Albert Lea Municipal Airport (IATA: AEL, ICAO: KAEL, FAA LID: AEL) is three miles (6 km) north of Albert Lea, in Freeborn County, Minnesota, United States.[1]

Albert Lea Municipal Airport
IATA: AEL ICAO: KAEL FAA LID: AEL
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	City of Albert Lea
Serves	Albert Lea, Minnesota
Elevation AMSL	1,261 ft / 384 m
Coordinates	43°40′52″N 093°22′05″W
Website	www.cityofalbertlea.org
Map
AEL Show map of Minnesota AEL Show map of the United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 17/35 5,000 1,524 Asphalt 5/23 2,898 883 Asphalt
Statistics (2011)
Aircraft operations 26,175 Based aircraft 52
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

Albert Lea Municipal Airport was granted over $3 million in federal funds to relocate the main runway, which followed another announcement about a grant to rehabilitate the crosswind runway. Work began in 2011 and was completed within a year. The old runway, which parallels the new runway, was converted to serve as the new runway's taxiway.

Facilities

The airport covers 273 acres (110 ha) at an elevation of 1,261 feet (384 m). It has two asphalt runways: 17/35 is 5,000 by 100 feet (1,524 x 30 m) and 5/23 is 2,898 by 75 feet (883 x 23 m).[1]

In the year ending September 30, 2011 the airport had 26,175 aircraft operations, average 71 per day: 91% general aviation, 8% air taxi and 1% military. 52 aircraft were then based at the airport: 75% single-engine, 5% multi-engine, 5% glider and 15% ultralight.[1]

Soaring contests

Albert Lea Airport hosts soaring contests, usually the week after Mother's Day in May. The airport is the only site in the United States to have hosted all seven classes of glider competition.

• 1992 U.S. Region 7 Contest
• 1993 1-26 Championships
• 1995 U.S. Sports Class Nationals
• 1997 U.S. 15 meter Nationals
• 1999 U.S. World Class Nationals and Region 7 Contest
• 2002 U.S. Region 7 Contest
• 2005 U.S. Region 7 Contest
• 2007 U.S. Open Class Nationals, 18 meter Nationals, and Region 7 Sport Class Contest
• 2015 U.S. Region 7 Contest
• 2016 U.S. Region 7 Contest
• 2018 U.S. Region 7 Contest
• 2019 U.S. 20 meter Multi-place Nationals and Region 7 Contest

From 1990 to 2008 Albert Lea was the host site for the International Aerobatic Club[2] Doug Yost Challenge Aerobatic Competition. This contest was moved to Spencer, Iowa due to construction in the area needed for the contest.

References

External links

• Aerial photo as of 17 April 1991 from USGS The National Map
• FAA Terminal Procedures for AEL, effective October 6, 2022
• Resources for this airport:
  • FAA airport information for AEL
  • AirNav airport information for KAEL
  • ASN accident history for AEL
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures

На других языках

[fr] Aéroport municipal d'Albert Lea