Cessna Aircraft Field (CEA)

Cessna Aircraft Field (CEA), also known by its ICAO code KCEA, is a significant private-use aviation facility located four nautical miles southeast of downtown Wichita, Kansas. Situated in the heart of the 'Air Capital of the World,' the airport is owned and operated by Textron Aviation (the parent company of Cessna) and serves as a critical hub for the manufacturing, testing, and delivery of general aviation aircraft. The airfield is deeply integrated into the industrial landscape of Wichita, supporting the complex logistics of global aviation manufacturing. The airport infrastructure is primarily designed for industrial and corporate use rather than commercial passenger traffic. There is no traditional passenger terminal building; instead, the airfield facilities are focused on aircraft production lines, maintenance hangars, and flight test centers. A unique operational feature of CEA is its dual runway system, which includes runway 17R/35L, a facility strictly closed to the public and reserved exclusively for Cessna personnel and authorized test flights. The airfield is unattended by standard airport management staff, with operations coordinated directly through Textron Aviation's flight operations department. While Cessna Aircraft Field does not host scheduled commercial airline services, it remains one of the busiest airfields in Kansas for general and corporate aviation. All flight operations at CEA must be closely coordinated with the neighboring McConnell Air Force Base (KIAB), as the two facilities share overlapping airspace and approach paths. For pilots and travelers requiring commercial links, the major hub at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) is located approximately 10 miles to the west. The presence of CEA remains fundamental to the identity and economy of Wichita, facilitating the continued development of iconic aircraft models such as the Cessna Citation and Caravan series.