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Purdue University Airport

LAF · KLAF · West Lafayette, IN · 606 ft elevation · var 1W · Towered

Airport information

ICAO / IATA
KLAF / LAF
Coordinates
40.4129, -86.9394
Elevation
606 ft MSL
Magnetic variation
1W
Sectional chart
CHICAGO
Airport use
Public
Control tower
Yes
ARTCC
CHICAGO (ZAU)
Flight service (FSS)
TERRE HAUTE
NOTAM facility
LAF
Attendance
MON-FRI 0800-1700
Beacon
white-green (SS-SR)
Segmented circle
No
Wind indicator
lighted
Activated
1940/04
Distance from city
2 SW

Weather

METAR observed

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TAF forecast

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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21

EventLocal (EDT)UTC
Morning civil twilight
Loggable night ends
05:44 AM09:44Z
Sunrise06:18 AM10:18Z
Sunset09:21 PM01:21Z
Evening civil twilight
Loggable night begins
09:55 PM01:55Z
Loggable night (§1.1)
09:55 PM → 05:44 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
10:21 PM → 05:18 AM

Plan a flight from KLAF

Night operations

Airport lighting
SEE RMK
Rotating beacon
white-green · SS-SR
Pilot-controlled lighting
WHEN ATCT CLSD ACTVT MALSR RWY 10; REIL RWY 5, 23 & 28; MIRL RWY 5/23; HIRL RWY 10/28 - CTAF. on 119.6Chart Supplement ↗

Runway lighting aids — 05: 2-light PAPI (left) · 23: 2-light PAPI (left) · 10: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR · 28: VASI.

FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.

Traffic pattern

05TPANSEW
LEFT traffic
Landing
Rwy 05 · 051°
Pattern
left (turns left)
TPA
1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
CTAF
119.6

Enter the left downwind for Rwy 05 at 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).

Runway 05/23

4,225 ft × 100 ft · Asphalt (Good)

Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 48k, Double wheel 58k, Dual tandem 90k.

05
Heading
051° mag · 50° true
Markings
basic
VGSI
2-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Traffic pattern
Left
23
Heading
231° mag · 230° true
Markings
basic
VGSI
2-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Fence, 11 ft, 287 ft from threshold, 132 ft L of centerline — 7:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Displaced threshold
323 ft

Runway 10/28

6,600 ft × 150 ft · Asphalt (Good)

Edge lights: High. Weight bearing: Single wheel 90k, Double wheel 110k, Dual tandem 165k.

10
Heading
100° mag · 99° true
Markings
precision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Approach lights
MALSR
Instrument landing
ILS · CAT I · LOC 110.3 (LAF) · GS 3.00°
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Trees, 97 ft, 3,381 ft from threshold, 968 ft L of centerline — 32:1 slope to clear
28
Heading
280° mag · 279° true
Markings
precision
VGSI
VASI (3°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Trees, 51 ft, 2,057 ft from threshold, 439 ft R of centerline — 40:1 slope to clear
ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports

Communication frequencies

ServiceFrequencyNotes
A/D123.85GRISSOM A/D
ATIS127.75
CNTR123.85CHICAGO CNTR
CTAF119.6
GND121.9
RDO122.2TERRE HAUTE RDO
TWR119.6LAFAYETTE TWR
UNIC122.95UNICOM

Nearby navigation aids

NavAidTypeFreqRadial / Dist magnetic
BVT · BoilerVORTAC115.10r144° / 10.4 NM
DNV · DanvilleVORTAC111.00r074° / 29.2 NM
GUS · GrissomVORTAC108.45r251° / 38.5 NM

Airport diagram

Open PDF ↗
Preview diagram Open the airport diagram PDF

Procedures at a glance

Lowest mins: ILS · vertical guidance Takeoff mins / ODP ↗ Non-std alternate mins ↗

Chart Supplement FAA A/FD

Open PDF ↗
Preview Chart Supplement Open the Chart Supplement PDF

Services

Fuel available
100LL, Jet A
Bulk oxygen
HIGH/LOW
Airframe service
MAJOR
Powerplant service
MAJOR
Parking
tiedowns, hangars
Other services
Air ambulance, Avionics, Charter, Rental, Aircraft sales

Ownership & management

Owner
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
1501 AVIATION DRIVE, TRML BLDG ROOM 201, WEST LAFAYETTE, IN
(765) 496-6326
Manager
ADAM BAXMEYER
1501 AVIATION DRIVE, TRML BLDG ROOM 201, WEST LAFAYETTE, IN
(765) 496-6850

Remarks FAA

  • UNSKED ACR OPS GTR THAN 30 PAX SEATS PPR - 765-496-6326 OR 765-496-4057. INDEX B ARFF CPBLY AVBL ON REQ.
  • TRNG OPS & BIRDS INVOF ARPT.
  • SFC COND UNMNT 2200-0600 OR WKEND.
  • FOR CD IF UNA TO CTC ON FSS FREQ, CTC CHICAGO ARTCC AT 630-906-8921.
  • WHEN ATCT CLSD ACTVT MALSR RWY 10; REIL RWY 5, 23 & 28; MIRL RWY 5/23; HIRL RWY 10/28 - CTAF.
  • PCR VALUE: 80/F/D/X/T
  • PCR VALUE: 470/F/D/X/T
  • RWY 05/23 NOT AVBL FOR PART 121/PART 380 OPS WITH SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 9 PAX SEATS AND NON-SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS. WINGSPAN GTR THAN 79 FT NA.
  • PAPI UNUSBL BYD 9 DEGS RIGHT OF CNTRLN.
  • 20:1 AT DSPLCD THR.

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 KLAF 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 KLAF

Purdue University Airport (LAF · KLAF) is an airport in West Lafayette, IN, at 606 ft MSL. It has 2 runways, the longest 6,600 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KLAF, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.

Does KLAF have a control tower?

Yes. Purdue University Airport has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.

What is the longest runway at KLAF?

Purdue University Airport has 2 runways; the longest is 6,600 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.

Where is KLAF?

Purdue University Airport is in West Lafayette, IN, at an elevation of 606 ft MSL. Coordinates: 40.4129, -86.9394.

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