Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field (KTNU), Iowa
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field, identified as KTNU, is a non-towered public airport in Newton, Iowa, sitting at 952 feet elevation roughly 26 nautical miles from the Des Moines metro area. The field carries a single paved runway and supports both piston and turbine traffic with 100LL and Jet A available on a published attendance schedule. Business aviation activity here shows a clear summer concentration, and several nearby municipal fields, including Grinnell Regional and Pella Municipal, sit within a short flight of the airport.
Runways
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field has one paved runway, 14/32, 5,600 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Des Moines International (KDSM), 30 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field recorded 607 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in August. Business aviation traffic at KTNU concentrates in the summer months, with July and August each showing markedly higher operations than the rest of the year according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 126 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field averages 8.1 days above 90°F in July, 30.4 freeze days in January and 3.1 snow days in February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84.6°F, and January the coldest, at 28.0°F.
Weather station is 2.3 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field has published operating constraints in two categories: runway notes and other notes.
Runway 14 is the calm wind runway.
MIRL for runway 14/32, VASI for runways 14 and 32, REIL for runway 14, and MALSR for runway 32 are pilot-activated on CTAF.
A stadium is located within 3 nautical miles of the airport; check for scheduled events.
Seasonal migratory waterfowl are present in the vicinity of the airport.
For clearance delivery, contact Des Moines ATCT on frequency 126.3.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field has five airfields within 27 NM. The closest is Grinnell Regional (KGGI), 12.99 NM east.
Part of the Des Moines and Iowa area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KTNU
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 KTNU.
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
Does KTNU have customs clearance onsite?
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field does not have customs clearance onsite. The nearest customs facility is Des Moines International, listed as KDSM, located approximately 30 nautical miles away. Flights requiring customs processing need to route through that airport instead. Dispatchers planning international arrivals into KTNU should build this diversion into routing and timing. No CANPASS or onsite CBP arrangement is indicated for this field.
What is the runway configuration at KTNU?
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field has a single paved runway, designated 14/32, measuring 5,600 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This matches the airport's published max paved length of 5,600 feet, confirming there is only one usable runway for landing and departure planning. Runway 14 is noted as the calm wind runway. Lighting includes MIRL on both ends, VASI on both 14 and 32, REIL on runway 14, and MALSR on runway 32, all pilot-activated on CTAF since the field is non-towered.
Is fuel available at KTNU?
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field stocks both 100LL and Jet A fuel. Attendance runs Monday through Friday from 0730 to 1800 local and Saturday through Sunday from 0800 to 1700 local. Outside those hours, service availability is not guaranteed. Dispatchers should coordinate fuel needs against this schedule when planning arrivals at KTNU, particularly for weekend or early morning operations.
How seasonal is business aviation traffic at KTNU?
Business aviation traffic at Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field concentrates heavily in the summer months. According to FAA TFMSC data for 2025, July and August each recorded well over 100 operations, with August at 126 and July at 116, far above every other month. By contrast, months like May and April saw fewer than 25 operations each. Dispatchers scheduling summer trips into KTNU should expect a busier ramp environment during this peak window compared to the rest of the year.
Are there any wildlife or local hazards noted for KTNU?
Newton Municipal-Earl Johnson Field has a documented seasonal migratory waterfowl presence in the vicinity of the airport, which crews should factor into arrival and departure planning during relevant migration periods. Separately, a stadium is located within 3 nautical miles of the field, and crews are advised to check for scheduled events there, since large gatherings can affect local airspace or traffic patterns. Neither hazard is tied to a specific calendar window in the airport's remarks. Both points are worth a pre-flight check for anyone operating into KTNU.