Merced Municipal Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Merced Municipal Airport
nativename = MacReady Field


IATA = MCE
ICAO = KMCE
FAA = MCE
type = Public
owner = City of Merced
operator =
city-served =
location = Merced, California
elevation-f = 156
elevation-m = 48
coordinates = coord|37|17|05|N|120|30|50|W|type:airport|display=inline
website =
r1-number = 12/30
r1-length-f = 5,903
r1-length-m = 1,799
r1-surface = Asphalt
stat-year = 2006
stat1-header = Aircraft operations
stat1-data = 83,460
stat2-header = Based aircraft
stat2-data = 111
footnotes = Source: Federal Aviation AdministrationFAA-airport|ID=MCE|use=PU|own=PU|site=01886.*A, effective 2007-07-05]

Merced Municipal Airport Airport codes|MCE|KMCE|MCE, also known as MacReady Field, is a public airport located two miles (3 km) southwest of the central business district of Merced, a city in Merced County, California, United States. The airport is owned by the City of Merced. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also used by one commercial airline. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

On September 8, 2008, Great Lakes Airlines commenced service to LA/Ontario International Airport, located approximately 35 miles (56 km) from downtown Los Angeles in Ontario, California. The flights also include a stop at Visalia Municipal Airport in Visalia, California. Previously, scheduled service was provided by Mesa Airlines with flights to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. [ [http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=9604 CVBT - Central Valley’s newest airline ready to take off] ] [ [http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=8876146&nav=menu612_2 KMPH - New Airline Serves Merced] ]

Bus connections to Yosemite National Park are available through Yosemite Area Transportation Service (YARTS). [http://www.yarts.org/]

Facilities and aircraft

Merced Municipal Airport covers an area of 766 acres (310 ha) which contains one asphalt paved runway (12/30) measuring 5,903 x 150 ft (1,799 x 46 m).

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 83,460 aircraft operations, an average of 228 per day: 89% general aviation, 7% air taxi, 4% scheduled commercial and <1% military. There are 111 aircraft based at this airport: 90% single engine, 8% multi-engine and 2% jet aircraft.

Airline and destinations

* Great Lakes Airlines:
** Ontario (LA/Ontario International Airport)
** Visalia (Visalia Municipal Airport)

pecial Events

Since June 1957, Merced Municipal Airport has hosted the annual Merced West Coast Antique Fly-In. Each year, the fly-in draws hundreds of pilots from across the Western United States to Merced to display their rare and antique aircraft. The fly-in also features an air show and an antique car show. In 2007, the 50th annual fly-in drew nearly 400 planes as well as several stunt pilots.

In 2008, for the first time in its history, the Merced West Coast Antique Fly-In was canceled due to lack of sponsors and volunteers. [ [http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/252769.html Merced Sun-Star - Lack of sponsors grounds fly-in] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.cityofmerced.org/depts/airport/default.asp Merced Municipal Airport] at City of Merced web site
* [http://www.flygreatlakes.com Great Lakes Aviation]
* [http://www.militarymuseum.org/NewMercedAuxField.html History of Merced Municipal Airport]
* [http://www.antiqueflyin.com/ Merced West Coast Antique Fly-In Home]
*WikiMapia|37.2847|-120.5139|13
*US-airport-ga|MCE