Castle Airport (MER)

Location & QuickFacts

FAA Information Effective	2026-07-09
Airport Identifier	MER
Airport Status	Operational
Longitude/Latitude	120°34'5.4710" W / 37°22'49.7440" N -120.568186 / 37.380484 (Estimated)
Elevation	190.40 ft / 58.03 m (Surveyed)
Land	1360 acres
From nearest city	3 nautical miles NE of Atwater, CA
Location	Merced County, CA
Magnetic Variation	15E (2000)

Owner & Manager

Ownership	Publicly owned
Owner	MERCED COUNTY
Address	2222 M STREET MERCED, CA 95340
Phone number	209-385-7686
Manager	GEORGE CLOVER
Address	2222 M STREET MERCED, CA 95340-4180
Phone number	209-617-5399

Airport Operations and Facilities

Airport Use	Open to public
Wind indicator	Yes
Segmented Circle	Yes
Control Tower	ATCT
Lighting Schedule	SEE RMK
Beacon Color	White-Green (lighted land airport)
Landing fee charge	No
Sectional chart	SAN FRANCISCO
Region	AWP - Western-Pacific
Responsible ARTCC	ZOA - OAKLAND
Tie-in FSS	RIU - RANCHO MURIETA
FSS on Airport	No
FSS Toll Free	1-800-WX-BRIEF
NOTAMs Facility	MER (NOTAM-d service available)

Airport Communications

CTAF	118.175 MHz
UNICOM	122.95 MHz
AWOS-3	MER (209-725-0104)

Airport Services

Fuel types	100LL,A,A1
Airframe repair	MINOR
Power plant repair	MINOR
Transient storage	Hangar, Tiedown

Runway Information

Runway 13/31

Dimensions	11802 x 150 ft (3597 x 46 m)
Surface	ASPH-CONC (GOOD)
Surface treatment
Edge lights	High

	13	31
Alignment	141°	321°
Physical elevation	190.40 ft	177.70 ft
Coordinates	37.393085 / -120.580959	37.367883 / -120.555418
Traffic pattern	Left	Right
Runway marking	Non-precision instrument , Good Condition	Precision instrument , Good Condition
ILS type		LOC/GS
VGSI	4-light PAPI on left	4-light PAPI on left
Approach light	ALSF1	ALSF1
Runway end lights		No

Radio Navigation Aids

ID	Type	Name	Ch	Freq	Var	Dist
CZQ	TACAN	CLOVIS	76X	112.90	15E	46.8 nm
HYP	VOR/DME	EL NIDO	85Y	113.85	15E	12.6 nm
MOD	VOR/DME	MODESTO	93X	114.60	17E	23.8 nm
LIN	VOR/DME	LINDEN	95X	114.80	17E	46.6 nm
PXN	VORTAC	PANOCHE	73X	112.60	16E	41.2 nm
FRA	VORTAC	FRIANT	103X	115.60	17E	49.4 nm

Remarks

• WHEN ATCT CLSD MAX OF 5 ACFT PMTD IN VFR TFC PAT AT ANY ONE TIME AND 2000 FT CIG AND 3 MIS VIS RCMDD.
• FOR CD WHEN ATCT IS CLSD CTC NORCAL APCH AT 916-361-0516.
• TWY B CLSD TO ACFT GTR THAN 30000 LBS.
• RY 13/31 180 DEGREE TURNS PROHIBITIED.
• FOR ARPT INFO 209-385-7686, EXTN 4180.
• RY 31 WILL BE THE DESIGNATED CALM WIND RY (WIND 5 KNOTS OR LESS).
• OPPOSITE END OF RY NOT VISIBLE ON TKOF. WHEN ATCT CLSD OPPOSITE DIRECTION TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED.
• CIVILIAN AND MILITARY TRAINING MAY OCCASIONALLY CAUSE PATTERN CONGESTION.
• NO OBJECTIONS