Purdue University Airport
LAF · KLAF · Lafayette, Indiana · Tippecanoe County · map
Purdue University Airport is a public-use airport owned by Purdue University, 2 miles southwest of Lafayette, Indiana, 606 feet above sea level. It has 2 runways; the longest, 10/28, is 6,600 feet of asphalt. It has a control tower, fuel (100LL avgas, Jet A) and about 94 general-aviation aircraft based on the field by the FAA's count. The FAA counts about 117,973 takeoffs and landings a year. About 4,206 passengers boarded flights here in the FAA's fiscal year 2024.
Quick answers answers refresh every morning
What is the airport code for Purdue University Airport?
Its FAA code is LAF, and its ICAO code is KLAF.
Where is Purdue University Airport?
It is 2 miles southwest of Lafayette, Indiana, 606 feet above sea level.
How long is the longest runway at Purdue University Airport?
The longest of its 2 runways, 10/28, is 6,600 feet long.
Does Purdue University Airport have a control tower?
Yes, it has a control tower.
What fuel can you buy at Purdue University Airport?
The FAA's airport file lists 100LL avgas, Jet A.
Where can you fly nonstop from Purdue University Airport?
Airline flights go to 8 airports, the busiest of them Chicago O'Hare International, John Glenn Columbus International, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain, South Bend International, Purdue University. Every route
Are there flight schools at Purdue University Airport?
5 flight schools, flying clubs or college flight programmes are based within about 15 miles of it, including Attica Flyers INC and Trustees of Purdue University. Compare them
Where are the nearest FAA examiners to Purdue University Airport?
7 pilot examiners and 7 aviation medical examiners work within 50 nautical miles. See them by name
Weather and planning now, the forecast, warnings, pilot reports, winds aloft, restrictions
Fetching the weather now, the forecast, the warnings in force, pilot reports and the winds aloft for Purdue University Airport…
Wind map live wind over the area, from Windy.com
Colours show wind speed, the moving lines its direction; drag the time bar for the coming days. Map and forecast by Windy.com.
The airport facts, runways, radio, fuel and services, the FAA's remarks
The airport
- Codes
- FAA LAF · ICAO KLAF
- Kind
- Airport · open to the public · publicly owned
- Owner
- Purdue University
- Elevation
- 606 feet above sea level
- Control tower
- A control tower · 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
- Attended
- Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Lights
- runway lights see the remarks below; beacon sunset to sunrise
- Fuel and services
- 100LL avgas, Jet A; the services card below
- Notes
- certified for airline service (Part 139)
- On the chart
- Chicago sectional
- Magnetic variation
- 1W
- In the FAA's files since
- April 1940
Runways 2
For understanding the field, not for navigation.
| Runway | Length × width | Surface | Lights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28 | 6,600 × 150 ft | Asphalt, good | High-intensity lights |
| 05/23 | 4,225 × 100 ft | Asphalt, good | Medium-intensity lights |
- Runway 10: ILS, PAPI, four lights on the left, medium-intensity approach lights with runway alignment lights (MALSR), trees 97 ft high 3,381 ft from the end
- Runway 28: VASI, four boxes on the right, trees 51 ft high 2,057 ft from the end
- Runway 05: PAPI, two lights on the left
- Runway 23: PAPI, two lights on the left, threshold displaced 323 ft, 3,912 ft available for landing, fence 11 ft high 287 ft from the end
Radio frequencies
| Common traffic advisory (CTAF) · Tower | 119.6 | Lafayette |
| UNICOM | 122.95 | |
| ATIS (recorded airport information) | 127.75 | Lafayette |
| Ground | 121.9 | Lafayette |
| Approach and departure · Lafayette and center (remote transmitter) Low | 123.85 | Lafayette |
| Lafayette and rco | 122.2 | Lafayette |
Automated weather (ASOS), by phone 765-743-9687.
Fuel and services as reported to the FAA
- Fuel
- 100LL avgas, Jet A
- Repairs
- airframe and engine: major repairs
- Parking
- hangars, tie-downs
- Oxygen
- bottled oxygen (high- and low-pressure), bulk oxygen (high- and low-pressure)
- Also here
- air ambulance, avionics, charter flights, aircraft rental, aircraft sales
Other fields with jet fuel nearby: Frankfort Clinton County Regional (19 nm southeast), White County (19 nm northeast), Crawfordsville Regional (26 nm south).
The FAA's file records what is sold and done at the field, as the airport manager reports it, not who sells it or the price; fuel sellers (FBOs) are not named in any public file. Airports selling jet fuel in Indiana · avgas.
The FAA's remarks as written in the airport file, spelled out
- When the control tower closed activate approach lights (MALSR) runway 10; runway end identifier lights runway 5, 23 and 28; medium-intensity runway lights runway 5/23; high-intensity runway lights runway 10/28 - the common traffic frequency.
