Eareckson Air Station - Overview

Overview

Eareckson Air Station is located on the western tip of Alaska's Aleutian islands near the larger island of Attu, and is located approximately 1500 miles southwest of Anchorage. The airport lies on the south side of the 2 mile by 4 mile island and is 97 feet above mean sea level.

Shemya has been the scene of two major earthquakes. The first earthquake, measuring 7.75 on the Richter scale, occurred on 3 February 1965. It was followed by severe after shocks and a tidal wave. Damage, however, was limited to cracks in the taxiways. The other earthquake, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, occurred on February 1, 1975, with a high degree of damage to the runways and hangars. Communications were disrupted for a short period of time.

Eareckson Air Station has one runway:

• Runway 10/28: 10,000 by 150 feet (3,000 m × 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Grooved, 28 is ILS equipped.
• The island has many abandoned taxiways, aircraft revetments and two other runways on the west side of the island. All of these World War II facilities are abandoned and non-operational.

There is also an NDB, TACAN and a VOR on the island.