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Columbus Municipal Airport

OLU · KOLU · Columbus, NE · 1,447 ft elevation · var 3E · Non-towered

Airport information

ICAO / IATA
KOLU / OLU
Coordinates
41.4481, -97.3402
Elevation
1,447 ft MSL
Magnetic variation
3E
Sectional chart
OMAHA
Airport use
Public
Control tower
No
Airspace
Class E
Weather station
AWOS-3PT · 125.525 · ☎ 402-563-3895
ARTCC
MINNEAPOLIS (ZMP)
Flight service (FSS)
COLUMBUS
NOTAM facility
OLU
Attendance
ALL DALGT
Beacon
white-green (SS-SR)
Segmented circle
Yes
Wind indicator
lighted
Activated
1945/08
Distance from city
1 NE

Weather

METAR observed

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TAF forecast

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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21

EventLocal (CDT)UTC
Morning civil twilight
Loggable night ends
05:22 AM10:22Z
Sunrise05:56 AM10:56Z
Sunset09:06 PM02:06Z
Evening civil twilight
Loggable night begins
09:41 PM02:41Z
Loggable night (§1.1)
09:41 PM → 05:22 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
10:06 PM → 04:56 AM

Plan a flight from KOLU

Night operations

Airport lighting
SEE RMK
Rotating beacon
white-green · SS-SR
Pilot-controlled lighting
ACTVT MIRL RY 14/32; PAPI RY 14; VASI RY 32; REIL RY 32 & MALSR RY 14 - CTAF. on 123.05Chart Supplement ↗

Runway lighting aids — 14: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR · 32: VASI.

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

Traffic pattern

02TPANESW
LEFT traffic
Landing
Rwy 02 · 027°
Pattern
left (turns left)
TPA
2,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
CTAF
123.05

Enter the left downwind for Rwy 02 at 2,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).

Runway 02/20

4,135 ft × 150 ft · Turf (Fair)
02
Heading
027° mag · 30° true
Traffic pattern
Left
Displaced threshold
101 ft
20
Heading
207° mag · 210° true
Traffic pattern
Left

Runway 14/32

6,801 ft × 100 ft · Concrete (Good)

Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 43k, Double wheel 58k.

14
Heading
147° mag · 150° true
Markings
precision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Approach lights
MALSR
Instrument landing
LOCALIZER · LOC 109.1 (OLU)
Traffic pattern
Left
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
6,800 / 6,800 / 6,260 / 6,260 ft
32
Heading
327° mag · 330° true
Markings
precision
VGSI
VASI (3°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Tree, 60 ft, 1,275 ft from threshold, 619 ft R of centerline — 17:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
6,800 / 6,800 / 6,800 / 5,850 ft
End lights
REIL
Displaced threshold
950 ft
ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports

Communication frequencies

ServiceFrequencyNotes
CTAF123.05ACTVT MIRL RY 14/32; PAPI RY 14; VASI RY 32; REIL RY 32 & MALSR RY 14 - CTAF.
UNICOM123.05
OLU AWOS-3PT125.525
COLUMBUS RCO122.2
OLU VOR/DME116.95/116Y
OMAHA RCAG128.75APCH/DEP SVC PRVDD BY MINNEAPOLIS ARTCC ON FREQS 128.75/346.3 (OMAHA RCAG).
OMAHA RCAG346.3APCH/DEP SVC PRVDD BY MINNEAPOLIS ARTCC ON FREQS 128.75/346.3 (OMAHA RCAG).

Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).

Instrument landing systems

RunwayILS
RWY 14LOCALIZER · LOC 109.1 (OLU)

Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).

Nearby navigation aids

NavAidTypeFreqRadial / Dist magnetic
OLU · ColumbusVOR-DME111.80r158° / 0.1 NM
OFK · NorfolkVOR-DME109.60r165° / 32.7 NM
SCB · ScribnerVOR-DME111.00r248° / 33.3 NM

Procedures at a glance

Lowest mins: RNAV (GPS) · 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
Bottled oxygen
NONE
Bulk oxygen
NONE
Airframe service
MAJOR
Powerplant service
MAJOR
Parking
tiedowns, hangars
Other services
Air freight, Instruction, Rental

Ownership & management

Owner
CITY OF COLUMBUS
P.O. BOX 1677, COLUMBUS, NE
402-562-4227
Manager
ROSS NIEDBALSKI
PO BOX 1677, 1308 BILL BABKA DRIVE, 2765 14TH AVE, COLUMBUS, NE
402-276-5284

Remarks FAA

  • WATERFOWL INVOF ARPT.
  • DEER INVOF ARPT.
  • RY 32 IS DESIGNATED AS THE CALM WIND RY.
  • FOR CD IF UNA TO CTC ON FSS FREQ, CTC MINNEAPOLIS ARTCC AT 651-463-5588.
  • ACTVT MIRL RY 14/32; PAPI RY 14; VASI RY 32; REIL RY 32 & MALSR RY 14 - CTAF.
  • FOR SVC AFT DARK CALL (402) 564-7884.
  • JANELLE KLINE, CITY CLERK
  • FOR FUEL AFT HRS CONTACT 402-910-5246.
  • RY 02/20 NOT PLOWED WINTER MONTHS.
  • RWY 02 END CONES MARK DSPLCD THLD; NOT RWY END.
  • BOUNDARY MARKERS-G.
  • RWY 32 CLNC SLOPE 37:1 TO DSPLCD THR.
  • RWY 02 CLNC SLOPE 30:1 DUE TO GRAIN ELEVATOR LEG 116 FT ABV RWY END 3491 FT FROM DSPLCD THLD; RWY 20 CTR PIVOT THRU APCH DURING IRRIGATION SEASON.

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 KOLU 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 KOLU

Columbus Municipal Airport (OLU · KOLU) is an airport in Columbus, NE, at 1,447 ft MSL. It has 2 runways, the longest 6,801 ft, with no control tower (pilot-controlled). This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KOLU, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.

Does KOLU have a control tower?

No. Columbus Municipal Airport is a non-towered (pilot-controlled) airport; use the published CTAF/UNICOM on the Comms & NavAids tab.

What is the longest runway at KOLU?

Columbus Municipal Airport has 2 runways; the longest is 6,801 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.

Where is KOLU?

Columbus Municipal Airport is in Columbus, NE, at an elevation of 1,447 ft MSL. Coordinates: 41.4481, -97.3402.

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