Mason City Municipal (KMCW), Iowa
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Mason City Municipal Airport (KMCW) is a public, non-towered field in north-central Iowa serving business aviation traffic through two paved asphalt runways. The airport sits roughly 294 nautical miles from the nearest major metro area and reported 3,227 total operations in 2025 per FAA TFMSC data, with business aviation accounting for 1,246 of those movements. Fuel service includes both 100LL and Jet A, with field attendance scheduled daily from 0700 to 1700 local time.
Runways
Mason City Municipal has two paved runways. The longest, 18/36, is 6,501 ft long and 150 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
Mason City Municipal has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 7am to 5pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Mason City Municipal does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Rochester International (KRST), 58 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Mason City Municipal recorded 1,246 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in June, July and October. Business aviation traffic at KMCW is concentrated in the fall and early summer months, with October and June recording the highest operation counts and February and March the lowest, according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month October, 136 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Mason City Municipal averages 4.2 days above 90°F in July, 30.7 freeze days in January and 3.3 snow days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82.5°F, and January the coldest, at 24.2°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Mason City Municipal has published operating constraints in four categories: runway notes, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
HIRL for runway 18/36 and MIRL for runway 12/30 are pilot-activated. Runway 12 has REIL. Runway 18 has MALS, and runway 36 has MALSR. Runway 18 has VASI. PAPI is installed on runways 12, 30, and 36, activated via CTAF. All PAPI units operate during daylight hours.
Due to runway and taxiway end elevation differentials and aircraft height, pilots may lose line of sight of other aircraft at opposing runway and taxiway ends. All departing and arriving aircraft should use CTAF.
Runway 30 is the calm wind runway.
Bird activity has been reported on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 160/F/C/X/T
PCR VALUE: 610/F/C/X/T
A landing fee applies to all commercially operated aircraft.
Contact Airport Operations.
For clearance delivery, if unable to contact flight service on the assigned frequency, contact Minneapolis ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Mason City Municipal has five airfields within 35 NM. The closest is Forest City Municipal / Trimble Field (KFXY), 13.63 NM west.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KMCW
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 KMCW.
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 KMCW towered, and what frequency handles traffic?
Mason City Municipal (KMCW) is a non-towered airport, so all arrivals and departures coordinate on CTAF. Local remarks note that runway and taxiway end elevation differentials, combined with aircraft height, can cause pilots to lose sight of traffic on opposing runway and taxiway ends. Because of this, all departing and arriving aircraft are directed to use CTAF for self-announced sequencing. Runway 30 is designated the calm-wind runway when no wind favors a specific direction. Dispatchers should brief crews on this visibility limitation before operating into KMCW.
What runways are available at Mason City Municipal Airport?
Mason City Municipal Airport operates two paved asphalt runways. Runway 18/36 is the longer of the two at 6,501 feet by 150 feet wide, and also carries the airport's maximum paved length figure. Runway 12/30 measures 5,502 feet by 150 feet, also asphalt. Runway 18 is equipped with MALS and VASI lighting, runway 36 has MALSR, and PAPI is available on runways 12, 30, and 36, with all PAPI units active during daylight hours. HIRL lighting covers 18/36 while MIRL and REIL serve runway 12/30.
How does business aviation traffic vary by season at KMCW?
Business aviation traffic at KMCW is not evenly distributed across the year. FAA TFMSC data for 2025 shows the lowest monthly counts in February and March, at 59 and 69 operations, while October and June post the highest totals, at 136 and 135 operations respectively. Overall annual business aviation operations reach 1,246 out of 3,227 total operations recorded for the year. Dispatchers scheduling flights into Mason City Municipal should expect thinner activity in late winter and heavier movement in the fall and early summer months.
Where is the nearest customs facility for aircraft arriving at KMCW?
Mason City Municipal Airport does not have onsite customs processing. The nearest customs facility is at KRST, located approximately 57.79 nautical miles away. Crews requiring customs clearance should plan a stop at KRST or another appropriate port of entry before or after operating into Mason City. No customs designation or onsite status is listed for KMCW itself, so flights with international origins need to route through a facility with clearance capability.
What landing fees or commercial operating notes apply at Mason City Municipal?
Mason City Municipal Airport charges a landing fee for all commercially operated aircraft, according to published field remarks. The airport also reports bird activity on and in the vicinity of the field, which crews should factor into approach and departure planning. Pilots unable to contact flight service on the assigned frequency for clearance delivery are instructed to contact Minneapolis ARTCC instead. These operational notes apply regardless of aircraft type using KMCW, and dispatchers handling commercial flights should account for the landing fee in trip cost planning.