Key Field (KMEI), Mississippi
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Key Field (KMEI) is a towered, public-use airport in Meridian, Mississippi, sharing its field with Air National Guard operations that also provide air traffic control services. The airport handled 15,400 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with business aviation accounting for 4,510 of that total. Its 10,003-foot primary runway and mixed military-civilian character make KMEI a capable stop for a range of business aircraft, though the joint-use environment brings procedures and restrictions that differ from a standard civilian field.
Runways
Key Field has two paved runways. The longest, 01/19, is 10,003 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt and concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Key Field has Jet A, 100LL and A++ available on the field. Fueling is available from 6am to 10pm, daily, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Key Field does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Hattiesburg / Laurel Regional (KPIB), 60 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Key Field recorded 4,510 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May. Business aviation traffic at KMEI concentrates in certain months, with May and November showing notably higher operations counts than the annual average based on 2025 FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month May, 449 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Key Field averages 24.1 days above 90°F in July, 14.4 freeze days in January and 0.1 snow days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93.3°F, and January the coldest, at 59.0°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Key Field has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Air National Guard parking is limited, and ramp status information is available for ANG operations during normal duty hours. All transient aircraft require prior permission at least 48 hours in advance. Owner/base operator applies.
The Air National Guard ramp is closed except by prior permission; contact base operations to arrange.
Runway lighting includes activated MALSR on Runway 01 and 19, MIRL on Runway 04/22, HIRL on Runway 01/19, and taxiway lights, all controlled via CTAF.
The runway safety area is non-standard due to surface variations.
Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Phase II conditions apply during March through May and September through November. Contact airfield management or the command post for current bird watch conditions.
PCR VALUE: 730/F/C/W/U
PCR VALUE: 120/F/C/W/U
Air National Guard personnel are on duty 0700-1630 Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Air National Guard personnel provide air traffic control services at KMEI.
For clearance delivery, contact Memphis ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Key Field has five airfields within 35 NM. The closest is Meridian NAS (mc Cain Fld) (KNMM), 16.56 NM northeast.
Part of the Mississippi area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KMEI
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 KMEI.
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 is the longest runway at KMEI?
Key Field's primary runway, 01/19, measures 10,003 feet long and 150 feet wide, with an asphalt-concrete surface. This length supports large business jets and military transport aircraft operating at KMEI. A secondary runway, 04/22, provides 5,052 feet of asphalt pavement at the same 150-foot width. Both runways are paved, giving KMEI flexibility for crosswind operations. The airport's PCR values, listed as 730/F / C/W / U and 120/F / C/W / U, correspond to these two runway pavements respectively.
Is Key Field (KMEI) a towered airport?
Yes, Key Field is a towered airport, and air traffic control services at KMEI are provided by the Air National Guard rather than the FAA. The tower operates under the airport's published attendance schedule of 0600 to 2200 local, seven days a week. Clearance delivery for departures is handled through Memphis ARTCC. Pilots should expect ANG-specific procedures given the shared military and civilian use of the field. This arrangement is uncommon and worth noting for crews unfamiliar with KMEI.
Does KMEI have onsite customs clearance?
Key Field does not have onsite customs clearance. The nearest customs facility is located at KPIB, approximately 59.94 nautical miles away. Crews arriving from international destinations need to plan a stop at KPIB or another customs-equipped airport before or after operations at KMEI. This distance should be factored into fuel and routing planning for any flight requiring federal inspection services. No customs type or onsite designation applies to KMEI itself.
What fuel types are available at KMEI?
Key Field offers 100LL, Jet A, and Jet A++ fuel, covering both piston and turbine aircraft. This range supports the airport's mixed business aviation and military traffic. Fuel availability aligns with the field's attendance schedule of 0600 to 2200 local daily. Business aviation operations account for 4,510 of the airport's 15,400 annual operations according to FAA TFMSC data, indicating steady demand for turbine fuel. Crews should confirm current fuel service hours against the posted attendance schedule when planning arrivals outside normal hours.
Is business aviation traffic at Key Field (KMEI) seasonal?
Business aviation traffic at Key Field shows a concentration in specific months rather than a flat distribution across the year, based on FAA TFMSC monthly data for 2025. May recorded the highest monthly count at 449 operations, while January was among the lowest at 330. November also showed elevated activity at 417 operations. This pattern suggests dispatchers planning trips to KMEI should anticipate higher traffic volumes and potential scheduling considerations during these peak months. Total annual business aviation operations at KMEI reached 4,510 for the year.