2/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Students walk right to their dorms and classes after they land since the airport is actually that close to the campus.”
Sasi5★ on Google
Airports / Indiana / LAF
Medium airport · LAF
Purdue University Airport.
West Lafayette, Indiana · 606 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
4.6/5
Google rating
93 ratings
1
Operators based
606
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
West Lafayette, IndianaELEV 606 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.6
Google rating
93
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
Based operators
charter operators on the field
1
FBOs on field
ramp, fuel and handling
606
Field elevation
feet above sea level
Field standing
39 nm
To the nearest alternate
Grissom Air Reserve Base (GUS).
Overview
Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University Airport (KLAF / LAF) operates as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 606 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
For charter flyers, LAF is a home base: Purdue Aviation, LLC operates from the field. The closest alternate fields are Grissom Air Reserve Base (GUS, 39 nm), Indianapolis International Airport (IND, 51 nm), and Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK, 57 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 6,600-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from LAF 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 LAF to plan your flight.
1 FBO serves KLAF. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Purdue Aviation, LLC
Your FBO? Claim it, free- Fuel
- Sun-Sat 06:00-22:00 (closed Christmas)
- Unicom 122.95
- Wi-Fi
- Car rental
- Restrooms
- Maintenance
- Fuel
- Ground handling
- Catering
- GPU
- +8 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
Staff & service
“I cannot get over the welcoming atmosphere of everyone at this airport.”
Rhonda Metcalf5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Purdue University Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KLAF
IATA
LAF
FAA / Local
LAF
Elevation
606 ft
Coordinates
40.4129° N · 86.9394° 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 IN fields
state range 387–1,140 ft
At 606 ft, LAF sits lower than 83% of the 53 Indiana fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,600 ft
- 10/286,600 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 05/234,225 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,600 ft
LAF's 6,600 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.
Based charter operators1
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 39nmGUSGrissom Air Reserve BasePeru
- 51nmINDIndianapolis International AirportIndianapolis
- 57nmIKKGreater Kankakee AirportKankakee
- 60nmHUFTerre Haute Regional Airport, Hulman FieldTerre Haute
- 63nmVPZPorter County Municipal AirportValparaiso
- 65nmCMIUniversity of Illinois Willard AirportSavoy
Location
Open the full mapKLAF · Purdue University Airport · West Lafayette, IN
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Purdue University Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from LAF on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville (BNA) | 258 nm | 1h 0m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 447 nm | 1h 26m |
| New York (TEB) | 587 nm | 1h 46m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 658 nm | 1h 56m |
| Boston (BED) | 714 nm | 2h 4m |
| Houston (HOU) | 765 nm | 2h 11m |
| Austin (AUS) | 806 nm | 2h 16m |
| Denver (DEN) | 813 nm | 2h 17m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use LAF?
- Purdue University Airport's longest paved runway is 6,600 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 LAF?
- Purdue University Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,600 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at LAF?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list Purdue University Airport as a home base, including Purdue Aviation, LLC. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- Which FBOs are at Purdue University Airport?
- One FBO serves LAF: Purdue Aviation, LLC. 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 LAF?
- The closest alternate is Grissom Air Reserve Base (GUS), about 39 nm away, followed by Indianapolis International Airport (IND) at 51 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from LAF to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Nashville about 1h 0m (258 nm), Washington DC about 1h 26m (447 nm), New York about 1h 46m (587 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.