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Columbus Municipal Airport (KBAK) lies three miles north of Columbus, Indiana, on the site of the former Atterbury Army Airfield and Bakalar Air Force Base. It offers two lit hard-surfaced runways, an ILS approach, and a mix of general aviation, museum and training activity that makes it a useful and historically rich stop for VFR pilots in south-central Indiana.
Columbus Municipal Airport, identified as KBAK (FAA: BAK, IATA: CLU), serves the city of Columbus in Bartholomew County, Indiana. It is owned by the City of Columbus and today supports general aviation training, based aircraft and the on-field Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum, which commemorates the field's military past. For a simulator pilot, the airport's blend of wartime heritage, an instrument approach, and a straightforward general-aviation layout make it an interesting waypoint for cross-country flights through Indiana.
The airport sits about three miles north of downtown Columbus, in Bartholomew County, Indiana, and falls within the Indianapolis Approach/Departure area, contactable on 134.85 MHz. No other specific controlled airspace boundaries or nearby fields are detailed in available sources.
Columbus Municipal has two paved runways. Runway 05/23 is 6,396 feet long with a hard surface and lighting, and Runway 23 is equipped with an ILS approach. Runway 14/32 is 4,997 feet long, also hard-surfaced and lit. Field elevation is 653 feet.
The Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) and Tower frequency are both 118.6 MHz, indicating the tower shares this frequency and that CTAF procedures apply when the tower is not in operation. Ground is on 121.6 MHz, which also serves as Clearance Delivery. UNICOM is available on 122.95 MHz. Weather is broadcast on the AWOS-3 at 119.75 MHz. Indianapolis Approach/Departure can be reached on 134.85 MHz, and a Terre Haute radio facility operates on 112 MHz. Runway 23 offers an ILS approach.
Specific published circuit heights, joining procedures or noise abatement measures for Columbus Municipal are not detailed in the available sources.
No published visual reporting points or specific local landmarks for joining the traffic pattern are given in the available sources; pilots should refer to current charts for the Columbus, Indiana area.
The airport occupies the site of the former Atterbury Army Airfield, a U.S. Army Air Forces facility from the Second World War, which was later redeveloped as Bakalar Air Force Base during the Cold War. Bakalar served as the host base for the 434th Troop Carrier Wing on two occasions, from 1949 to 1952 and again from 1953 to 1969, reflecting its role in Air Force Reserve troop-carrier operations. A Douglas DC-3 based at the airport was destroyed in a wind storm in May 2022. The Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum, located on the airfield, preserves this military heritage for visitors.
Columbus Municipal Airport is a city-owned general aviation field covering around 2,000 acres, with a terminal building that was completely renovated in 2015. The city's airport authority has indicated plans for a new air traffic control tower and continues to promote flight training at the field under a "Learn to Fly" programme. As of 2015 the airport had 77 based aircraft, comprising mostly single-engine types along with multi-engine, jet, helicopter, glider and ultra-light aircraft. Prior permission may be required for certain visiting flights; pilots should confirm current arrangements before arrival.
