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Bowman Field

LOU · KLOU · Louisville, KY · 546 ft elevation · var 4W · Towered

Airport information

ICAO / IATA
KLOU / LOU
Coordinates
38.2280, -85.6637
Elevation
546 ft MSL
Magnetic variation
4W
Sectional chart
ST LOUIS
Airport use
Public
Control tower
Yes
ARTCC
INDIANAPOLIS (ZID)
Flight service (FSS)
LOUISVILLE
NOTAM facility
LOU
Attendance
ALL 0700-2200
Beacon
white-green (SS-SR)
Segmented circle
No
Wind indicator
lighted
Activated
1940/04
Distance from city
5 SE

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
05:48 AM09:48Z
Sunrise06:19 AM10:19Z
Sunset09:09 PM01:09Z
Evening civil twilight
Loggable night begins
09:41 PM01:41Z
Loggable night (§1.1)
09:41 PM → 05:48 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
10:09 PM → 05:19 AM

Plan a flight from KLOU

Night operations

Airport lighting
SEE RMK
Rotating beacon
white-green · SS-SR
Pilot-controlled lighting
ACTVT MIRL RWY 06/24 & 15/33 - CTAF. on 119.5Chart Supplement ↗

Runway lighting aids — 06: 2-light PAPI (left) · 24: 2-light PAPI (left) · 15: 2-light PAPI (left) · 33: 2-light PAPI (left).

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

Traffic pattern

06TPANSEW
LEFT traffic
Landing
Rwy 06 · 064°
Pattern
left (turns left)
TPA
1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
CTAF
119.5

Enter the left downwind for Rwy 06 at 1,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).

Runway 06/24

4,358 ft × 75 ft · Asphalt (Excellent)

Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 30k.

06
Heading
064° mag · 60° true
Markings
nonprecision
VGSI
2-light PAPI (left) (3.5°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Tree, 29 ft, 202 ft from threshold, 232 ft R of centerline
Displaced threshold
848 ft
24
Heading
244° mag · 240° true
Markings
nonprecision
VGSI
2-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Tree, 13 ft, 378 ft from threshold, 131 ft L of centerline — 13:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Displaced threshold
310 ft

Runway 15/33

3,580 ft × 75 ft · Asphalt (Good)

Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 30k.

15
Heading
148° mag · 144° true
Markings
nonprecision
VGSI
2-light PAPI (left) (3.5°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Fence, 10 ft, 187 ft from threshold, 28 ft R of centerline
Displaced threshold
206 ft
33
Heading
328° mag · 324° true
Markings
nonprecision
VGSI
2-light PAPI (left) (3.25°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Road, 22 ft, 388 ft from threshold, 235 ft L of centerline — 8:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Displaced threshold
342 ft
ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports

Communication frequencies

ServiceFrequencyNotes
A/D123.675LOUISVILLE APP/DEP
ATIS112.2
CLD118.9CLNC DEL
CTAF119.5
GND121.8
RDO122.2LOUISVILLE RDO
TWR119.5
UNIC122.95UNICOM

Nearby navigation aids

NavAidTypeFreqRadial / Dist magnetic
BQM · BowmanVOR-DME112.20r161° / 0.1 NM
IIU · LouisvilleVORTAC114.80r330° / 8.5 NM
ABB · NabbVORTAC112.40r182° / 21.7 NM
FTK · Fort KnoxVOR-DME109.60r038° / 24.2 NM
MYS · MysticVOR108.20r055° / 34 NM
FFT · FrankfortVOR109.40r278° / 35.7 NM
EWO · New HopeVOR-DME110.80r000° / 35.8 NM

Airport diagram

Open PDF ↗
Preview diagram Open the airport diagram PDF

Chart Supplement FAA A/FD

Open PDF ↗
Preview Chart Supplement Open the Chart Supplement PDF

Airport notices: page 1 ↗

Services

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

Ownership & management

Owner
REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTH
P O BOX 9129, LOUISVILLE, KY
502-368-6524
Manager
JORGIE DERMODY
3345 ROGER E SCHUPP STREET, LOUISVILLE, KY
502-243-7305

Remarks FAA

  • EXISTED PRIOR TO 1959.
  • STAGE 3 COMPLIANCE RQRD FOR TURBOJET; PPR OVR 30000 LB GWT - AMGR.
  • TRNG OPS NA WHEN ATCT CLSD.
  • OBSTNS & TREES IN ALL APCH SFCS.
  • ADCUS FLT NOTIFICATION SVC AVBL.
  • BIRDS ON & INVOF ARPT DURG DALGT HR.
  • COMPASS ROSE LCTD AT ADMIN BLDG NOT FOR COMPASS CALIBRATION USE.
  • 24 HR PPR FOR MIL ROTARY WING.
  • FOR CD WHEN ATCT CLSD, CTC SDF ATCT 502-375-7499.
  • NOISE ABATEMENT: NO PRACTICE APCH MON-SAT 2200-0700. SUN 2200-0900, OR WHEN TWR CLSD.
  • ACTVT MIRL RWY 06/24 & 15/33 - CTAF.
  • AMGR CELL 502-458-1475.
  • 8 FT FENCE 108 FT FM RWY END; 956 FT FM DTHR. ROAD 159 FT FM RWY END; 1007 FT FM DTHR.
  • +8 FT FENCE 188 FT FM RWY END; 394 FT FM DTHR.
  • CONTROLLING OBSTN EXCEEDS A 45 DEG SLP.
  • CONTROLLING OBSTN EXCEEDS A 45 DEG SLP
  • CLEAR 53:1 APCH TO DTHR.
  • CLEAR 33:1 APCH TO DTHR.
  • 6 FT PATH & GOLF CARTS.

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 KLOU 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 KLOU

Bowman Field (LOU · KLOU) is an airport in Louisville, KY, at 546 ft MSL. It has 2 runways, the longest 4,358 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KLOU, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.

Does KLOU have a control tower?

Yes. Bowman Field has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.

What is the longest runway at KLOU?

Bowman Field has 2 runways; the longest is 4,358 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.

Where is KLOU?

Bowman Field is in Louisville, KY, at an elevation of 546 ft MSL. Coordinates: 38.2280, -85.6637.

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