operator	Royal Air Force and US Space Force
Condition	Operational
Website	www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-ascension-island/
Site history
Built	1939 (1939)
In use	1939–present
Garrison information
Current commander	Wing Commander Kim Surman (UK)[1]
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: ASI, ICAO: FHAW, WMO: 61902
Elevation	78.6 metres (258 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 13/31 3,054 metres (10,020 ft) Asphalt
Source: UK MIL AIP – FHAW Ascension / Wideawake[2]

RAF Ascension Island (IATA: ASI, ICAO: FHAW), also known as Wideawake Airfield or Ascension Island Auxiliary Field, is a military airfield and facility located on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. The airfield is jointly operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Space Force (USSF). Under the terms of an international agreement between the UK and US governments, only state aircraft (e.g. military and diplomatic flights) are authorised to land at Ascension; however, it is also open to air services between Saint Helena and Ascension.^[3]

The facility is home to a U.S. Space Force ground tracking station in support of the Eastern Range and rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.