Menu

Tonopah Test Range Airport

Welcome to Tonopah Test Range Airport. This airport, with the IATA code XSD, sits 27 nautical miles southeast of Tonopah, Nevada. It is also 140 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The airport features a long runway that measures 12,000 feet by 150 feet. It has instrument approach facilities and lights for nighttime use. Tonopah Test Range Airport supports a large number of hangars and has a strong support infrastructure. It plays a key role in military operations and testing in the area.

Live Air Traffic

Tonopah Test Range Airport (IATA: XSD) sits 27 nautical miles southeast of Tonopah, Nevada. It is a major airfield with a long runway measuring 12,000 feet by 150 feet. The airport has instrument approach facilities and lights for nighttime use. You can find over fifty hangars at this location. The airport supports various operations and has a strong infrastructure. It plays a key role in the area, especially for military and government activities.

air Arrivals
air Departures

Basic information about airport

Airport code: KTNX
Type: small
Continent: NA
Country code: US
Country: United
City Tonopah
IATA: XSD
Longitude: -116.78099823
Latitude: 37.7988014221

Tonopah Test Range Airport on Google Maps

metkaMellan
Today 2 °C / 35.6 °F
  • sunOvercast clouds
  • humidityHumidity: 64
  • WindWind: 7.25 m/sec
Fri

-3 C / 26.6 °F

Sat

-1 C / 30.2 °F

Sun

3 C / 37.4 °F

Mon

4 C / 39.2 °F

Tue

6 C / 42.8 °F

Tonopah Test Range Airport: The Strange Airfield in the Nevada Desert

Introduction

The Tonopah Test Range Airport (IATA: XSD) — whose name harks back to the era of nuclear tests and which sits in a valley hidden deep within Nevada's alien landscape — is no ordinary airfield. Located about 27 nautical miles (50 km; 31 mi) southeast of Tonopah, Nevada and approximately halfway between Las Vegas and Reno on U.S. Route, this midsized airport has been open since July 1948.

Airlines and Destinations

Tonopah Test Range Airport is a military airport and not open for public transport, so it does not offer any scheduled commercial flights. Rather, it is mainly used by the United States Department of Defense and other government agencies for military as well as classified operations. The airport is home to a singularly peculiar airline: Janet, an entire company most people have never heard of which serves the transfer needs for intelligence personnel and contractors working at several US military bases in central Nevada.

Passengers and Operated Flights

Because of the secretive nature of operations at Tonopah Test Range Airport, an exact count of passengers and flights is not available. That said, the airport is purportedly a busy place with a fair amount of support facilities — more than 50 hangars and acres of facilities to house all the various military or government operations.

How to Get Here

The Tonopah Test Range Airport is located in a highly remote facility in Nevada, which sits on a range controlled by multiple US military units. The airport is only accessible to certain individuals who are authorized personnel, and the public cannot visit it without proper clearance and authorization.

Parking

The airport includes an expansive parking area to accommodate all the different types of vehicles (as well as aircraft) that pass through. However, like the rest of the airport, its parking area is off-limits to civilian aircraft.

Transportation Price

The Tonopah Test Range Airport is not an airport that offers any commercial service, and as a result, you are unable to access public travel itineraries or costs. The airport is mainly used by the military and government agencies, with transportation to/from provided by those entities.

Terminal Layout

The Tonopah Test Range Airport has one terminal building that serves military and other government operations on the base. You cannot share the terminal layout and facilities because it is a highly controlled area.

Navigate the Airport

Tonopah Test Range Airport can be hard to find and is not easily accessible because it has been built with the intention of being secure. It has one runway designated 14/32 with an asphalt surface measuring 3,657.9 by 45.7 metres (12,001 ft × 150 ft).

Getting Between Terminals

As Tonopah Test Range Airport only has a single terminal, passengers will not need to move between multiple terminals. The main terminal takes care of all the business and domestic operations at the airport.

Services and Amenities

Several services are available on site, including those needed for use by the military and federal government that operate at this airport in support of Tonopah Test Range Airport operations. The other facilities include instrument approach facilities, runway and taxiway night lighting, and extensive support infrastructure including over fifty hangars.

Restaurants and Shops

Tonopah Test Range Airport is not a commercial airport and does not have restaurants, stores, or other amenities accessible to the public. The airport is designed to support the needs of military and government agencies that fly in and out.

Security and Customs

Only a few high-class and sensitive operations are carried out at Tonopah Test Range Airport, so security is an enormous concern. It is closely monitored, with all personnel and vehicles entering the airport passing through a security checkpoint.

Accessibility

No, you cannot visit the Tonopah Test Range Airport. As such, access to the premises has been tightly controlled, and only authorized personnel will be allowed into the facility. You must be authorized and have clearance to enter the airport or its neighborhoods.

Travel Tips

Since Tonopah Test Range Airport is a classified facility, there are no travel tips or available information for tourists intending to visit the range. The airport is a secure area, and entry to it is restricted to those that have the clearance or authorization from the relevant authorities.