A Noob's Guide to the NW Airfield

   

The NW Airfield in all its glory.

     If you've played DayZ for any amount of time, chances are you've heard about the NW Airfield. You've also probably heard that it has the highest concentration of military loot on the entire map. As such, it's also one of the most dangerous areas in DayZ.
     Here's a quick overview of what buildings are useful, and how to avoid getting killed while you're there.

    There are four different buildings which are worth visiting:

1. Southern Barracks

   There are two barracks buildings at the airfield, and they are the highest density military loot spawn areas in the game, save for helicopters. If you're approaching the airfield from the south side, this will be the first building that is immediately accessible. Due to the high probability of other players looting these buildings, it is  advisable to slowly check the windows before entering to avoid surprises. Unless its been destroyed by previous players, there will be a bench in the way as soon as you enter the front door, you will need to crouch over it to enter the main corridor, and vault (default key: 'V') to get back out. Each room in the barracks should contain loot, ranging from near-useless junk (empty tin cans) to high-end military loot (MK48s, DMRs, etc), so be sure to check all them before leaving. 

2. Northern Barracks

    This building is identical to the Southern Barracks, except for its location. It's best to approach it from the north side of the airfield instead of exposing your position by running across the tarmac.

3. Fire Station

   This building is identical to the fire stations found on the larger cities on the coast, and as such, it has a good chance of containing military-grade loot. Entering from the back door on the northwest can help avoid catching sniper fire from across the airfield, and once inside make sure the three large doors are closed. 

4. ATC Tower

   Due to a glitch, getting in the main door of the ATC Tower can be a pain. The rubble near the steps create a very small space to get through and your character won't be able to get through very easily if you're carrying an assault weapon. Pull out your pistol and hold down Shift to walk slowly through the opening. Alternatively, you could climb up the ladder on the side, but that leaves you very exposed. 

   Maker sure you keep your head down while exploring the top floor of the tower, as you will be visible from all directions because of the windows.

   It's worth mentioning that all of the large hangar buildings that line the northwestern edge of the airfield have  loot in them, but due to their exposed nature, inexperienced players should probably avoid them. 

    Happy looting!