Essex County Airport (KCDW), New Jersey
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Essex County Airport (KCDW) is a towered, public-use field in Caldwell, New Jersey, serving business aviation traffic in the crowded New York metro airspace alongside neighbors like Teterboro and Morristown. The airport operates two paved runways, 04/22 and 10/28, and offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel with attendance from 0700 to 2300 daily. Its position under the transiting Morristown ILS and GPS RWY 23 approaches, along with wildlife activity on and around the field, shapes several of its published operational remarks.
Runways
Essex County Airport has two paved runways. The longest, 04/22, is 4,552 ft long and 80 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
Essex County Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 7am to 11pm, daily, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Essex County Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Morristown Municipal (KMMU), 8 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Essex County Airport recorded 3,068 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July and August. Business aviation traffic at KCDW builds through spring and peaks in July and August before tapering off toward year-end, based on FAA TFMSC monthly figures.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 407 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Essex County Airport averages 9.3 days above 90°F in July and 25.7 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85.2°F, and January the coldest, at 38.3°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Essex County Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental and other notes.
Pilots should be alert that the Morristown ILS and GPS runway 23 approaches transit the Essex County Airport Class D airspace. Traffic on those approaches passes two miles west of the airport while descending through 2,000 feet MSL.
For clearance delivery when the control tower is closed, contact Newark Approach.
Engine run-ups on taxiway N at the runway 28 approach end should be conducted to limit their effect on aircraft parked on the RN ramp.
When the control tower is closed, the PAPI serves runway 22, the high-intensity runway lights on runway 04/22 and medium-intensity runway lights on runway 10/28 operate continuously and are preset to low intensity. To increase intensity and activate the runway end identifier lights on runways 04 and 22, use the common traffic advisory frequency.
A six-foot fence is located 200 feet from the runway end, across the centerline.
A six-foot fence is located 195 feet from the runway end, 120 feet left of the centerline.
The runway 22 PAPI is unusable beyond 5 degrees right of centerline due to an obstruction.
The approach ratio is 13:1 to the displaced threshold.
The runway 10 approach slope is 11:1 to the displaced threshold.
The approach ratio is 6:1 to the displaced threshold.
The runway 28 approach ratio is 28:1 to the displaced threshold.
Fixed-wing VFR aircraft departing runway 4 should fly runway heading for 1 mile, then turn crosswind if remaining in the traffic pattern. If departing the traffic pattern, continue on runway heading until reaching traffic pattern altitude.
Fixed-wing VFR aircraft departing runway 10 should fly heading 080 degrees at the runway departure end. Upon reaching 900 feet MSL, turn crosswind if remaining in the traffic pattern; if departing the traffic pattern, continue on heading 080 degrees until reaching traffic pattern altitude.
Fixed-wing VFR aircraft departing runway 22 should fly runway heading until reaching 900 feet MSL, then turn crosswind if remaining in the traffic pattern. If departing the traffic pattern, continue on runway heading until reaching traffic pattern altitude.
Fixed-wing VFR aircraft departing runway 28 should fly runway heading for 1 mile, then turn crosswind if remaining in the traffic pattern. If departing the traffic pattern, continue on runway heading until reaching traffic pattern altitude.
Non-standard traffic patterns for runway 04 are prohibited due to a noise-sensitive area southwest of the airport.
Deer and birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
Local operations are suspended from 2300 to 0700 Monday through Saturday, and from 2300 Saturday until 1000 Sunday.
Rotorcraft should, if possible, cross the airport boundary at or above 700 feet MSL.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Essex County Airport has five airfields within 20 NM. The closest is Morristown Municipal (KMMU), 7.59 NM southwest.
Part of the New York area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KCDW
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.
$1,200.00 catering order at KCDW.
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 KCDW?
Essex County Airport (KCDW) has two paved asphalt runways. Runway 04/22 is the longer of the two at 4,552 feet by 80 feet wide, while runway 10/28 measures 3,719 feet by 75 feet wide. Both support the airport's mixed fixed-wing and business aviation traffic under tower control during published hours.
Is customs available on-site at KCDW?
Essex County Airport (KCDW) does not have on-site customs processing. The nearest customs facility is Morristown Municipal (KMMU), located approximately 7.59 nautical miles away. Operators requiring customs clearance need to route through that facility rather than clearing directly at Caldwell.
What are the noise-related traffic pattern restrictions at KCDW?
Essex County Airport (KCDW) prohibits non-standard traffic patterns for runway 04 due to a noise-sensitive area southwest of the airport. Standard departure procedures are also specified for each runway end, directing fixed-wing VFR aircraft to fly runway heading or a set heading before turning crosswind, depending on whether the aircraft remains in the traffic pattern or departs it.
What obstruction and wildlife hazards should pilots know about at KCDW?
Essex County Airport (KCDW) reports deer and birds on and in the vicinity of the airport, requiring pilot alertness during arrivals and departures. Close-in obstructions include six-foot fences located roughly 195 to 200 feet from runway ends, and the runway 22 PAPI is unusable beyond 5 degrees right of centerline due to an obstruction.