- Runway 05/23 not available for part 121/PART 380 operations with schedule passenger carrying operations more than 9 passenger seats and unscheduled passenger carrying operations more than 30 passenger seats. Wingspan gtr than 79 feet NA.
- PAPI unusable beyond 9 degreess right of centerline.
- 20:1 at displaced threshold.
- Training operations and birds in the vicinity of airport.
- Surface condition unmnt 10:00 pm to 6:00 am or wkend.
Flights and activity in the air now, the airlines, based aircraft, takeoffs and landings
Activity now checking the volunteer receiver network…
Within ten miles
- Looking…
Arrivals and departures, last hour
- Looking…
From the volunteer receiver network, a few minutes behind at most; aircraft whose owners asked the FAA not to be displayed are left out; no person is named. Open the live map here.
Scheduled and charter flights from here the DOT's airline reports · August 2025 to July 2026
Airlines reported 623 departures from LAF in those twelve months, carrying 18,334 passengers in 34,053 seats (54% filled), to 35 destinations (2 abroad) on 14 airlines.
All 35 destinations, the airlines and the aircraft, month by month
From the Bureau of Transportation Statistics' T-100 table: every segment an airline reported flying, three months in arrears. Private, business and training flights are not in it; the live picture is in the activity card.
Based aircraft as counted for the FAA, fiscal year 2024
Based aircraft, as a table
| aircraft | |
|---|---|
| single-engine | 81 |
| multi-engine | 8 |
| jets | 3 |
| helicopters | 2 |
The FAA's count is the general-aviation aircraft kept on the field (singles, twins, business jets, helicopters) from its Terminal Area Forecast, the latest year with an actual count; airline fleets are never counted as based anywhere, so a big airline airport shows a small number. The register section below shows how many aircraft are registered to owners in town, a different measure again.
Takeoffs and landings a year about 117,973, the FAA's fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024)
Takeoffs and landings, as a table
| a year | |
|---|---|
| airline | 103 |
| air taxi and commuter | 25,361 |
| general aviation, travelling | 33,956 |
| general aviation, local | 58,389 |
| military | 164 |
Local flights stay in the traffic pattern or nearby, often practice; travelling flights arrive from or leave for somewhere else. Counts at airports without a tower are the FAA's estimates. How this compares nationally: Airports by the numbers.
Who flies and works here aircraft registered in town, the companies, the examiners nearby
Aircraft registered in Lafayette from the FAA register
86 aircraft are registered to owners in Lafayette, Indiana: 58 piston singles, 13 drones, 8 piston twins, 5 helicopters, 1 turboprop. Not every one of them is based at this airport; the based-aircraft count above is the FAA's figure for this airport alone.
Companies and organisations in town with two or more aircraft:
Individuals are counted, not named (the site's policy at this time). All aircraft registered in Indiana.
Who works here from the FAA's certificate lists and the register
Flight schools, flying clubs and college flight programmes based within about 15 miles:
- Attica Flyers INC 1 aircraft · Lafayette
- Trustees of Purdue University 27 aircraft · West Lafayette, 2 miles away Purdue University is a public research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, with over 50,000 students on its main campus and additional locations in Indianapolis and online.
- Purdue Aviation LLC 19 aircraft · West Lafayette, 2 miles away Purdue Aviation LLC is an FBO and flight school located at Purdue University Airport in West Lafayette, Indiana.
- Purdue University Trustees 3 aircraft · West Lafayette, 2 miles away Purdue University is a public research university in West Lafayette, Indiana.
- Lafayette Aero Club INC 1 aircraft · West Lafayette, 2 miles away Lafayette Aero Club is a member-owned flying club based at Purdue University Airport in Lafayette, Indiana, providing affordable access to a Cessna 172 for private pilots.
Repair stations in Lafayette:
Companies in the same town as this airport, and schools within about 15 miles of it (each placed at the main public airport of its town, or at the town's centre); not every one of them works from this field. All operators · all repair stations · all flight schools · all FBOs.
Examiners and inspectors nearby designated by the FAA · within 50 nautical miles
7 pilot examiners (the FAA's designated pilot examiners, who give the practical tests for pilot certificates) are based within 50 nautical miles: 7 for private pilot, 7 for commercial and instrument, 1 for airline transport pilot, 6 for flight instructor, 3 for sport pilot, 1 for type ratings; 7 for airplanes, 7 for multi-engine airplanes. Also nearby: 7 aviation medical examiners, 3 mechanic examiners, 1 airworthiness representative (maintenance), 1 engineering representative, 2 training center evaluators, 20 aircrew program designees.
