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

Frederick W. Smith International Airport

Memphis, Tennessee (United States)

IATA: MEM ICAO: KMEM

Longest Active Runway

11,120 ft

3,389 meters

Field Elevation

341 ft

104 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

35.0438°, -89.9763°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#348 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#560 of 7558

Top 7.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#31 in US

#106 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+11.2%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Frederick W. Smith International Airport's longest active runway measures 11,120 ft (3,389 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #348. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #560 worldwide (Top 7.4%) and #31 nationally in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Frederick W. Smith International Airport (MEM)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Memphis International Airport is the logistical beating heart of global express freight. Between 22:00 and 04:00, MEM undergoes an intensive nighttime 'sort', where hundreds of heavy freighter aircraft land and depart within minutes of each other on the parallel runway system. While commercial passenger services have rightsized to a modern concourse, the airfield's pavement ratings and high-speed taxiways remain engineered for maximum global cargo reliability.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Three parallel north-south runways (18L/36R at 8,946 ft, 18C/36C at 11,120 ft, 18R/36L at 9,320 ft) plus crosswind Runway 09/27 (8,900 ft).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1929 as Memphis Municipal Airport. Transformed in 1973 when Frederick W. Smith relocated Federal Express (FedEx) headquarters here, sparking massive tarmac expansions into the premier air cargo facility in the Western Hemisphere.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

World's second-busiest cargo airport, operating alongside Little Rock (LIT, 116 NM west) and Nashville (BNA, 174 NM east) with night movement volumes exceeding nearly all global passenger hubs.

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Center Runway 18C/36C at 11,120 ft is built with specialized 20-inch reinforced concrete to absorb repetitive maximum-weight landings by McDonnell Douglas MD-11F and Boeing 777F freighters.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav MEM Master Record ↗

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Frederick W. Smith International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 341 ft (104 m MSL) in Memphis. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

World's second-busiest cargo airport, operating alongside Little Rock (LIT, 116 NM west) and Nashville (BNA, 174 NM east) with night movement volumes exceeding nearly all global passenger hubs. The facility operates as an isolated regional aviation anchor with no other major paved commercial aerodromes within 100 NM.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 11,120 ft (3,389 m)

Frederick W. Smith International Airport's active flight strips comprise 18C/36C (11,120 ft), 18R/36L (9,320 ft), 18L/36R (9,000 ft), 09/27 (8,946 ft). With a longest active threshold of 11,120 ft (3,389 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
18C/36C	11,120 ft (3389m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
18R/36L	9,320 ft (2841m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
18L/36R	9,000 ft (2743m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
09/27	8,946 ft (2727m)	150 ft (46m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/mem.json ↗