Airport information
- ICAO / IATA
- KMER / MER
- Coordinates
- 37.3805, -120.5680
- Elevation
- 191 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 15E
- Sectional chart
- SAN FRANCISCO
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- Yes
- ARTCC
- OAKLAND (ZOA)
- Flight service (FSS)
- RANCHO MURIETA
- NOTAM facility
- MER
- Attendance
- MON-FRI 0800-1700
- Beacon
- white-green (SS-SR)
- Segmented circle
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- lighted
- Activated
- 1942/07
- Distance from city
- 3 NE
Weather
METAR observed
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TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21
| Event | Local (PDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 05:11 AM | 12:11Z |
| Sunrise | 05:42 AM | 12:42Z |
| Sunset | 08:26 PM | 03:26Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 08:57 PM | 03:57Z |
Plan a flight from KMER
Night operations
- Airport lighting
- SEE RMK
- Rotating beacon
- white-green · SS-SR
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- WHEN ATCT CLSD ACTVT ALSF1 RWYS 13 & 31; HIRL RWY 13/31 - CTAF; 3 CLICKS ON, 5 CLICKS INCR INTST, 7 CLICKS OFF. PAPI RWYS 13 & 31 OPR CONSLY. on 118.175 — Chart Supplement ↗
Runway lighting aids — 13: 4-light PAPI (left) + ALSF1 · 31: 4-light PAPI (left) + ALSF1.
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.
Traffic pattern
- Landing
- Rwy 13 · 126°
- Pattern
- left (turns left)
- TPA
- 1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
- CTAF
- 118.175
Enter the left downwind for Rwy 13 at 1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).
Runway 13/31
11,802 ft × 150 ft · ASPH-CONC (Good)- Heading
- 126° mag · 141° true
- Markings
- nonprecision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Approach lights
- ALSF1
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Heading
- 306° mag · 321° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Approach lights
- ALSF1
- Instrument landing
- LOC/GS · CAT I · LOC 109.5 (MER) · GS 3.00°
- Traffic pattern
- Right
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 13/31 | 11,802 ft |
Communication frequencies
| Service | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A/D | 120.95 | NORCAL APP/DEP |
| AWOS | 124.475 | AWO 3 |
| UNIC | 123.075 | CTAF/UNICOM |
Nearby navigation aids
| NavAid | Type | Freq | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| HYP · El Nido | VOR-DME | 114.20 | r305° / 12.6 NM |
| MOD · Modesto | VOR-DME | 114.60 | r111° / 23.8 NM |
| ECA · Manteca | VORTAC | 116.00 | r116° / 39.5 NM |
Airport diagram
Open PDF ↗Preview diagram
Procedures at a glance
⚠ Hot spots published at this airport — review the hot-spot chart before you taxi ↗Approaches3
Minimums & Hot Spots
Chart Supplement FAA A/FD
Open PDF ↗Preview Chart Supplement
VFR sectional
Services
- Fuel available
- 100LL, Jet A, Jet A-1
- Airframe service
- MINOR
- Powerplant service
- MINOR
- Parking
- tiedowns, hangars
Ownership & management
Remarks FAA
- NO OBJECTIONS
- RY 13/31 180 DEGREE TURNS PROHIBITIED.
- FOR ARPT INFO 209-385-7686, EXTN 4180.
- RY 31 WILL BE THE DESIGNATED CALM WIND RY (WIND 5 KNOTS OR LESS).
- OPPOSITE END OF RY NOT VISIBLE ON TKOF. WHEN ATCT CLSD OPPOSITE DIRECTION TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED.
- CIVILIAN AND MILITARY TRAINING MAY OCCASIONALLY CAUSE PATTERN CONGESTION.
- WHEN ATCT CLSD MAX OF 5 ACFT PMTD IN VFR TFC PAT AT ANY ONE TIME AND 2000 FT CIG AND 3 MIS VIS RCMDD.
- FOR CD WHEN ATCT IS CLSD CTC NORCAL APCH AT 916-361-0516.
- TWY B CLSD TO ACFT GTR THAN 30000 LBS.
- WHEN ATCT CLSD ACTVT ALSF1 RWYS 13 & 31; HIRL RWY 13/31 - CTAF; 3 CLICKS ON, 5 CLICKS INCR INTST, 7 CLICKS OFF. PAPI RWYS 13 & 31 OPR CONSLY.
- MAILING ADDRESS
- COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- DESK PHONE 209-385-7686, EXTN 4180.
- FOR FUEL FM 1800-0900 CALL (209) 725-1455.
- 1,000 FT PAVED BLAST PAD BOTH ENDS OF RY.
- ALSF1 RY 13/31 SEQUENCED FLASHING LGTS OTS INDEFLY.
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 KMER 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 KMER
Castle Airport (MER · KMER) is an airport in Merced, CA, at 191 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 11,802 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KMER, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does KMER have a control tower?
Yes. Castle Airport has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.
What is the longest runway at KMER?
Castle Airport has 1 runway; the longest is 11,802 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is KMER?
Castle Airport is in Merced, CA, at an elevation of 191 ft MSL. Coordinates: 37.3805, -120.5680.
Fly out of KMER often?
Save KMER 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.