Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal (KSCD), Alabama
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal Airport, identified as KSCD, serves the Sylacauga, Alabama area with a single paved runway and moderate business aviation traffic. The field sits roughly 32 nautical miles from the Birmingham metro area and relies on Birmingham Approach for customs coordination, since no customs facility operates on site. Fuel service, including Jet A and 100LL, is available around the clock via card payment, though the field's attendance schedule for other services runs weekdays during standard business hours. Operators should be aware of glider towing activity in the vicinity on weekends and wildlife presence on and around the airport.
Runways
Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal has one paved runway, 09/27, 5,390 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
Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal has Jet A+ and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 4pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (KBHM), 33 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal recorded 352 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in April. Business aviation traffic at KSCD concentrates in the spring months, peaking in April, with lighter activity in the winter months of January and December.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month April, 48 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 3.2 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
Glider towing operations occur within a 3 nautical mile radius below 6,000 feet, from 0900 to 2200 on weekends.
For clearance delivery, contact Birmingham Approach.
Pilots can activate the REIL for runways 09 and 27, the PAPI for runways 09 and 27, and the MIRL for runway 09/27 via CTAF.
Runway markings are obscured or faded.
Deer are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
Fuel is available 24/7 with credit card payment.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal has five airfields within 26 NM. The closest is Thomas C Russell Field (KALX), 23.14 NM southeast.
Part of the Birmingham area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KSCD
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.
$1,200.00 catering order at KSCD.
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 KSCD have on-site customs clearance?
KSCD, Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal, does not have customs available on site. The nearest customs facility is at KBHM, located approximately 32.5 nautical miles away. Operators planning international arrivals should coordinate clearance through Birmingham in advance. Local clearance delivery at KSCD is handled by contacting Birmingham Approach.
What runway does KSCD offer for business aviation traffic?
KSCD, Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal, has a single paved runway, 09/27, measuring 5,390 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This length matches the airport's published maximum paved runway distance. There is no parallel or crosswind runway option at this field. Pilots should note the runway marking condition is reported as obscured or faded.
Is fuel available at KSCD outside staffed hours?
Fuel at KSCD, Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal, is available 24/7 via credit card according to airport remarks. Both 100LL and Jet A (A+) are offered at the field. This self-serve access means fuel is not limited to the published attendance schedule of Monday through Friday, 0800 to 1600. Pilots arriving outside those hours can still fuel using card payment.
When is business aviation traffic busiest at Sylacauga Municipal Airport?
Business aviation traffic at KSCD, Sylacauga Municipal Airport, concentrates in spring, with April recording the highest monthly figure at 48 operations according to FAA TFMSC data for 2025. March and May each recorded 41 operations. Winter months, particularly January and December, show the lowest activity. Total annual business aviation operations for the field reached 352 out of 742 overall operations.