Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE)
Medium airport · Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Airport data
| Name | Columbia Metropolitan Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KCAE |
| IATA | CAE |
| Elevation | 236 ft (72 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 33°56'17" W 81°7'23" 33.93817, -81.12302 |
| Location | Columbia, South Carolina, United States |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 8,001 ft (2439 m) | 150 ft | PEM | Yes |
| 11/29 | 8,601 ft (2622 m) | 150 ft | ASP | Yes |
Columbia Metropolitan Airport at a glance
Columbia Metropolitan Airport is a medium airport in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, known to airline systems as CAE. The field elevation of 236 ft (72 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KCAE are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
Of its 2 runways, the longest — 11/29 — offers 8,601 ft (2622 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 11 points roughly 110° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KCAE shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Hamilton L.B. Owens Airport | KCUB | 12 km (6 NM) |
| Mc Entire Joint National Guard Base | KMMT | 30 km (16 NM) |
| Orangeburg Municipal Airport | KOGB | 59 km (32 NM) |
| Shaw Air Force Base | KSSC | 60 km (32 NM) |
| Daniel Field | KDNL | 100 km (54 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 236 ft field elevation of Columbia Metropolitan Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 917 airports and airfields we list for United States — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Columbia Metropolitan Airport
What is the ICAO code of Columbia Metropolitan Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Columbia Metropolitan Airport is KCAE, and its IATA code is CAE. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Columbia Metropolitan Airport above sea level?
Columbia Metropolitan Airport sits at an elevation of 236 feet (72 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Columbia Metropolitan Airport located?
The airport lies at 33.9382, -81.1230 — in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Jim Hamilton L.B. Owens Airport, about 12 km away.
Does KCAE publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KCAE appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Columbia Metropolitan Airport?
Columbia Metropolitan Airport has 2 runways. The longest, 11/29, measures 8,601 ft (2622 m) with a ASP surface.