Beaufort McAs (merritt Fld) Airport (KNBC), South Carolina
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Beaufort MCAS, also known as Merritt Field and identified by the code KNBC, is a towered military airfield in Beaufort, South Carolina, operating under private use with restricted civilian access. The field sits about 31.62 nautical miles from the nearest metro area and recorded 6,245 total annual operations in 2025 per FAA TFMSC data, of which 630 were business aviation movements. Two long paved runways support a mix of fixed-wing and V / STOL operations, reflecting the station's role as an active Marine Corps installation.
Runways
Beaufort McAs (merritt Fld) Airport has two paved runways. The longest, 05/23, is 12,202 ft long and 200 ft wide, with a bituminous surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Beaufort McAs (merritt Fld) Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Savannah / Hilton Head International (KSAV), 32 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Beaufort McAs (merritt Fld) Airport recorded 630 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in March and December. Business aviation traffic at KNBC is concentrated in the winter and late-year months, with December, March, and September showing the highest monthly operations counts in the 2025 data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month December, 73 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Beaufort McAs (merritt Fld) Airport averages 23.3 days above 90°F in July and 7.8 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 91.8°F, and January the coldest, at 60.3°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Beaufort McAs (merritt Fld) Airport has published operating constraints in six categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, environmental and other notes.
Sequenced flashing lights and lead-in lights are installed on Runway 05; an ALSF-1 approach lighting system serves Runway 23. PAPI is installed on runways 05, 14, 23, and 32. High-intensity runway lighting on runways 05/23 and 14/32 operates continuously.
Transient fuel service is available from 1200 to 2300Z Monday through Friday and is closed on holidays. Transient hot pit fueling is available but requires prior permission requested no later than one hour before the transient alert service closes. Local and round-robin transient support is not available. Weapons arming and de-arming safing services are not available. Ground servicing is suspended whenever lightning is within 10 nautical miles. Questions regarding specific aircraft equipment support should be directed to Transient Alert.
Access is restricted to official business only. Prior permission is always required, with a minimum notice period of 24 hours through Base Operations, by phone or email. This pre-notice requirement applies to all inbound transient aircraft, including AMC and JOSAC traffic, alternate airfield users, and diverts. Approval is valid within plus or minus one hour of the coordinated arrival time. Inbound aircraft carrying VIPs, cargo, or passengers must contact Base Operations by radio at least 20 minutes prior to landing. When 180-degree turns on the runway are necessary, aircraft the size of a C-130 or larger must execute the turn within the last 1,000 feet.
During single-runway operations, non-tenant aircraft should expect delays. Limited customs and agriculture services are available around the clock with prior notice through a listed contact. Secure communications (COMSEC) support is not available. International garbage disposal capability is not available. The airfield's ARFF category is 3, corresponding to FAA Index D. Class D airspace reverts to Class E when the tower is closed. After hours, urgent airfield matters should be directed to the Duty Officer.
Access is restricted. Prior permission is required, with a minimum notice period of 24 hours, through Airfield Base Operations.
Closed field operations are restricted and require prior permission. Further questions should be directed to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Airfield Operations.
The first 1,000 feet of all runways is concrete, with interior portions built of asphalt. Vertical landing pads with high-temperature-rated concrete are available for V/STOL and rotary-wing aircraft. Weight-bearing waivers should be coordinated through Base Operations.
The traffic pattern uses an overhead break at 1,500 feet and a conventional pattern at 800 feet. Helicopters must call when entering Class D airspace below 800 feet. Modified standard requirements apply to Navy and Marine Corps aircraft only. Simultaneous runway operations and F-35B VSTOL landing pad operations occur concurrently.
Arresting gear (E-28) is installed on all runways and is kept in the raised position, except on the runway in use for landing.
