Ellington Airport (KEFD), Texas
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Ellington Airport (KEFD) is a towered Part 139 field in Houston, Texas, serving a mix of business aviation, military, and unscheduled air carrier traffic across three paved concrete runways, the longest reaching 9,001 feet. The airport recorded 10,959 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with 4,505 of those classified as business aviation. Shared use with Air National Guard operations and proximity to several regional fields in the Houston metro area shape a number of the airport's operational notes, from wingspan limits to noise abatement rules tied to nearby residential areas.
Runways
Ellington Airport has three paved runways. The longest, 17R/35L, is 9,001 ft long and 150 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Ellington Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Ellington Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Ellington Airport recorded 4,505 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July, September and November. Business aviation traffic at KEFD is somewhat concentrated in the spring and fall months, with November, April, and September posting the highest monthly totals in 2025.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month November, 428 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 3.4 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Ellington Airport has published operating constraints in seven categories: access, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Be alert for military aircraft at 1,600 feet MSL making overhead approaches.
Tanks 70 feet AGL are located 1,400 feet northeast of the Runway 17R approach.
CG operations require a minimum 24-hour prior permission request, except for CG missions. Contact the base by phone for coordination.
Street lights located 700 feet east of the Runway 17R approach may be mistaken for approach lights.
The Air National Guard ramp is closed to all aircraft except official business. A 24-hour prior permission request is required; contact base operations, available from 1200 to 2130Z Tuesday through Friday, closed weekends and holidays. A command post is available 24 hours by phone. All other transient aircraft should contact the FBO.
The airport is closed to aircraft with a wingspan of 171 feet or greater, except with a 24-hour prior permission request.
Prior permission is required for unscheduled air carrier operations; contact the airport.
Taxiway B is unlighted east of Runway 17R/35L; daylight use only.
Runway 17L/35R is not available for Part 121/Part 380 operations involving scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 30 passenger seats.
Runway 17L/35R, between Taxiways C and G, is a dual-purpose runway/taxiway with taxiway lighting.
Taxiway B east of Runway 17R/35L is not available for air carrier aircraft.
Arresting device BAK-14 BAK-12B(B) located at 1,563 feet.
Arresting device BAK-14 BAK-12B(B) located at 1,500 feet.
Arresting device BAK-14 BAK-12B(B) located at 1,496 feet.
Arresting device BAK-14 BAK-12B(B) located at 1,850 feet.
Runway 17R has arresting barriers 1,500 feet in, located in the safety area, with a 14-inch lip on each side of the runway.
Runway 35L has arresting barriers 1,849 feet in, located in the safety area, with a 14-inch lip on each side of the runway.
Runway 04 has arresting barriers 1,563 feet in, located in the safety area, with a 14-inch lip on each side of the runway.
Runway 22 has arresting barriers 1,496 feet in, located in the safety area, with a 14-inch lip on each side of the runway.
Service - arresting gear: potential for tail hook skip on Runway 17R/35L and Runway 04/22 due to centerline lighting within 200 feet of the runway arresting gear. Arresting gear lighted marking placement exceeds 75 feet from the runway edge.
Noise-sensitive areas are located south and east of the field. Jet aircraft are restricted to straight-in full-stop landings only between 2200 and 0700 daily, and between 2200 and 1300 on Sundays. On departure, jet aircraft must use minimum afterburner and climb on runway heading to 1,000 feet before any turns or rejoin.
Numerous birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport, in all quadrants.
PCR VALUE: 902/R/D/W/T
PCR VALUE: 166/R/D/W/T
PCR VALUE: 1914/R/C/W/T
Fluid service: LHOX HPOX.
See FLIP AP/1 for supplementary airport remarks.
Caution: numerous small aircraft conducting extensive training in the airport area.
Miscellaneous: parking ramp capacity TDT710.
Service - fuel: A++ (military).
Air National Guard operations command post frequency 288.5.
Air National Guard: BASH Phase II conditions apply March through June and August through November.
JASU: 1(-95) 1(-86) 1(JETEX5).
UAS operations occur within the Ellington Class D airspace; operating hours vary.
Nonstandard airfield markings are present on the Air National Guard aircraft parking apron.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Ellington Airport has five airfields within 18 NM. The closest is La Porte Municipal, 6.18 NM northeast.
Part of the Houston area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KEFD
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 KEFD.
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 KEFD Ellington Airport?
Ellington Airport (KEFD) operates three paved concrete runways. Runway 17R/35L is the longest at 9,001 feet with a width of 150 feet. Runway 04/22 measures 8,001 feet long and also 150 feet wide. Runway 17L/35R is shorter at 4,609 feet and narrower at 75 feet, and it functions as a dual-purpose runway/taxiway between Taxiways C and G with taxiway lighting. All three surfaces are concrete.
Are there restrictions on using Runway 17L/35R at KEFD?
Yes, Runway 17L/35R at Ellington Airport carries specific operational limits. It is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 operations involving scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 30 passenger seats. The runway also doubles as a taxiway between Taxiways C and G and includes taxiway lighting along that segment. Its dimensions of 4,609 feet by 75 feet are notably smaller than the field's two primary runways.
Is fuel available at Ellington Airport (KEFD)?
Ellington Airport lists both 100LL and Jet A fuel types in its data. However, a remark on file notes fuel service coded as A++ (MIL), which points to a military fuel arrangement rather than a confirmed general aviation commercial service. Dispatchers should treat the civilian fuel picture as inferred from available codes rather than fully confirmed. Attendance at the field is listed as ALL / ALL / ALL. Direct verification prior to planning a fuel stop is advisable given the military-oriented notation.
What is the noise abatement procedure at KEFD?
Ellington Airport enforces a noise abatement procedure tied to sensitive areas south and east of the field. Jet aircraft are restricted to straight-in full-stop landings only between 2200 and 0700 daily, and between 2200 and 1300 on Sundays. On departure, jet aircraft must use minimum afterburner and climb on runway heading to 1000 feet before making any turns or rejoining the pattern. These restrictions apply specifically due to noise-sensitive abutting areas near the airport.
Does KEFD have customs and border clearance capability?
Ellington Airport shows customs services onsite, with CBP inspection services available along with a USDA compliance agreement in place. This combination supports international arrivals requiring both standard customs processing and agricultural compliance handling. As a U.S. facility, this arrangement differs from the more restrictive customs regimes sometimes seen at Canadian or Mexican fields. Dispatchers planning international legs into Ellington can reference this onsite capability directly rather than routing to a nearby customs airport.