Castle Airport (KMER)
Medium airport · Merced, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | Castle Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KMER |
| IATA | MER |
| Elevation | 191 ft (58 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 37°22'50" W 120°34'5" 37.38050, -120.56800 |
| Location | Merced, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/31 | 11,802 ft (3597 m) | 150 ft | PEM | Yes |
Castle Airport at a glance
Castle Airport is a medium airport in Merced, California, United States, known to airline systems as MER. The field elevation of 191 ft (58 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KMER are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 13/31, offers 11,802 ft (3597 m) of pem surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 13 points roughly 130° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KMER 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 Castle Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Merced Regional Macready Field | KMCE | 12 km (6 NM) |
| Modesto City Co-Harry Sham Field | KMOD | 44 km (24 NM) |
| Stockton Metropolitan Airport | KSCK | 82 km (44 NM) |
| Fresno Yosemite International Airport | KFAT | 101 km (55 NM) |
| Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport | KSJC | 120 km (65 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Castle Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 191 ft field elevation of Castle 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 Castle Airport
What is the ICAO code of Castle Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Castle Airport is KMER, and its IATA code is MER. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Castle Airport above sea level?
Castle Airport sits at an elevation of 191 feet (58 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Castle Airport located?
The airport lies at 37.3805, -120.5680 — in Merced, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Merced Regional Macready Field, about 12 km away.
Does KMER publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KMER 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 Castle Airport?
Castle Airport has one runway. The longest, 13/31, measures 11,802 ft (3597 m) with a PEM surface.