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 is located in Ascension Island
RAF Ascension Island
RAF Ascension Island
Location on Ascension Island
RAF Ascension Island is located in South Atlantic
RAF Ascension Island
RAF Ascension Island
RAF Ascension Island (South Atlantic)
RAF Ascension Island is located in Atlantic Ocean
RAF Ascension Island
RAF Ascension Island
RAF Ascension Island (Atlantic Ocean)
Coordinates07°58′10″S 014°23′38″W / 7.96944°S 14.39389°W / -7.96944; -14.39389
TypePermanent Joint Operating Base
Area55 hectares (135.9 acres)
Site information
OwnerUK Ministry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force and US Space Force
ConditionOperational
Websitewww.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-ascension-island/ Edit this at Wikidata
Site history
Built1939 (1939)
In use1939–present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Wing Commander Kim Surman (UK)[1]
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: ASI, ICAO: FHAW, WMO: 61902
Elevation78.6 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.

  1. ^ "Ascension Island Base". Royal Air Force. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  2. ^ "UK MIL AIP Ascension / Wideawake AD-2 FHAW" (PDF). UK Military AIP. No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Travel by Air – Ascension Island Government".