Airport information
- FAA LID
- IA42
- Coordinates
- 42.3138, -92.4117
- Elevation
- 982 ft MSL
- Sectional chart
- CHICAGO
- Airport use
- Private
- Control tower
- No
- ARTCC
- MINNEAPOLIS (ZMP)
- Flight service (FSS)
- FORT DODGE
- Segmented circle
- No
- Activated
- 2015/11
- Distance from city
- 6 SE
Weather
METAR observed
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TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21
| Event | Local (CDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 04:58 AM | 09:58Z |
| Sunrise | 05:33 AM | 10:33Z |
| Sunset | 08:50 PM | 01:50Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 09:25 PM | 02:25Z |
Plan a flight from IA42
Traffic pattern
- Landing
- Rwy 9
- Pattern
- left (turns left)
- TPA
- 2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
Enter the left downwind for Rwy 9 at 2,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).
Runway 9/27
2,812 ft · GRS- Heading
- n/a
- Heading
- n/a
Headings shown are true (magnetic variation unavailable).
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 9/27 | 2,812 ft |
Nearby navigation aids
| NavAid | Type | Freq | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALO · Waterloo | VORTAC | 112.20 | r176° / 14.6 NM |
| JWJ · Elmwood | VOR-DME | 109.40 | r058° / 25.2 NM |
| CID · Cedar Rapids | VOR-DME | 114.10 | r308° / 37.9 NM |
VFR sectional
No published instrument procedures or Chart Supplement for IA42. VFR sectional link above.
Ownership & management
Remarks FAA
- FOR CD CTC DES MOINES APCH AT 515-974-8016. WHEN DES MOINES APP CLSD, FOR CD CTC MINNEAPOLIS ARTCC AT 651-463-5588.
Nearby airports
Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open IA42 in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.
About IA42
Ritel Copter Airstrip (IA42) is an airport in Hudson, IA, at 982 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 2,812 ft, with no control tower (pilot-controlled). This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for IA42, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does IA42 have a control tower?
No. Ritel Copter Airstrip is a non-towered (pilot-controlled) airport; use the published CTAF/UNICOM on the Comms & NavAids tab.
What is the longest runway at IA42?
Ritel Copter Airstrip has 1 runway; the longest is 2,812 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is IA42?
Ritel Copter Airstrip is in Hudson, IA, at an elevation of 982 ft MSL. Coordinates: 42.3138, -92.4117.
Fly out of IA42 often?
Save IA42 as your home base in the SkyReady app for a one-tap Go/No-Go readiness brief, weather alerts, and automatic FAA currency — free to log.