4/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“This airport is super clean, relaxing, and their employees and TSA were extremely friendly and helpful.”
Lynnae Kellett5★ on Google
Airports / Missouri / COU
Medium airport · COU
Columbia Regional Airport.
Columbia, Missouri · 889 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.8/5
Google rating
648 ratings
0
Operators based
889
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Columbia, MissouriELEV 889 FTMedium airportScheduled service
3.8
Google rating
648
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
FBOs on field
ramp, fuel and handling
889
Field elevation
feet above sea level
62
Nearest alternate
nm to SZL
Field standing
62 nm
To the nearest alternate
Whiteman Air Force Base (SZL).
Overview
Columbia Regional Airport (KCOU / COU) is a mid-sized airport serving Columbia, Missouri. Field elevation is 889 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list COU as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Whiteman Air Force Base (SZL, 62 nm), Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field (TBN, 65 nm), and Spirit of St Louis Airport (SUS, 74 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 7,401-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from COU are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from COU to plan your flight.
1 FBO serves KCOU. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Columbia Jet Center
Your FBO? Claim it, freeColumbia Jet Center is pleased to provide turn-key aircraft management services to suit your specific needs. We’ll keep you flying by providing quality pilot services, aircraft maintenance oversight, hangar space, discounted fuel rates, and much more. Contact us today and we’ll custom tailor a program that’s right for you.
- Fuel
- Hangar
- Daily 06:00-21:00 (365 days)
- Unicom 122.95
- Conference room
- Wi-Fi
- Vending
- Courtesy car
- Car rental
- Restrooms
- Hangar
- Maintenance
- +12 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“This airport is super clean, relaxing, and their employees and TSA were extremely friendly and helpful.”
Lynnae Kellett5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Columbia Regional Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KCOU
IATA
COU
FAA / Local
COU
Elevation
889 ft
Coordinates
38.8181° N · 92.2196° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs MO fields
state range 262–1,348 ft
At 889 ft, COU sits lower than 49% of the 45 Missouri fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 7,401 ft
- 02/207,401 ft × 150 ftConcreteLighted
- 13/315,500 ft × 100 ftConcreteLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 7,401 ft
COU's 7,401 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 62nmSZLWhiteman Air Force BaseKnob Noster
- 65nmTBNWaynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney FieldFort Leonard Wood
- 74nmSUSSpirit of St Louis AirportSt Louis
- 78nmIRKKirksville Regional AirportKirksville
- 83nmUINQuincy Regional Airport Baldwin FieldQuincy
- 87nmSTLSt. Louis Lambert International AirportSt Louis
Location
Open the full mapKCOU · Columbia Regional Airport · Columbia, MO
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from COU on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) | 274 nm | 1h 2m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 310 nm | 1h 7m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 423 nm | 1h 23m |
| Houston (HOU) | 571 nm | 1h 44m |
| Denver (DEN) | 581 nm | 1h 45m |
| Austin (AUS) | 583 nm | 1h 45m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 683 nm | 1h 59m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 685 nm | 2h 0m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use COU?
- Columbia Regional Airport's longest paved runway is 7,401 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at COU?
- Columbia Regional Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 7,401 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Which FBOs are at Columbia Regional Airport?
- One FBO serves COU: Columbia Jet Center. Phone, website, hours, unicom and services for each are listed on this page. Call ahead for fuel, ramp space, and ground handling.
- What is the nearest major airport to COU?
- The closest alternate is Whiteman Air Force Base (SZL), about 62 nm away, followed by Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field (TBN) at 65 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from COU to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Chicago about 1h 2m (274 nm), Nashville about 1h 7m (310 nm), Dallas about 1h 23m (423 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.