Orcas Island Airport (KORS)
Medium airport · Eastsound, Washington, United States
Airport data
| Name | Orcas Island Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KORS |
| IATA | ESD |
| Elevation | 31 ft (9 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 48°42'30" W 122°54'36" 48.70820, -122.91000 |
| Location | Eastsound, Washington, United States |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/34 | 2,901 ft (884 m) | 60 ft | ASPH-G | No |
Orcas Island Airport at a glance
Orcas Island Airport is a medium airport in Eastsound, Washington, United States, known to airline systems as ESD. The field elevation of 31 ft (9 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KORS are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 16/34, offers 2,901 ft (884 m) of asph-g surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 16 points roughly 160° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KORS 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 Orcas Island Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Friday Harbor Airport | KFHR | 22 km (12 NM) |
| Bellingham International Airport | KBLI | 29 km (16 NM) |
| Victoria International Airport | CYYJ | 39 km (21 NM) |
| Boundary Bay Airport | CZBB | 41 km (22 NM) |
| Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) | KNUW | 44 km (24 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Orcas Island Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 31 ft field elevation of Orcas Island 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 Orcas Island Airport
What is the ICAO code of Orcas Island Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Orcas Island Airport is KORS, and its IATA code is ESD. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Orcas Island Airport above sea level?
Orcas Island Airport sits at an elevation of 31 feet (9 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Orcas Island Airport located?
The airport lies at 48.7082, -122.9100 — in Eastsound, Washington, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Friday Harbor Airport, about 22 km away.
Does KORS publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KORS 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 Orcas Island Airport?
Orcas Island Airport has one runway. The longest, 16/34, measures 2,901 ft (884 m) with a ASPH-G surface.