Macdill AFB Airport (KMCF), Florida
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
MacDill AFB (KMCF) is a towered, private-use military airfield located near Tampa, FL, about 3.24 nautical miles from the metro area. The field handles a modest volume of business aviation traffic alongside its primary military mission, with FAA TFMSC data recording 421 business aviation operations against a 5,453 total for 2025. Jet A fuel is available onsite, though cash purchases require prior approval and an air card is otherwise required. Access is restricted to authorized traffic, and multiple caution areas exist nearby including Peter O. Knight, Albert Whitted, and Tampa International airports, all within a roughly 8 nautical mile radius.
Runways
Macdill AFB Airport has one paved runway, 05/23, 11,421 ft long and 151 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Helipads and surfaces under 500 ft are excluded.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Macdill AFB Airport has Jet A and A++ available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Macdill AFB Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Macdill AFB Airport recorded 421 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May and June. Business aviation traffic at KMCF is heavier in the spring months, peaking in May and June, and lighter during the fall and early winter months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month May, 52 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 2.8 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Macdill AFB Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, environmental and other notes.
An air card is required for aviation fuel purchases, or U.S. cash is accepted. Cash fuel purchases require prior permission from Fuels.
Transient Alert operates from 1100 to 0300Z. Lavatory service is available only with prior permission. Transient parking is limited for tactical aircraft, and service delays should be expected for tactical aircraft. Aircraft carrying ordnance cannot be serviced. Transient Alert is contract maintenance. Transient aircraft must land by 0230Z, except VIP aircraft. All fighter-type and trainer aircraft must land by 0200Z. Multiple IFR or VFR approaches for transient aircraft are not permitted after 0230Z. Transient Alert can support a minimal number of transient aircraft for local or out-and-back transient flights with prior approval.
Aircraft must avoid overflight of the St. Petersburg land mass by at least 1.5 nautical miles. Prior permission is required from Base Operations for a PPR number, service, and other restrictions. PPR may be issued up to 7 days prior to arrival. All aircraft departing MacDill AFB must have a flight plan on file with Airfield Operations prior to takeoff.
On the instrument approach to runway 23, use caution during overflight of Peter O. Knight Airport due to light aircraft traffic below the approach path, located 4 nautical miles northeast.
Commercial aircraft cross the approach to MacDill AFB en route to Tampa International Airport at and above 2,100 feet. On the instrument approach to runway 05, use caution during overflight of Albert Whitted Airport due to light traffic below the approach path, located 6 nautical miles southwest. Maintain runway and taxiway centerline when exiting the runway.
Aircraft operations are restricted during Bird Watch Condition Moderate, when takeoff or landing is permitted only when departure and arrival routes avoid identified bird activity and no local IFR or VFR traffic pattern activity is allowed, and during Bird Watch Condition Severe, when takeoff and landing are prohibited without operations group or command approval. Contact ATIS, the tower, Command Post, or Base Operations for the current bird watch condition.
The birdbath area is used only for P-3, C-130, E-3A, KC-135, and B-737 aircraft. Fighter aircraft and helicopters are not permitted unless approved by the Air Force Mission commander.
Contact Base Operations for a PPR number, service, and other restrictions.
All aircraft must land by the PPR-approved time, or call with deviations, or the PPR becomes invalid, except for VIP aircraft.
High-intensity runway lighting for runway 5/23 operates when the tower is open.
The first 1,000 feet of the runway is concrete, and the middle 9,420 feet is asphalt.
Non-standard runway markings labeled MacDill AFB appear at the ends of runway 05/23. Non-standard markings also appear on the north and south ramps, along with wing-tip obstruction lines used for training.
Aircraft making 180-degree turns on the runway should use the hammerheads located in the last 1,000 feet at each end.
Aircraft with a wingspan greater than 170 feet require wing walkers at the intersection of the Bravo apron and taxiway Kilo due to a light pole obstruction, located 129 feet north of taxiway Kilo centerline. Wide-body aircraft with wingspans greater than 132.7 feet are not permitted to taxi on taxi lanes located on the Alpha apron without wing walkers.
The arresting hook system is BAK-12B(B), rated at 1,338 feet. The north BAK-12B is available from 1300 to 2030Z Monday through Friday, with 45 minutes prior notice required to connect the cable; it is unavailable on weekends and federal holidays. The south BAK-12B is unavailable.
The arresting hook system is BAK-12B(B), rated at 1,397 feet. The north BAK-12B is available from 1300Z to 2030Z Monday through Friday, with 45 minutes prior notice required to connect the cable; it is unavailable on weekends and federal holidays.
Cargo and heavy aircraft are not permitted to land on the BAK-12 arresting cables.
