Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting comments from the aviation industry and general public (including federal, state, tribal, and local agencies) regarding the importance of Midway Atoll Airport/Henderson Airfield (MDY) for trans-Pacific Ocean aviation operations. Specifically, MDY serves in a "flight planning" role for routes across the North-Central Pacific Ocean, as an Extended Range Operation with Two-Engine Airplanes (ETOPS) alternate airport under Federal Aviation Regulations. However, MDY's infrastructure is deteriorating and will require significant financial investments and rehabilitation within the next three to five years to maintain its operational capability and compliance with the FAA's airport certification requirements and ETOPS requirements. The FAA is requesting responses to questions contained in this notice in order to better understand the potential impacts if MDY were no longer available as an ETOPS alternate airport.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration [Docket No. FAA-2026-8185] AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Request for comments. SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting comments from the aviation industry and general public (including federal, state, tribal, and local agencies) regarding the importance of Midway Atoll Airport/Henderson Airfield (MDY) for trans-Pacific Ocean aviation operations. Specifically, MDY serves in a “flight planning” role for routes across the North-Central Pacific Ocean, as an Extended Range Operation with Two-Engine Airplanes (ETOPS) alternate airport under Federal Aviation Regulations. However, MDY's infrastructure is deteriorating and will require significant financial investments and rehabilitation within the next three to five years to maintain its operational capability and compliance with the FAA's airport certification requirements and ETOPS requirements. The FAA is requesting responses to questions contained in this notice in order to better understand the potential impacts if MDY were no longer available as an ETOPS alternate airport. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 8, 2026. ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2026-8185 using any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically…
Citation: 91 FR 46823
