{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Airport",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "addressCountry": "Papua New Guinea",
    "addressLocality": "Sim"
  },
  "airlines": [
    "No scheduled airlines"
  ],
  "amenityFeature": [
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Domestic to Domestic Connection Time",
      "value": "45 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Domestic to International Connection Time",
      "value": "90 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "International to Domestic Connection Time",
      "value": "90 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "International to International Connection Time",
      "value": "120 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Interline Connection Time",
      "value": "120 minutes"
    }
  ],
  "city": "Sim",
  "code": "SMJ",
  "comparison_tool_link": "/compare/SMJ",
  "connection_tips": "Sim Airport (SMJ) is a remote regional airstrip in Papua New Guinea, primarily serving the Sim community and surrounding highland villages. All flights are chartered bush operations, typically arranged through operators in Lae or Port Moresby. Most movement within the region is conducted by foot or via private private vehicles that meet specific flights. Flight operations are highly dependent on clear mountain visibility and can be delayed for days by tropical weather or low cloud cover.\n\nThis facility is far removed from the standards of international commercial aviation and functions as a critical lifeline for transport and supplies. Navigating ground transportation at Sim is uniquely informal; there are no taxis, buses, or car rental agencies at the terminal. Travelers should be prepared for extremely basic conditions, as the airport consists of a single unpaved runway and a modest shelter for passenger processing. Build a significant 'weather buffer' into your itinerary and ensure you have enough local currency (Kina) in small denominations for any local fees or community contributions.\n\nConnecting to SMJ requires meticulous planning, as there are no scheduled commercial airline services to this location. Instead, onward travel is almost exclusively managed through pre-arranged coordination with local community leaders, missionary groups, or your specific tour host. It is essential to be self-sufficient, carrying enough food, water, and essential medical supplies for your stay. The experience at Sim offers a profound introduction to the isolated beauty of the PNG highlands, but it rewards only those who have secured every logistical detail well before their aircraft leaves the ground.",
  "country": "Papua New Guinea",
  "flag_url": "https://flagcdn.com/w320/pg.png",
  "flight_search_affiliate_link": "https://book.beatthatflight.com.au/?currency=PGK",
  "frequent_traveler_tip": [
    "SMJ is very remote, so arrive with the essentials you need and a local contact ready.",
    "Keep baggage lean, because small-aircraft weight limits are usually strictly enforced.",
    "Reconfirm your return flight locally, since weather and aircraft availability can shift plans.",
    "Do not assume communication or transport will be available at the strip when you land.",
    "Simbai travel should be timed around local contacts, because the runway itself offers no fallback."
  ],
  "global_map_link": "https://www.google.com/maps?q=Sim%20Airport%20Papua%20New%20Guinea",
  "google_maps_reviews": {
    "rating": 0.0,
    "recent_reviews": [],
    "total_reviews": 0
  },
  "hotel_affiliate_link": "https://book.beatthatflight.com.au/?currency=PGK",
  "iataCode": "SMJ",
  "icao": "AYXI",
  "international": false,
  "last_modified": "May 2026",
  "last_updated": "2026-03-29",
  "latitude": -7.75,
  "layover_planner_info": "Few amenities; prepare accordingly.",
  "longitude": 146.9273,
  "mct_domestic_to_domestic": 45,
  "mct_domestic_to_international": 90,
  "mct_interline": 120,
  "mct_international_to_domestic": 90,
  "mct_international_to_international": 120,
  "missed_connection_help": "Consult airline staff at the terminal for assistance.",
  "name": "Sim Airport",
  "region": "Oceania",
  "related_airports": [
    {
      "code": "LAE",
      "name": "Lae Nadzab Tomodachi"
    },
    {
      "code": "BPD",
      "name": "Bapi Airstrip"
    },
    {
      "code": "BRP",
      "name": "Biaru Airport"
    }
  ],
  "terminal_info": "Sim Airport (Simbai Airport) operates as one of Papua New Guinea's most challenging bush aviation facilities, positioned in the Western Highlands near Madang Province with a notorious one-way runway requiring uphill landings at Runway 26 with a 6% gradient and departures from Runway 08, where missed approaches are impossible due to valley-end positioning. Located at high altitude with density altitudes exceeding 8,000 feet at 20\u00b0C, the facility demands specialized bush pilot expertise and short-field aircraft capabilities.\n\nTerminal facilities consist of basic highland shelter with no formal amenities, reflecting PNG's austere bush airstrip standards where travelers must arrive completely self-sufficient with food, water, medical supplies, and confirmed local coordination. The facility represents the extreme end of Papua New Guinea's challenging aviation environment, where weather patterns, steep terrain, and operational complexity require absolute preparation and experienced bush aviation skills.\n\nOperational characteristics center on specialized bush charter flights using aircraft like Cessna 402s that historically brought the first cattle to Simbai in 1973, emergency medical evacuations under extreme mountain conditions, and supply flights serving remote highland communities accessible only by air. The one-way operation pattern and high density altitude create unique operational constraints requiring precise weight calculations and weather assessment.\n\nStrategic importance encompasses maintaining critical air links to isolated Western Highland communities where ground transportation is impossible, supporting remote indigenous populations dependent on aviation for medical emergencies and essential supplies, and preserving PNG's bush aviation heritage where airstrips like Simbai represent the pinnacle of challenging mountain flying requiring exceptional pilot skills to navigate steep gradients, confined valleys, and no-go-around approach profiles in one of the world's most demanding aviation environments.",
  "terminal_map_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sim_Airport"
}