Heavy bird activity should be expected from November 1 through February 28 during the Phase II BASH period, with a 24-hour bird watch alert in effect.
Bearing strength: ST175; SBTT429; TRT494; TDT700.
Fluid available: liquid oxygen (LOX).
Uncontrolled VFR traffic operates in the vicinity of KMCF below 1,200 feet.
Customs, agriculture, and immigration procedures are detailed in FLIP AP/1.
Agriculture information is listed under Global HF Systems in the FIH.
Transient aircrews may contact the 9th Operations Support Squadron for a weather briefing.
When night vision device operations are in effect, contact the tower 10 minutes prior to arrival or departure for airfield lighting adjustment information.
An AN/FMQ-19 automated observation system is in use, augmented by human observation when necessary during airfield hours.
Weather observations are available 24 hours via the automated system. During weather flight closures, remote briefing service is available from the 26th Operations Support Squadron. When possible, 2 hours advance notice is requested for all required briefings.
All distinguished visitor and transient aircraft must contact MacDill Command Post on frequency 311.0 three hours prior to arrival and again 30 minutes prior to arrival with distinguished visitor codes, customs information, and space-available passenger information.
All aircrews departing a civilian airport or a Guard/Reserve base must call Command Post one hour prior to takeoff with passenger, cargo, and ETA information.
Numerous voids and sinkholes exist on the airfield; remain on the taxiway centerline.
MacDill Crash Fire Response (CFR) is an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) airfield rated Category 8 with 11,000 gallon capacity. Steady-state ARFF condition for MacDill AFB is a Reduced Level of Service (RLS) for Categories 1 through 9 on weekdays from 1030Z to 2000Z (0630 to 1600 local), and a Critical Level of Service (CLS) for Categories 8 and 9 on weeknights from 2000Z to 1030Z (1600 to 0630 local). On weekends, RLS applies to Categories 1 through 7 and CLS applies to Categories 8 and 9. CLS applies to Category 10 weekly.
Class B airspace services automatically terminate when an aircraft is instructed to contact the tower.
All series B-747 and A-380 aircraft must arrive with a tow bar.
Use caution during taxiing operations at night on spots A1 through A4 due to removed apron lighting.
All aircraft required to park on the Army apron must contact the Army Support Facility MacDill up to 7 days prior to arrival, with a minimum notice of 24 hours prior to arrival.
Helipad H1, measuring 100 feet by 100 feet with a concrete surface, is restricted to use by the Army Reserve Aviation Support Facility MacDill.
The Deployed Unit Complex Apron (Delta/DUCC Ramp) is closed.
Pilot-to-Metro Service is out of service until further notice. Contact the 6th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight for weather information.
The Pilot-to-Dispatcher communications system is unserviceable. Contact Airfield Management Operations for further information.
Class D airspace reverts to Class G when the tower is closed.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Macdill AFB Airport has five airfields within 14 NM. The closest is Peter O Knight (KTPF), 5.50 NM northeast.
Part of the Tampa and St. Petersburg area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KMCF
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 KMCF.
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 KMCF open to civilian business aircraft?
MacDill AFB (KMCF) is a private-use military airfield near Tampa, FL, not a public civilian facility. Transient aircraft require prior permission from Base Operations before arrival, and PPR approval is only valid for the approved landing time. Aircrews departing civilian airports or Guard / Reserve bases must also call Command Post one hour before takeoff with passenger, cargo, and ETA information.
What customs and agricultural clearance does MacDill AFB provide?
MacDill AFB (KMCF) has CBP inspection services available onsite along with a USDA compliance agreement covering agricultural clearance. Specific customs, agriculture, and immigration procedures are detailed in the FLIP AP/1 publication rather than summarized locally. Aircrews should confirm current requirements through that reference before planning an international arrival.
What is the runway length and surface at KMCF?
KMCF's main runway, 05/23, is 11,421 feet long and 151 feet wide with an asphalt surface, making it the longest paved runway at MacDill AFB. The first 1,000 feet of the runway is concrete, with the middle 9,420 feet asphalt. A second surface, helipad H1, measures only 100 by 100 feet and is restricted to Army Reserve Aviation Support Facility use.
Are arresting cables available for aircraft at MacDill AFB?
MacDill AFB (KMCF) has BAK-12B(B) arresting hooks on both runway ends, rated at 1,338 feet and 1,397 feet respectively. The north BAK-12B is available weekdays from 1300 to 2030Z with 45 minutes prior notice required to connect the cable, but it is unavailable on weekends and federal holidays. The south BAK-12B is unavailable at this time, and cargo or heavy aircraft are not permitted to land on the cables.