Burning Man
Black rock desert, nevada
august 21, 2024 - september 3, 2024
Background
The purpose of this Notice is to inform all pilots of special procedures that will be implemented during Burning Man, August 21, 2024- September 3, 2024 in the vicinity of Black Rock Desert, NV. During this event a private-use airport, Black Rock City Municipal Airport (88NV), is created and operated by Black Rock City, LLC on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Pilots should review and adhere to procedures contained in this Notice during the effective dates.
AIRPORT DATES AND HOURS
| PRE-EVENT: Setup Access Pass (SAP) required | Event week | Post-event | ||||
| Dates | Up to Tue Aug 20 | Wed Aug 21 - Thu Aug 22 |
Fri Aug 23 - Sat Aug 24 |
Sun Aug 25 – Sat Aug31 | Sun Sep 1 – Mon Sep 2 | Tue Sep 3 and beyond |
| 6:30 AM – 7:59 AM (PDT) |
Closed | Closed | Uncontrolled / UNICOM | Uncontrolled / UNICOM | Controlled/ ATC Staffed | Closed |
| 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM (PDT) |
Airport Closed- PPR only BLM closure order in effect |
Uncontrolled / UNICOM | Controlled/ ATC Staffed | Controlled/ ATC Staffed | Controlled/ ATC Staffed | Airport Closed- PPR only BLM closure order in effect |
| Box office hours (New arrivals must land when open) | 8AM-6PM SAP required |
8AM-6PM SAP required |
8AM-6PM Box office closes @ noon on Sat Sep 2 |
Closed | ||
PROHIBITED OPERATIONS
| Student Pilot Solo | Flight Training |
| Touch & Go’s | Stop & Go’s |
| Gliders & Glider Towing | Banner Towing |
| Aircraft with Capacity >29 Passengers | Aircraft without Two-Way Communication |
scenic overflight procedure
Pilots that wish to overfly Black Rock City are recommended to pre-register at airport.burningman.org and read the advisory materials there. To perform a scenic orbit and then depart, aircraft should maintain above 7000’ MSL starting at Empire Airport (18NV), Make contact with 88NV tower on 134.7 within ten miles, remain outside if the pentagon-shaped city perimeter fence, and circle clockwise as depicted below.
Airport Information
| FAA Airport Identifier | 88NV |
| Airport Coordinates | 40°45'49.4"N 119°12'37.8"W – 65 NM SW of KWMC |
| Field Elevation | 3904’ MSL |
| Diagram & Runways |
23L / 5R - 6000’ x 75’ using cones 23R / 5L - 5500’ x 75’ using cones Calm-wind runways 23 – winds almost always favor 23. Right traffic runways 5. 23L and 5L typically used for landing (“L is for landings” at 88NV) 23R and 5R typically used for takeoff |
| Surface Conditions | Dry alkaline lake bed. Small dunes of powdery, soft soil. Runways and taxi areas conditioned by rolling and watering. |
| Traffic Pattern Altitude (TPA) | 5000’ MSL for aircraft flying below 100 KIAS on downwind. 5500’ MSL for aircraft at or above 100 KIAS. |
| Frequencies | 134.7 - Black Rock Tower / CTAF 118.35 - Black Rock Ground 122.9 - Unicom (parking assignment and everything else) 128.8 - Oakland Center (>10,000 MSL) |
| Fuel | 100LL available by advance purchase only. No fuel is sold on-playa. |
| Weather | Current conditions available online at airport.burningman.org/weather,
via radio, or as a last resort, via ATC phone at (775) 557-6027. FAA / NOAA forecasts and information are not based on local conditions, and have been unreliable in the past. |
Oakland Air Route Traffic control center information
Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center requests the following from aircraft transiting to and from 88NV airport;
Departing Aircraft requesting VFR flight following West and Southbound should contact Oakland Center on Frequency: 128.8.
Departing Aircraft requesting VFR flight following North and Eastbound should contact Salt Lake Center on 132.25.
Radio and Radar coverage is limited in the area of Empire Airport (18NV) and Black Rock City Municipal Airport (88NV) below 10,000ft.
As of 2024, 88NV is now in Oakland Center’s database and can be used as a destination for flight following.
Expect radar service to terminate around Empire Airport (18NV). If your Radar service is not terminated and you are approaching Empire Airport please ask to terminate with ATC. If you leave Oakland Center frequency without termination of Radar service, we will be required to issue an Alert Notice.
When the frequency is busy please keep communications to a minimum. The Air Traffic Sector that works Burning Man is large and contains 5 separate transmitters. Because of transmitter location you might not hear other pilots on the frequency.
Please use caution for Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s) for firefighting operations. If you are receiving flight following from Oakland Center you are still required to be aware of current TFR’s and NOTAMS along your flight path. If you are getting close to a TFR we will advise and issue a vector.
If planning on an IFR pickup with Oakland Center, expect a minimum IFR altitude of 13,000 going West over the Sierras and 11,000 going North or East. Lower altitudes are available if flying on airways.
When en-route to Burning Man, please avoid unnecessary flights in the vicinity of the following airports; KTRK, KRNO and KTVL. These areas will be busy with Glider operations and increased traffic loads.
AJV-W22 [Published 8/13/24]
