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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

McGhee Tyson Airport

Compiled by

Knoxville/Maryville, Tennessee (United States)
IATA: TYS ICAO: KTYS
Longest Active Runway
10,000 ft
3,048 meters
Field Elevation
981 ft
299 m MSL
Runway Inventory
2 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
35.8110°, -83.9940°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
tied #557 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#954 of 7558
Top 13.4% percentile worldwide
For airports with equal runway length, the worldwide order does not indicate a length difference.
National Standing (United States)
tied #53 of 63 in US
same length as 8 others; nearest CLT, 153 NM · #186 of 2020 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+0%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 TYS in numbers: 10,000 ft longest runway · tied #557 of 650 published · #954 of 7,558 worldwide (top 13.4%) · tied #53 in United States.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville combines robust commercial regional traffic with vital national defense air-refueling missions. Operating at 981 ft elevation in the Tennessee River valley, TYS features two well-separated parallel runways that ensure uninterrupted civilian scheduled flights alongside military logistics. The 10,000 ft primary strip provides generous safety margins for diversions navigating Appalachian mountain weather fronts.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Dual parallel runways: 05L/23R (10,000 ft / 3,048 m) and 05R/23L (8,997 ft / 2,742 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Established in 1927 in Alcoa, Tennessee; named in honor of US Navy pilot McGhee Tyson who was killed in WWI. Houses the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Primary commercial aviation gateway to East Tennessee and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, situated 84 NM northeast of Chattanooga (CHA).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Runway 05L/23R's 10,000 ft length easily accommodates KC-135 Stratotanker military air-refueling tankers and heavy widebody diversion transports.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav TYS Master Record ↗
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway 8,000–10,499 ft
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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

TYS lies at 299 m (981 ft), #198 of 650 published airports by elevation and 66.2 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 374 ft above the United States median (607 ft, 63 airports); COS is highest at 6,187 ft, 5,206 ft higher than TYS.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

No published neighbour with a paved runway of 5,000 ft or more within 100 NM of TYS. Nearest published airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA), 132 NM, 11,030 ft (1,030 ft longer than TYS); 7 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

TYS runways: 05L/23R 10,000 × 150 ft concrete (con); 05R/23L 9,000 × 150 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: tied #53 of 63 in United States with BOI/SBD/CLT/TUL/PSP/RDU/LGB/JAX at 10,000 ft; DEN leads by 6,000 ft (16,000 ft). +0% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
05L/23R 10,000 ft (3048 m / 3.048 km) 150 ft (46m) Concrete (CON) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
05R/23L 9,000 ft (2743 m / 2.743 km) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →