Ames Municipal (KAMW), Iowa
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Ames Municipal Airport, KAMW, is a public-use, non-towered field in Ames, Iowa, sitting at 956 feet elevation and serving the region near Des Moines. FAA TFMSC data for 2025 places the airport in ops tier 1 with 2,783 total annual operations, of which 1,940 are business aviation movements. The field is roughly 23.56 nautical miles from the nearest metro area and offers two paved runways for a range of business aircraft.
Runways
Ames Municipal has two paved runways. The longest, 01/19, is 5,701 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Ames Municipal has Jet A and 100 available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Ames Municipal does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Des Moines International (KDSM), 28 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Ames Municipal recorded 1,940 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in September. Business aviation traffic at KAMW is concentrated in the September and October period, with September recording the year's highest monthly total of 264 operations.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month September, 264 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Ames Municipal averages 7.0 days above 90°F in July and 30.4 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83.9°F, and January the coldest, at 28.7°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Ames Municipal has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
Be alert for glider and ultralight operations in the vicinity of the airport.
A 32-foot tree stands 124 feet from the runway end and 158 feet right of the approach path, with a clearance slope of 1:1.
MALSR is pilot-activated on runway 01. VASI is available on runway 19. HIRL is installed on runway 01/19 and MIRL on runway 13/31, both pilot-controlled via CTAF.
Runway 01 is the designated calm wind runway.
Bird and deer activity is present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
A stadium is located within 3 nautical miles of the airport; check for scheduled events.
This is a cold temperature airport. Altitude correction is required at or below -26C.
For clearance delivery, contact Des Moines ATCT on frequency 126.0.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Ames Municipal has five airfields within 33 NM. The closest is Boone Municipal (KBNW), 10.65 NM west.
Part of the Des Moines and Iowa area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KAMW
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KAMW.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What runways are available at KAMW?
Ames Municipal Airport, KAMW, operates two paved runways. Runway 01/19 is the primary strip at 5,701 feet long and 100 feet wide, surfaced in asphalt. Runway 13/31 measures 3,491 feet by 75 feet and is concrete. Runway 01 is designated the calm wind runway. Neither runway has a published weight limit in the airport data, but crew should plan around the shorter crosswind runway for larger aircraft.
Is customs available at KAMW?
KAMW does not have customs service onsite. The nearest customs facility is at KDSM, Des Moines International, located 27.56 nautical miles away. Crews arriving from international points need to plan a stop at KDSM or another customs-equipped airport before or after operating into Ames Municipal. There is no CANPASS or onsite clearance option listed for this field.
What fuel is available at Ames Municipal Airport?
Ames Municipal Airport, KAMW, offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel. The airport operates on a dawn-to-dusk schedule every day of the week. Since KAMW is a non-towered field, fuel availability outside published attendance hours should be confirmed directly with the airport prior to arrival. No fuel supplier is specified in the airport data.
What obstacles or wildlife hazards should crews expect at KAMW?
Ames Municipal Airport reports several hazards worth noting before arrival. A 32-foot tree sits 124 feet from the runway end and 158 feet right of the approach path, with a clearance slope of 1:1. The airport also notes bird and deer activity on and in the vicinity of the field. Glider and ultralight operations occur in the vicinity as well, so crews should maintain a heightened visual scan during arrival and departure at KAMW.
Does KAMW require cold weather altitude corrections?
Yes, Ames Municipal Airport is designated a cold temperature airport. Altitude corrections are required for approaches when the reported temperature is at or below -26C. This affects published minimum altitudes during winter operations at KAMW. Crews should apply the appropriate correction using the reported surface temperature before flying any published approach procedure in cold conditions.