Airports / Nebraska / OLU
Columbus Municipal Airport.
Columbus, Nebraska · 1,447 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.3/5
Google rating
3 ratings
0
Operators based
1,447
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
FBOs on field
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
33 nm
To the nearest alternate
Karl Stefan Memorial Airport (OFK), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Columbus Municipal Airport, listed as KOLU / OLU, is a mid-sized airport in Columbus, Nebraska. The airport sits 1,447 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 OLU for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Karl Stefan Memorial Airport (OFK, 33 nm), Lincoln Airport (LNK, 45 nm), and Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI, 52 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 6,801-foot paved runway, OLU can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from OLU depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Columbus.
1 FBO serves KOLU. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Avcraft, Inc.
Your FBO? Claim it, free- Fuel
- Hangar
- M-F 7:00am-5:00pm; SAT 8:00am-12:00pm; SUN Closed; 24-hour on-call service @402.910.5246
- Unicom 123.05
- Conference room
- Wi-Fi
- Vending
- Hangar
- Maintenance
- Parking
- Fuel
- Ground handling
- +2 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
Field capability
ICAO
KOLU
IATA
OLU
FAA / Local
OLU
Elevation
1,447 ft
Coordinates
41.4481° N · 97.3402° W
Airspace
E · EchoClass E, EchoControlled airspace reaches the surface for instrument approaches, but there is no control tower on the field.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs NE fields
state range 984–4,925 ft
At 1,447 ft, OLU sits lower than 69% of the 45 Nebraska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,801 ft
- 14/326,801 ft × 100 ftConcreteLighted
- 02/204,135 ft × 150 ftGrass / turfUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,801 ft
OLU's 6,801 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.
- 33nmOFKKarl Stefan Memorial AirportNorfolk
- 45nmLNKLincoln AirportLincoln
- 52nmGRICentral Nebraska Regional AirportGrand Island
- 66nmOMAEppley AirfieldOmaha
- 68nmOFFOffutt Air Force BaseOmaha
- 71nmSUXSioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day FieldSioux City
Location
Open the full mapKOLU · Columbus Municipal Airport · Columbus, NE
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from OLU on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Denver (DEN) | 347 nm | 1h 12m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 424 nm | 1h 23m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 450 nm | 1h 27m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 456 nm | 1h 28m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 517 nm | 1h 36m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 592 nm | 1h 47m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 606 nm | 1h 49m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 663 nm | 1h 57m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use OLU?
- Columbus Municipal Airport's longest paved runway is 6,801 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 OLU?
- Columbus Municipal Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,801 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Which FBOs are at Columbus Municipal Airport?
- One FBO serves OLU: Avcraft, Inc.. 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 OLU?
- The closest alternate is Karl Stefan Memorial Airport (OFK), about 33 nm away, followed by Lincoln Airport (LNK) at 45 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from OLU to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Denver about 1h 12m (347 nm), Chicago about 1h 23m (424 nm), Vail / Eagle about 1h 27m (450 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.