Pella Municipal (KPEA), Iowa
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Pella Municipal Airport (KPEA) serves the Pella, Iowa area with a single paved runway suited to business aviation traffic. The field is non-towered and operates on an attendance schedule that runs early morning to dusk most days, with adjusted Sunday hours. Fuel service includes both 100LL and Jet A, and the nearest customs clearance point is Des Moines International Airport, about 33 nautical miles away.
Runways
Pella Municipal has one paved runway, 16/34, 5,402 ft long and 75 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Pella Municipal has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Pella Municipal does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Des Moines International (KDSM), 33 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Pella Municipal recorded 1,427 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May. Business aviation traffic at KPEA concentrates in the spring and summer months, peaking in May, with noticeably lighter activity during the winter months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month May, 168 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Pella Municipal has published operating constraints in two categories: runway notes and other notes.
Medium intensity runway lighting on runway 16/34 is preset to low intensity. Pilots can increase intensity and activate the PAPI for runway 16 and runway 34 via CTAF. Runway end identifier lights are available on runway 16 and runway 34, also controlled via CTAF.
Runway 16 has an approach slope to the displaced threshold of 22:1.
Runway 34 has an approach slope to the displaced threshold of 21:1.
For clearance delivery, contact Des Moines Air Traffic Control Tower.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Pella Municipal has five airfields within 29 NM. The closest is Knoxville Municipal (KOXV), 9.74 NM southwest.
Part of the Des Moines and Iowa area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KPEA
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 KPEA.
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 customs clearance available at KPEA?
Pella Municipal Airport does not have customs service onsite. The nearest customs facility is at Des Moines International Airport, roughly 33 nautical miles away. Crews arriving from international origins need to plan their inbound clearance through that location rather than at KPEA. Coordination for customs should be arranged in advance given the distance to the alternate facility.
What runway does KPEA offer for business aircraft?
KPEA has a single runway, 16/34, measuring 5,402 feet long and 75 feet wide with a concrete surface. This length accommodates most business jet traffic operating into Pella Municipal Airport. There is no crosswind runway option, so pilots should account for wind conditions relative to the 16/34 alignment. The paved surface is listed at the same length as the airport's max paved distance figure.
What lighting is available at KPEA after dark?
Pella Municipal Airport has medium intensity runway lighting on runway 16/34 that defaults to a preset low intensity setting. Pilots can increase intensity and activate the PAPI on both runway 16 and runway 34 through CTAF. Runway end identifier lights are also available on both runway ends and are controlled the same way. This pilot-controlled lighting setup means aircraft arriving after hours need to key the CTAF frequency to bring up full lighting and visual glide slope guidance.
How busy is Pella Municipal Airport and when is traffic highest?
Pella Municipal Airport recorded 1,646 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with 1,427 of those attributed to business aviation. Traffic concentrates in the spring and summer months, with May showing the highest business aviation activity at 168 operations. Winter months see notably lower volumes, with January at 59 operations. This seasonal pattern is a factor dispatchers should weigh when scheduling flights into KPEA during peak versus off-peak periods.
What are the approach obstacle considerations at KPEA?
Pella Municipal Airport publishes approach slope-to-displaced-threshold data for both runway ends. Runway 16 has an approach slope to the displaced threshold of 22:1, while runway 34 has a slightly steeper slope of 21:1. These figures reflect obstacle clearance calculations pilots should reference when planning approaches, particularly for aircraft with performance limitations on approach gradient. Crews flying into KPEA should factor these slope values into approach planning rather than assuming a standard clearance gradient.