Airports / Washington / TCM
McChord Air Force Base.
Tacoma, Washington · 322 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.6/5
Google rating
66 ratings
0
Operators based
322
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#25 / 50
Washington airports by Google rating
4.6★ across 66 Google ratings , ranked against 50 rated WA fields.
6 nm
To the nearest alternate
Gray Army Air Field (GRF), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
McChord Air Force Base (KTCM / TCM) sits in Tacoma, Washington, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 322 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list TCM as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Gray Army Air Field (GRF, 6 nm), Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW, 9 nm), and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA, 20 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 10,108-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from TCM 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 TCM to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
KTCM
IATA
TCM
FAA / Local
TCM
Elevation
322 ft
Coordinates
47.1377° N · 122.4760° 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 WA fields
state range 10–2,556 ft
At 322 ft, TCM sits higher than 60% of the 52 Washington fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 10,108 ft
- 16/3410,108 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 160/3403,000 ft × 60 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,108 ft
TCM's 10,108 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.
- 6nmGRFGray Army Air FieldFort Lewis/Tacoma
- 9nmTIWTacoma Narrows AirportTacoma
- 20nmSEASeattle–Tacoma International AirportSeattle
- 20nmOLMOlympia Regional AirportOlympia
- 24nmPWTBremerton National AirportBremerton
- 24nmBFIKing County International Airport - Boeing FieldSeattle
Location
Open the full mapKTCM · McChord Air Force Base · Tacoma, WA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from TCM on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 538 nm | 1h 39m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 571 nm | 1h 44m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 592 nm | 1h 47m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 740 nm | 2h 7m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 797 nm | 2h 15m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 812 nm | 2h 17m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 830 nm | 2h 20m |
| Denver (DEN) | 887 nm | 2h 28m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use TCM?
- McChord Air Force Base's longest paved runway is 10,108 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 TCM?
- McChord Air Force Base has 2 runways; the longest measures 10,108 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to TCM?
- The closest alternate is Gray Army Air Field (GRF), about 6 nm away, followed by Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) at 9 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from TCM to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Jackson Hole about 1h 39m (538 nm), San Francisco about 1h 44m (571 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 47m (592 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.