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Week of September 15, 2025
Airport Spotlight
The Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) sits just off the Missouri River in Kansas City. Known as one of the busiest locations in the Midwest for corporate, charter and recreational flights, the airport boasts 24/7 services including air traffic control.
MKC has two runways, 01/19 and 04/22. An Engineered Materials Arrestor System (EMAS) is on either end of Runway 01/19. This system provides a safe and effective way to stop any aircraft that may undershoot or overshoot a runway. You can read our recent press release on two successful EMAS stops in Chicago and Boca Raton.
The Kansas City Downtown Airport was also one of the first airports in the country to have a Runway Incursion Device installed. RID serves as a memory aid for air traffic controllers, alerting them when a runway or taxiway is occupied by an aircraft or vehicle, or even if the runway is closed.
The air traffic control tower at MKC is also equipped with an Approach Runway Verification system. This tool enhances a controller’s situational awareness by alerting if an aircraft is lined up with the wrong surface.
General aviation pilots flying into MKC can learn more about operations and possible hot spots at the airport by watching this video from our From the Flight Deck series or reading the Pilot Handbook.
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