
Black Rock City Airport is a temporary airport in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada that serves Burning Man. It is also known as Black Rock City Municipal Airport and has the FAA identifier 88NV. Pilots who intend to land at the airport are required to preregister and qualify first. The airport is quite basic, with no vending machines, ticket counters, wastebaskets, or taxi cabs. There is also a separate Black Rock Airport that was located in Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, but it was replaced by the Andrew Othole Memorial Airport in 2017 and subsequently closed to all aircraft in 2018.
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What You'll Learn
- Black Rock City Municipal Airport is a temporary airport in Nevada's Black Rock Desert
- It is also known as 88NV, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifier
- Pilots must preregister and qualify before landing at 88NV
- The airport does not offer amenities like vending machines, ticket counters, or taxis
- Black Rock Airport in New Mexico closed to all aircraft in February 2018

Black Rock City Municipal Airport is a temporary airport in Nevada's Black Rock Desert
The Black Rock City Municipal Airport, with the FAA identifier 88NV, is a temporary airport located in the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada. It is situated in Gerlach, NV, and serves as a key transportation hub for those travelling to and from the area. The airport is known for its unique and unconventional nature, serving as an aviation gateway to the vibrant community of Black Rock Citizens during the annual Burning Man event.
Black Rock City Airport caters to both general aviation and charter flights, as well as hosting charter and GA traffic, free scenic flights, ultralights, and skydivers. On busy days, it is among the country's 100 busiest airports. Pilots who intend to land at 88NV are required to preregister and qualify due to the unconventional nature of the surroundings. The airport operates with the support of dedicated volunteers, fostering a sense of community and adventure for all who visit.
The airport facilities are basic, with no vending machines, ticket counters, wastebaskets, or taxi cabs. Visitors are expected to embrace the principles of Radical Self-reliance, Decommodification, and Leaving No Trace, just like anywhere else in Black Rock City. Despite the lack of conventional amenities, the professional crew of 88NV is known for their hospitality and expertise in ensuring a safe and efficient aviation experience.
Black Rock City Municipal Airport offers a unique and adventurous travel experience, providing a convenient journey to the middle of nowhere. It embodies the spirit of community and self-reliance, attracting volunteers and visitors alike who are eager to explore the exceptional surroundings of Black Rock City and the annual Burning Man gathering. The airport's temporary nature and focus on safety and efficiency make it a remarkable aviation destination.
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It is also known as 88NV, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifier
The Black Rock City Municipal Airport is a temporary airport located in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. It serves both general aviation and charter flights and is also known by its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifier, 88NV. Pilots who intend to land at 88NV must preregister and qualify beforehand. The airport is run by volunteers and has no amenities such as vending machines, ticket counters, wastebaskets, or taxi cabs. It is primarily used by those attending the Burning Man festival, and the same principles of Radical Self-reliance, Decommodification, and Leaving No Trace apply as they do in Black Rock City.
The airport is so distinct that it has its own unique culture and community. The website for Black Rock City Municipal Airport provides extensive information for pilots, including details on skydiving, RC/drone aircraft, and how to get involved as a volunteer. It is described as a fun place where volunteers can spend quality time with the "88NV gang".
The Black Rock Airport was a former public-use airport located in New Mexico that closed in 2018. This airport was assigned the identifier ZUN by the FAA and had no designation from the IATA. It is important not to confuse this former airport with the Black Rock City Municipal Airport, which is sometimes referred to simply as "Black Rock Airport" or "Black Rock City Airport" and has the FAA identifier 88NV.
In summary, Black Rock City Municipal Airport, also known as Black Rock Airport or Black Rock City Airport with its FAA identifier 88NV, is a unique and temporary aviation facility serving the Burning Man event in Nevada. It is distinct from the now-closed Black Rock Airport in New Mexico, which had the FAA identifier ZUN.
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Pilots must preregister and qualify before landing at 88NV
The Black Rock City Municipal Airport, also known as 88NV, is a temporary airport in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. It is an airport that is constructed and then taken down every year in a dried-up lakebed in the Nevada desert for the annual Burning Man festival.
The airport serves both general aviation and charter flights. Private pilots can fly their aircraft into 88NV, but they must preregister and qualify before landing due to the challenging flight conditions and the impact of winds and dust on aircraft. The airport's website warns that "things can get really weird out here".
The challenging conditions at 88NV include a 4,000-foot elevation, 6,000-foot long gravel runways, and hot temperatures, which can impact aircraft performance. In addition, the dense dust in the area can get into every crack and crevice of an aircraft, requiring pilots to take extra precautions such as covering their planes and cleaning them afterward.
