Departure
96%
vs 95% ▲ 1
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field, formerly W. K. Kellogg Airport, is a city-owned, joint civil-military airfield some three nautical miles west of downtown Battle Creek, Michigan. It combines a busy general aviation and corporate base with a Michigan Air National Guard installation, and its long asphalt runway with ILS makes it a straightforward and interesting destination for visiting simulator pilots.
Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field is a city-owned, public-use airport that also functions as a military installation, hosting both civilian general aviation and Battle Creek Air National Guard Base operations. It is home to Western Michigan University's College of Aviation, Duncan Aviation's aircraft refurbishment facility, WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation, and other aviation businesses, giving it an unusually rich and varied flying character for a field of its size. The mix of flight training, corporate traffic, warbird-style Waco production and military jets makes it an engaging field to fly into on the simulator.
The airport lies in Calhoun County, Michigan, about three nautical miles west of the central business district of Battle Creek and immediately south of the city of Springfield. It sits close to Interstate 94, with road access from Helmer Road. Approach and departure control in the area is provided by Kalamazoo on 119.2 MHz, and the field itself is served by its own control tower.
Kellogg Field has three paved runways. The longest, 05L/23R, is a hard-surfaced, lit runway of 9,985 feet and carries an ILS approach to 23R. A second parallel runway, 05R/23L, is 4,088 feet, hard-surfaced and lit. The crosswind runway, 13/31, is 4,819 feet, also hard-surfaced and lit. Field elevation is 928 feet.
Battle Creek Tower operates on 126.825 MHz, with Ground on 121.7 MHz and ATIS on 128.325 MHz. The CTAF/UNICOM frequency is 118.5 MHz, with a separate UNICOM channel on 122.95 MHz. Kalamazoo Approach/Departure works the airspace on 119.2 MHz, and there is a Lansing radio outlet on 122.2 MHz along with a dedicated Air National Guard operations frequency on 32.35 MHz. An ILS is available for runway 23R.
The airport is readily identified by its position just south of Springfield and immediately alongside Interstate 94, with Helmer Road providing the ground access route to the field.
The airfield's origins date to September 1924, when the Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce leased a farm site for aviation use; it opened in 1925 with substantial financial backing from W. K. Kellogg, who donated funds to purchase the land and fund early improvements. The field received its first air mail flight in 1928 and its first scheduled passenger service in 1929, and in 1935 it gained Michigan's first air traffic control tower outside Detroit. During the Second World War the United States Army Air Forces used the airfield, and in August 1943 the 394th Bombardment Group trained here before deploying to the United Kingdom in 1944. In 1947 the field became home to the 172nd Fighter Squadron of the Michigan Air National Guard, a military presence that continues today as the 110th Wing. A new parallel runway, 05R/23L, was built in 2010–2011 at a cost of $7.2 million. In 2019 WACO Aircraft Co announced an $18 million expansion including a new reception facility and engineering space, and Western Michigan University's College of Aviation announced plans for a new instructional building. The airport was renamed Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field by the City Commission in December 2019, and in 2022 city leaders explored development of a drone park, reflecting the Air National Guard's existing operation of MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft from the field.
Kellogg Field remains a joint civil-military airport, hosting the Michigan Air National Guard's 110th Wing alongside a substantial general aviation and corporate community. Western Michigan University's College of Aviation, Duncan Aviation, WACO Classic Aircraft Corporation and Centennial Aircraft Services all operate from the field, and it is the base for around 55 private individuals as well as roughly 84 to 93 based aircraft, mostly single and multi-engine piston types with some jets. Duncan Aviation operates a full-service FBO offering Jet A and 100LL fuel, line support, and pilot facilities. The airport hosts the annual Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival. Customs and Border Protection clearance is available at the airport, supporting international arrivals.
