Goodland, Kansas: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Goodland, Kansas, is home to the Goodland Municipal Airport, also known as Renner Field. The airport is located two miles north of the city and covers 372 acres of land at an elevation of 3,657-3,658 feet. With three runways, the airport accommodated 43,000 aircraft operations in the year ending September 18, 2022, averaging 118 operations per day. Goodland Municipal Airport has a rich history, providing contract glider training to the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and later serving as an auxiliary airfield. The airport has also witnessed changes in airline service throughout its history, with various airlines offering flights to different destinations over the years.

Goodland Municipal Airport's runways

Goodland Municipal Airport, also known as Renner Field, is located two miles north of Goodland, Kansas, in Sherman County. The airport covers 372 acres of land at an elevation of 3,658 feet.

The airport has three runways:

• Runway 12/30 is 5,499 feet long and 100 feet wide. It is made of concrete and is in good condition. This runway has a medium-intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights.
• Runway 5/23 is 4,001 feet long and 75 feet wide. It is an asphalt runway in good condition. This runway has a visual slope indicator and a four-light PAPI on the left side.
• Runway 17/35 is 1,754 feet long and 40 feet wide. It is a turf runway in good condition. This runway is marked with yellow cones at the threshold.

During World War II, the airport had four compacted soil runways, which were aligned N/S, NE/SW, E/W, and NW/SE. The former NW/SE runway is now paved and serves as the main runway, while the others are still visible in aerial photographs.

Goodland Municipal Airport's location and elevation

Goodland Municipal Airport, also known as Renner Field, is located two miles north of Goodland, Kansas, in Sherman County, United States. The airport covers 372 acres of land and sits at an elevation of 3,658 feet (approximately 1,115 metres).

The airport has three runways: 12/30, which is made of concrete and measures 5,499 feet by 100 feet (1,676 x 30 metres); 5/23, an asphalt runway measuring 4,001 feet by 75 feet (1,220 x 23 metres); and 17/35, a turf runway with dimensions of 1,754 feet by 40 feet (549 x 12 metres).

Goodland Municipal Airport's coordinates are N39°22.24' / W101°41.92', and it can be reached by telephone at 785-899-6591. The airport has a rich history, including providing contract glider training to the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Goodland Municipal Airport's history

Goodland Municipal Airport, also known as Renner Field, is located two miles north of Goodland, Kansas, in the United States. Covering 372 acres of land at an elevation of 3,658 feet, the airport features three runways: 12/30, 5/23, and 17/35. The airport has a rich history, playing a significant role in both civilian and military aviation.

During World War II, the airfield, which at the time had four compacted soil runways, provided contract glider training to the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1943. The training was conducted by William A. Ong and his team, utilising C-47 Skytrains and Waco CG-4 unpowered gliders. The mission was to instruct glider pilot students in operating gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing gliders in the field. The training commenced on June 8, 1942, and concluded on August 29, 1943, due to equipment shortages.

Following the war, Goodland Municipal Airport resumed its civilian role. Goodland first received scheduled airline service in the early 1930s through United States Airways, which operated a Metal Aircraft Flamingo on an airmail route connecting Denver and Kansas City, with stops in Goodland, Salina, and Topeka, Kansas. This service was discontinued around 1933, and Goodland went without airline service until 1961 when Central Airlines resumed flights to Denver, Kansas City, and Wichita.

In 1967, Central Airlines merged with the original Frontier Airlines, which continued to serve Goodland until 1976–77. Subsequently, Air Midwest initiated flights to the same destinations using Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners. During the late 1980s, Air Midwest entered into code-sharing agreements with Eastern Airlines and Braniff, which resulted in the airline operating as Eastern Express and Braniff Express, respectively. After Braniff ceased operations in 1989, Air Midwest resumed operating under its own brand until another code-sharing agreement was established with US Airways in 1991.