- Brian Glenn Dillman private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor, instrument instructor, sport pilot, instructor renewals, military competency, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Purdue University · West Lafayette, IN (1 nm) · (765) 409-4501 · [email protected]
- Larry Wayne Gross private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor, instrument instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Purdue University · West Lafayette, IN (1 nm) · (765) 476-6603 · [email protected]
- James Paulsen private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor, instrument instructor, instructor renewals, military competency, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Purdue Aviation, LLC · West Lafayette, IN (5 nm) · (703) 498-7930 · [email protected]
- James Carroll Buehler private pilot, commercial and instrument, airline transport pilot, flight instructor, instrument instructor, sport pilot, type ratings, private pilot (proficiency), instructor renewals, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Indianapolis Executive Airport TYQ · Zionsville, IN (39 nm) · (317) 225-2757 · [email protected]
- John Henderson private pilot, commercial and instrument, instructor renewals, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Jet Access - TYQ · Zionsville, IN (39 nm) · (812) 596-4627 · [email protected]
- Steven Edward Stombaugh private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor, instrument instructor, instructor renewals, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Danville, IN (42 nm) · (317) 272-6180 · [email protected]
- David John Mino private pilot, commercial and instrument, flight instructor, instrument instructor, sport pilot, instructor renewals, military competency, ground instructor; airplanes, multi-engine airplanes · Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport - UMP · Fishers, IN (50 nm) · (317) 691-3872 · [email protected]
All 41 nearby, by kind, with contact details
What each kind does
- DPE: Designated Pilot Examiner: gives the practical tests (checkrides) for pilot certificates and ratings.
- AME: Aviation Medical Examiner: a doctor who issues the medical certificates pilots must hold.
- DME: Designated Mechanic Examiner: tests candidates for the mechanic certificate (airframe and powerplant).
- DAR-T: Designated Airworthiness Representative, maintenance: issues airworthiness certificates and approvals for aircraft in service.
- DER-T: Designated Engineering Representative: approves engineering data for repairs and alterations on the FAA's behalf.
- TCE: Training Center Evaluator: gives tests at a simulator training center.
- APD: Aircrew Program Designee: an airline's own check pilot who gives the FAA's tests to the airline's pilots.
Designees are listed with the name and contact details the FAA publishes for them on its designee locator (read October 10, 2026): the FAA lists them so that pilots, mechanics and companies can find them. Private individuals are not named, the site's policy at this time. A designee who would rather not appear here can ask us through the contact address on the About page. Each designee is placed at the main public airport of the town the FAA lists (or the nearest one to its zip code), so "nearby" means the town, not an exact address. All examiners by state.
Safety record the NTSB's cases at or near this airport
Accidents and incidents at or near this airport NTSB records · 30 since 1982, 4 fatal
Cases the NTSB recorded with this as the nearest airport, newest first. Each opens the full report in plain English. The country as a whole: Where accidents happen.
Nearby within 30 nautical miles
Connections how this airport links to the rest of the register
- Aircraft registered in Lafayette 86 aircraft · 58 piston singles, 13 drones, 8 piston twins
- Topside AG LLC 3 aircraft in town
- Berkey Aviation LLC 3 aircraft in town
- Str Holdings LLC 2 aircraft in town
- Lease One LLC 2 aircraft in town
- Attica Flyers INC 1 aircraft · flight school
- Trustees of Purdue University 27 aircraft · university or college with a flight programme
- Purdue Aviation LLC 19 aircraft · flight school
- General Electric Company · repair station
- Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) 561 flights in twelve months · SkyWest Airlines Inc., Southern Airways Express, dba Mokulele Airlines
- John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) 6 flights in twelve months · Republic Airline, United Air Lines Inc.
- Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain (MSP) 5 flights in twelve months · Sun Country Airlines d/b/a MN Airlines, United Air Lines Inc.
- South Bend International (SBN) 5 flights in twelve months · SkyWest Airlines Inc., Republic Airline
- Purdue University (LAF) 4 flights in twelve months · SkyWest Airlines Inc.
- Los Angeles International (LAX) 4 flights in twelve months · United Air Lines Inc., Breeze Aviation Group DBA Breeze
- Dane County Rgnl/Truax Field (MSN) 3 flights in twelve months · Breeze Aviation Group DBA Breeze, Republic Airline
- Boeing Fld/King County International (BFI) 2 flights in twelve months · Allegiant Air, Breeze Aviation Group DBA Breeze
- NTSB accidents and incidents at or near this airport 30 since 1982 · 4 fatal
- Accidents and incidents in Indiana 1,363 since 1982 · 176 in the last ten years
- Nearby landing places within 30 nautical miles 8 airports, heliports and seaplane bases
- Public-use airports in Indiana 131 landing places
- Indiana 5,695 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/airport/LAF.json.
Facts from the FAA's airport file effective October 1, 2026, written out in plain English; weather from the National Weather Service's aviation weather service; registered aircraft from the FAA register as of October 27, 2026; accidents from the NTSB's public database. Owners are shown only when they are an organisation; no person is named. Check the official sources before a flight: this page is for understanding an airport, not for planning one.