Chippewa Valley Regional Airport

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Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
IATA: EAU - ICAO: KEAU
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Chippewa, Eau Claire and Dunn Counties
Serves		Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Elevation AMSL		913 ft (278.3 m)
Coordinates		44°51′56″N, 91°29′03″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
4/22	8,101	2,469	Concrete
14/32	4,999	1,524	Asphalt/Concrete

Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (IATA: EAU, ICAO: KEAU) is a public airport located in Chippewa County, Wisconsin, USA, three miles (4.8 km) north of the city of Eau Claire. It is the largest airport in the 30-county northern Wisconsin area, and serves primarily the Chippewa Valley region, operating on a budget approved by a commission equally representing the interests of Chippewa, Eau Claire and Dunn counties.

The airport is occasionally used as an emergency alternative landing site for flights bound for Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. A new $3.9M 65' control tower was built in 2005, but the airport commission was unwilling to spend the $350k-$375k to staff the tower. In November of 2006, the tower opened; thus making it safer for pilots. Passenger loading is from the tarmac.

The airport is mostly used for general aviation, but also has 6 daily commercial flights, operated by Mesaba Airlines operating as Northwest Airlink. It is possible to reach most major United States destinations within 2-3 hours via transfers at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.