Air Midwest's service to Goodland concluded on April 15, 1992, and Mesa Airlines commenced operations as United Express for United Airlines, providing service to Denver. This service ended in mid-1996, and United Express reinstated flights to Denver in mid-1997 through Great Lakes Airlines. However, Great Lakes Airlines discontinued its services in early 2000, and Goodland has not had airline service since.

Airlines that have served Goodland Municipal Airport

Goodland Municipal Airport, also known as Renner Field, is located two miles north of Goodland, Kansas, in Sherman County. The airport has provided scheduled airline services from several airlines over the years.

In the early 1930s, United States Airways was the first airline to provide scheduled services to Goodland Municipal Airport. The airline flew a Metal Aircraft Flamingo on an airmail route between Denver and Kansas City, with stops in Goodland, Salina, and Topeka, Kansas. This route was discontinued in 1933, and Goodland did not have any airline services for nearly three decades after that.

Scheduled airline services returned to Goodland in 1961 with Central Airlines, which offered flights to Denver, Kansas City, and Wichita on Douglas DC-3s. In 1967, Central Airlines merged with the original Frontier Airlines, which continued to serve Goodland with Convair 580s. Frontier ended its services in 1976-77, and Air Midwest began flying Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners on the same routes.

In 1988, Air Midwest began code-sharing with Eastern Airlines, operating as Eastern Express. However, this agreement ended later that year, and Air Midwest then partnered with Braniff, operating as Braniff Express. This partnership ended in 1989 when Braniff shut down. Air Midwest then operated under its own brand until 1991, when it entered into another code-share agreement with US Airways, offering flights to Kansas City and Denver as US Airways Express.

Air Midwest ended its services in 1992, and Mesa Airlines began operating as United Express for United Airlines, providing services to Denver on Beechcraft 1900Ds. Mesa Airlines' services ended in 1996, and United Express reinstated services to Denver in 1997 through Great Lakes Airlines, which also used Beechcraft 1900Ds. Great Lakes Airlines' flights ended in 2000, and Goodland has not had any airline services since.

Airports near Goodland, Kansas

Goodland, Kansas, is a small town, and its nearest major airport is 113 miles away in another state. However, Goodland does have its own airport, and there are several other local airports within a 50-mile radius.

Goodland Municipal Airport

Goodland Municipal Airport (IATA: GLD, ICAO: KGLD, FAA LID: GLD) (Renner Field) is located just two miles north of Goodland, in Sherman County, Kansas. The airport covers 372 acres of land at an elevation of 3,658 feet. It has three runways: 12/30 is 5,499 by 100 feet concrete; 5/23 is 4,001 by 75 feet asphalt; and 17/35 is 1,754 by 40 feet turf. The airport is a white-green lighted land airport that operates from sunset to sunrise.

In the year ending September 18, 2022, Goodland Municipal Airport recorded 43,000 aircraft operations, averaging 118 per day. The majority (97%) were general aviation, with a small percentage of air taxi (1%) and military (1%) operations. At that time, 21 aircraft were based at the airport: 19 single-engine and 2 multi-engine.

Nearby airports

Within a 50-mile radius of Goodland, there are several other local airports:

• Kit Carson County Airport, Burlington, CO (38 miles from Goodland)
• Colby Municipal Airport, Colby, KS (41 miles from Goodland)
• Cheyenne County Municipal Airport (24 miles from Goodland)
• Shalz Field Airport (30 miles from Goodland)
• Oakley Municipal Airport (44 miles from Goodland)

Major airports

The closest major airport to Goodland is McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport (MCK/KMCK) in McCook, Nebraska, 113 miles away. Other major airports in the region include:

• Denver International Airport, Denver, CO (193 miles from Goodland)
• Garden City Regional Airport, Garden City, KS (152 miles from Goodland)
• North Platte Regional Airport, North Platte, NE (191 miles from Goodland)
• Dodge City Regional Airport, Dodge City, KS (200 miles from Goodland)

Frequently asked questions