Runway 14/32 has non-standard concrete overrun ends measuring 200 feet in length. F-35B short takeoffs are limited to the concrete ends of the runways. F-35B and AV-8 hover landings are restricted to designated vertical landing pads. Aircraft are restricted from taxiing on the tow-way road between Runway 5 and the test cell; that section is tow-only. Bird, deer, and coyote hazards are present, with bird activity increasing between October and April. Heavy and large four-engine aircraft are required to idle outboard engines only while on taxiways A and B adjacent to aircraft parking ramps, due to foreign object debris hazards. Portions of the aircraft ramps are not visible from the tower. Uncontrolled vehicle traffic operates on the ramps.
Transient alert fuel service is available from 1200 to 2300Z Monday through Friday only and is closed on national holidays; see the restriction remarks for additional transient aircraft information. Transient aircraft should expect truck refueling. Transient aircraft maintenance is not available. Transient aviation ordnance service is available. Lavatory service is not available. JASU, fluid, and oil servicing are not available.
The field operates 1200-0400Z Monday through Thursday, 1200-2400Z Friday, and 2000-2200Z Sunday. It is closed Saturday and on holidays, with other times available by NOTAM.
Communications remarks: as assigned.
Refer to the Terminal FLIP publication for radar minima.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Beaufort McAs (merritt Fld) Airport has five airfields within 33 NM. The closest is Beaufort Executive (KARW), 5.95 NM southeast.
Part of the Savannah and Hilton Head area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KNBC
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 KNBC.
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
Is KNBC open to civilian traffic?
KNBC, Beaufort MCAS (Merritt Field), is a private-use military airfield and is not open to general civilian traffic. Access is restricted to official business only, and prior permission is required in every case, with a minimum notice period required through Base Operations. Inbound transient aircraft, including AMC and JOSAC traffic, alternate airfield users, and diverts, must be pre-noted. Aircraft carrying VIPs, cargo, or passengers must contact Base Operations by radio ahead of landing. Approval windows are tied closely to the coordinated arrival time.
What customs support is available at Beaufort MCAS?
Beaufort MCAS does not have full customs service onsite; the nearest customs airport is KSAV, located about 32.4 nautical miles away. The field does list limited customs and agriculture availability around the clock, but this requires prior coordination with base contacts before arrival. Because this is a restricted military field, any customs-related clearance is subordinate to the standard PPR process required for all inbound traffic. Crews planning an international arrival should coordinate both customs and base access well in advance rather than assuming walk-up service.
What are the runways like at KNBC?
Beaufort MCAS (Merritt Field), identified as KNBC, has two paved runways with a permeable / PEM surface. Runway 05/23 is the longer of the two at 12,202 feet by 200 feet wide, and Runway 14/32 measures 8,001 feet by 200 feet wide. The first 1,000 feet of all runways is concrete, with interior portions built of asphalt. Vertical landing pads with high-temperature-rated concrete are also available for V / STOL and rotary-wing aircraft, supporting the field's fixed-wing and helicopter mix.
Does Beaufort MCAS have fuel service for transient aircraft?
Transient fuel service at Beaufort MCAS (KNBC) is available Monday through Friday from 1200 to 2300Z, and it is closed on national holidays. Transient hot pit fueling is available but requires prior permission requested no later than one hour before the transient alert service closes. Weapons arming and de-arming safing is not available for transient aircraft, and ground servicing is suspended whenever lightning is within 10 nautical miles. Transient aircraft can expect truck refueling rather than pit servicing, and maintenance support is not available for non-tenant traffic.
What wildlife or ground hazards should crews expect at KNBC?
Beaufort MCAS (Merritt Field) reports bird, deer, and coyote hazards on the airfield, with bird activity increasing between October and April. Portions of the aircraft parking ramps are not visible from the tower, and uncontrolled vehicle traffic operates on the ramps as well. Heavy and large four-engine aircraft are required to idle outboard engines only on taxiways A and B adjacent to parking ramps because of foreign object debris hazards. Aircraft are also restricted from taxiing on the tow-way road between Runway 5 and the test cell; that stretch is tow-only.