Airports / California / MER
Castle Airport.
Merced, California · 191 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.6/5
Google rating
108 ratings
0
Operators based
191
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
FBOs on field
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#46 / 152
California airports by Google rating
4.6★ across 108 Google ratings , ranked against 152 rated CA fields.
6 nm
To the nearest alternate
Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Castle Airport (KMER / MER) sits in Merced, California, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 191 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into MER for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE, 6 nm), Modesto City Co-Harry Sham Field (MOD, 24 nm), and Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK, 44 nm). With a single 11,802-foot paved runway, MER can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from MER depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Merced.
1 FBO serves KMER. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
KT Aero Atwater
Your FBO? Claim it, free- Fuel
- Hangar
- Mon-Fri 0800-1700, after-hours call-out available
- Unicom 122.95
- Wi-Fi
- Shuttle
- Car rental
- Restrooms
- Hangar
- Parking
- Fuel
- Ground handling
- +3 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
Field capability
ICAO
KMER
IATA
MER
FAA / Local
MER
Elevation
191 ft
Coordinates
37.3805° N · 120.5680° 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
No
Elevation vs CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At 191 ft, MER sits lower than 60% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 11,802 ft
- 13/3111,802 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 11,802 ft
MER's 11,802 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.
- 6nmMCEMerced Regional Macready FieldMerced
- 24nmMODModesto City Co-Harry Sham FieldModesto
- 44nmSCKStockton Metropolitan AirportStockton
- 55nmFATFresno Yosemite International AirportFresno
- 65nmSJCNorman Y. Mineta San Jose International AirportSan Jose
- 66nmSNSSalinas Municipal AirportSalinas
Location
Open the full mapKMER · Castle Airport · Merced, CA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from MER on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 216 nm | 54m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 272 nm | 1h 2m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 449 nm | 1h 27m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 479 nm | 1h 31m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 583 nm | 1h 45m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 609 nm | 1h 49m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 654 nm | 1h 55m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 655 nm | 1h 55m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use MER?
- Castle Airport's longest paved runway is 11,802 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 MER?
- Castle Airport has one runway; the longest measures 11,802 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Which FBOs are at Castle Airport?
- One FBO serves MER: KT Aero Atwater. 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 MER?
- The closest alternate is Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE), about 6 nm away, followed by Modesto City Co-Harry Sham Field (MOD) at 24 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from MER to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Los Angeles about 54m (216 nm), Las Vegas about 1h 2m (272 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 27m (449 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.