Airport Overview & Setting
Coeur d'Alene Airport – Pappy Boyington Field (KCOE/COE) is a Kootenai County public-use airport located near Hayden, about 9 miles northwest of downtown Coeur d'Alene. It is the principal private-aviation gateway to Lake Coeur d'Alene, the Coeur d'Alene Resort, and the broader Inland Northwest, drawing seasonal resort, golf, and second-home traffic alongside steady year-round general aviation.
Named for an Idaho Ace
The field was renamed in 2007 to honor Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, the World War II Marine Corps flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient born in Coeur d'Alene. The airport sits at 2,320 ft MSL on roughly 1,140 acres and handles more than 40,000 operations annually.
Runway Capability
KCOE's primary Runway 6/24 is 7,400 ft of grooved asphalt, backed by an ILS to Runway 6, while the 5,400-ft Runway 2/20 adds crosswind flexibility. That length makes the field genuinely capable across the fleet — light jets, super-midsize, and heavy jets such as the Gulfstream G650 and Bombardier Global all operate here, with performance the only practical limiter on hot, high-density-altitude days.
Charter Considerations
For charter travelers, KCOE means a short transfer to the lakefront resorts, downtown Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, and the Spokane metro just across the Washington line. StanCraft Jet Center coordinates crew cars, rental delivery to the ramp, and concierge ground service. The Jet Finder sources Part 135 aircraft positioned near the Inland Northwest to minimize repositioning cost on charter quotes.
Customs & International Access
Coeur d'Alene is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection user-fee port of entry. CBP clearance is available by appointment through StanCraft Jet Center, with standard office coverage Thursday through Monday and off-hours processing subject to officer availability — useful for trips routing from Canada into the Inland Northwest.
Safety & Seasonal Planning
This is a four-season Idaho field. Winter brings snow, icing, and reduced ceilings where the Runway 6 ILS earns its keep; summer can produce afternoon density altitude near 4,100 ft and occasional convective activity. Morning departures offer the most schedule certainty. Crews should check NOTAMs for tower-hour status, since the field reverts to uncontrolled CTAF operations outside daytime tower hours.
Regional Context
KCOE complements Spokane International (GEG) about 30 miles west, but offers a far more direct, queue-free arrival for travelers bound for Lake Coeur d'Alene and North Idaho resort country. Nearby relievers include Felts Field (SFF) in Spokane, while Boise (BOI) and Seattle-area fields are common charter origins and destinations.