🇺🇸 Fort Meade Executive Airport

Fort Meade Executive Airport (KFME/FME), also known as Tipton Airport, is a public airport located just south of Fort George G. Meade in Odenton, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, US. It is situated near Fort Meade, the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.

Type of Facility and Operations: The airport is a civil, publicly owned facility open to the public. It primarily supports general aviation operations, including flight instruction and aircraft rental. It does not have a control tower. Services include minor airframe and powerplant repair, as well as tiedown parking. Fuel (100LL and Jet A+) is available via 24-hour self-service with a credit card.

Notable Features or History: Originally a military airfield, it was constructed in 1960 as Fort George G. Meade Army Airfield. It was later renamed Tipton Army Airfield in April 1962, honoring Colonel William Tipton, a decorated veteran. The airfield was closed in 1995 as part of the 1988 Base Realignment & Closure Act. It reopened as a public airport on November 1, 1999, and is currently operated by the Tipton Airport Authority, a state-chartered public corporation. The airport features a single asphalt runway, 10/28, measuring 3,000 by 75 feet (914 by 23 meters). It is equipped with Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL), Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI), and Medium Intensity Runway Lights (MIRL) for runway 10 and 28, which can be activated by the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF).

Current Status: Fort Meade Executive Airport is operational and open to the public, serving as a key hub for general and business aviation in Central Maryland. The airport is attended daily from 08:30 to 18:00 local time. As of March 24, 2023, the airport had 38,124 aircraft operations annually, with 97 aircraft based at the facility.