To land at 88NV, pilots must go through a qualification process, which includes extensive training and obtaining an authorization code from Unicom before landing. This process ensures that pilots are aware of the unique challenges and conditions of flying into the Black Rock City airport and can take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe landing.
Therefore, pilots intending to land at 88NV must preregister and qualify beforehand to ensure a safe and smooth experience at the unique and challenging Black Rock City airport.
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The airport does not offer amenities like vending machines, ticket counters, or taxis
Black Rock City Airport is a temporary airport in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, serving as the gateway to Burning Man. It is also known as Black Rock City Municipal Airport and has the FAA identifier 88NV. This airport is quite unique, and pilots who intend to land here are required to preregister and qualify first. The airport operates with the principles of Radical Self-reliance, Decommodification, and Leaving No Trace, and as such, it does not offer the usual amenities found at typical airports.
Indeed, Black Rock City Airport lacks the conveniences of vending machines, ticket counters, wastebaskets, or taxi cabs. Visitors should not expect a "cushy service". Instead, the airport relies on the self-sufficiency and resourcefulness of its patrons, aligning with the distinctive culture of Burning Man. This airport caters to both general aviation and charter flights, accommodating a range of aircraft and passengers during the event.
The absence of standard amenities at Black Rock City Airport is a notable aspect. Vending machines, commonly found in airports for the convenience of travellers, are not available here. Nor are there ticket counters, the typical hubs for checking in and obtaining flight information. Wastebaskets, a standard fixture in most airports for waste management, are also notably absent. And for those expecting to hail a taxi upon arrival, they will be disappointed, as taxi cabs do not operate from this airport.
The experience at Black Rock City Airport is a far cry from the conventional airport journey. It challenges the norms of air travel by forgoing the familiar conveniences. Instead, it embraces the ethos of self-reliance and communal effort that characterise the Burning Man event. This airport is a testament to the unique culture that unfolds in Black Rock City during the festival.
While the absence of these amenities may initially seem like an inconvenience, it is important to consider the context of Burning Man. The event fosters a sense of community and self-sufficiency, encouraging participants to embrace a different way of living, even in their travel choices. By forgoing the usual comforts, attendees are immersed in the Burning Man ethos from the moment they arrive at Black Rock City Airport.
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Black Rock Airport in New Mexico closed to all aircraft in February 2018
Black Rock Airport, a public-use airport located 6 km northeast of Zuni Pueblo's central business district in McKinley County, New Mexico, closed to all aircraft in February 2018. Owned by the Pueblo of Zuñi, the airport was classified as a general aviation facility by the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009-2013. With an elevation of 6,454 feet (1,967 m) above sea level, it covered 88 acres (36 hectares) and featured a single asphalt runway measuring 4,807 by 50 feet (1,465 by 15 meters).
During the 12-month period ending March 31, 2009, the airport recorded 110 aircraft operations, with 91% attributed to air taxi services and the remaining 9% to general aviation. Pilots intending to land at Black Rock City Municipal Airport, identified by the FAA as 88NV, were required to preregister and qualify due to the unique challenges posed by the location. The airport served both general aviation and charter flights during the Burning Man event, held in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.
The airport embodied the principles of Radical Self-reliance, Decommodification, and Leaving No Trace, much like the rest of Black Rock City. While it lacked the typical amenities found at other airports, such as vending machines, ticket counters, wastebaskets, or taxi cabs, it was nonetheless a bustling hub for aviation enthusiasts and those seeking a unique travel experience. The closure of Black Rock Airport in New Mexico may have been related to safety, noise abatement, or maintenance cost concerns, as these are common reasons for airport closures and runway removals.
While the specific reasons for the closure of Black Rock Airport in New Mexico to all aircraft in February 2018 are not immediately clear, it is possible that it was related to safety, noise, or maintenance cost concerns, similar to the reasons for the closure of Runway 17/35 at Albuquerque International Sunport in 2012. Alternatively, the closure could have been temporary, as airports sometimes close runways or facilities for maintenance or redevelopment, intending to reopen them later.
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Frequently asked questions
Black Rock City Municipal Airport is located in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.
The FAA identifier for the airport is 88NV.
There are no vending machines, ticket counters, wastebaskets, or taxi cabs at the airport. The principles of Radical Self-reliance, Decommodification, and Leaving No Trace are emphasized.
Yes, but all pilots who intend to land at 88NV must preregister and qualify first.
Yes, there used to be a Black Rock Airport in Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, United States, but it was replaced by the Andrew Othole Memorial Airport in 2017 and permanently closed in 2018.









































