Nogales International (KOLS), Arizona
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Nogales International Airport (KOLS) sits in southern Arizona near the US-Mexico border, roughly 137 nautical miles from the nearest major metro area, and functions as a customs point of entry for general aviation traffic crossing into the United States. The field is non-towered, offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel, and operates on an attended schedule from 0700 to 1900 daily. A single 7200-foot paved runway and an on-site CBP inspection service make KOLS a practical stop for cross-border operators, though its published traffic tier and remarks point to some operational limitations worth reviewing before a trip.
Runways
Nogales International has one paved runway, 04/22, 7,200 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Helipads and surfaces under 500 ft are excluded.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Nogales International has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 7am to 7pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Nogales International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Nogales International recorded 625 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in January. Business aviation traffic at KOLS is concentrated in the winter months, peaking in January and dropping to its lowest point in September.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month January, 89 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Nogales International averages 27.2 days above 90°F in June and 13.9 freeze days in January. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 96.9°F, and December the coldest, at 64.9°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Nogales International has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
Runway 22 is the calm wind runway; the instrument approach for that runway is not recommended.
For clearance delivery, contact Tucson Approach.
The MIRL lighting for Runway 04/22 is pilot-activated via CTAF.
The PAPI is unusable beyond 5 degrees left of centerline and does not provide obstruction clearance beyond 5.0 nautical miles from the threshold.
The approach slope to the displaced threshold is 20:1.
Wildlife is present on or in the vicinity of the airport.
Close flight plans with Prescott Radio on frequency 122.4.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Nogales International has five airfields within 43 NM. The closest is Nogales International Airport (MMNG), 13.29 NM southwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KOLS
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 KOLS.
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 KOLS have on-site customs clearance?
Yes, Nogales International Airport (KOLS) has CBP inspection services available on site. This allows arriving aircraft to clear customs directly at the field rather than diverting to another port of entry. The airport sits near the US-Mexico border, which supports its role as a customs facility for general aviation traffic. Dispatchers should confirm current CBP hours and any advance notice requirements directly with the inspection station before planning an international arrival.
What runway options are available at Nogales International Airport?
Nogales International Airport (KOLS) offers a single paved runway, 04/22, measuring 7200 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. A separate helipad, H1, provides a 97-by-97-foot concrete surface for rotorcraft. There is no parallel or crosswind runway, so aircraft operations depend entirely on wind alignment with the 04/22 orientation. Runway lighting, specifically the MIRL system, is pilot-activated on the CTAF at KOLS.
Is the PAPI reliable for approaches into KOLS?
The PAPI at Nogales International Airport has published limitations that pilots should account for during approach planning. It is unusable beyond 5 degrees left of centerline, and it does not provide obstruction clearance beyond 5.0 nautical miles from the threshold. The published approach slope to the displaced threshold is 20:1. Crews flying into KOLS should treat the PAPI as a supplemental visual aid rather than a full obstruction clearance guide on that segment of the approach.
When is business aviation traffic heaviest at KOLS?
Business aviation traffic at Nogales International Airport (KOLS) is concentrated in the winter months, with January posting the highest count of the year according to FAA TFMSC data. Traffic tapers through the spring and reaches its lowest point in September before climbing again into November. This pattern gives KOLS a seasonal shape rather than a flat year-round distribution. Dispatchers planning trips in the January or November window should expect comparatively higher activity levels than in late summer.
What should pilots know about calm wind operations on Runway 22 at KOLS?
Runway 22 at Nogales International Airport is designated as the calm wind runway, meaning it is the default choice for landing or departure when winds are light and do not favor a specific runway end. However, the instrument approach procedure for that runway is noted as not recommended, so pilots relying on an instrument approach should plan accordingly. Aircraft operators at KOLS should combine this note with current wind and approach data before selecting a runway for arrival.