Castle Airport
Daylight today(Sep 2, 2026, local time)
About 12h 57m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.
About Castle Airport
Castle Airport is a public airport in unincorporated Merced County, California, 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Merced. The airport is operated by the Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development. It is owned jointly by the city of Merced, the city of Atwater, and Merced County. The airport was formerly designated as Castle Air Force Base (1941–1995), a United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base which was closed after the end of the Cold War in 1995.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
Live weather
KMERNOTAMs
KMERReference only — not an official briefing. Always obtain a certified briefing (e.g. 1800wxbrief.com / your AIS) before flight.
NOTAM data via the FAA NOTAM system.
Live departures & arrivals
Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.
Where you can fly from here
Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.
Live traffic nearby
Aircraft currently within ~40 nm, from live ADS-B. Positions are approximately real-time — not for navigation.
Live ADS-B by adsb.lol & the OpenSky Network. Not for navigation.
Map
Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.
Runways (1)
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighting | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 / 31 | 11,802 ft / 3,597 m | 150 ft | Pem | Lighted | Open |
Radio frequencies (3)
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| A/D | NORCAL APP/DEP | 120.950 MHz |
| AWOS | AWO 3 | 124.475 MHz |
| UNIC | CTAF/UNICOM | 123.075 MHz |
Instrument procedures & charts
Airport diagram (1)
Instrument approaches (3)
Takeoff & alternate minimums (2)
Runway hot spots (1)
Showing 7 of 7 FAA procedures on this overview. Always fly the current, official chart. Full charts page.
Airspace in this area(1)
| Name | Class | Type | Floor | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATWATER CLASS D | Class D | Controlled | GND | 2000 ft MSL |
Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all United States airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.
Nearby airports
Great-circle distance and true bearing from Castle Airport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ICAO code for Castle Airport?
The ICAO code for Castle Airport is KMER, and its IATA code is MER.
Where is Castle Airport located?
Castle Airport is medium airport located in Merced, United States, at an elevation of 191 ft (58 m).
How many runways does Castle Airport have?
Castle Airport has 1 runway, the longest being 11,802 ft / 3,597 m.
What time zone is Castle Airport in?
Castle Airport is in the America/Los Angeles time zone (UTC-07:00).
What is the magnetic variation at Castle Airport?
The magnetic variation (declination) at Castle Airport is approximately 12.5° E, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.
What airports are near Castle Airport?
The nearest airport to Castle Airport is Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE), about 6.3 nm to the sse, followed by Turlock Municipal Airport and Fiorini Ranch Airport.
Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?
No. Castle Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.