Mccharen Field

Mccharen Field (M83) sits three miles southwest of West Point, Mississippi, on the edge of the Black Prairie region. The airport covers 150 acres with a single asphalt runway (18/36) measuring 3,999 feet by 75 feet — standard for general aviation but not for commercial service. No airlines operate here. The field serves private aircraft, crop dusters, medical evacuation flights, and the occasional military transit from nearby Columbus Air Force Base. For anyone flying into northeast Mississippi by small plane, Mccharen is the most practical option between Tupelo and Columbus.

Getting There

West Point lies at the intersection of US Highway 45 Alternate and Mississippi Highway 50, about 20 miles south of the Tennessee border. From downtown West Point, take East Main Street east to US-45 Alternate South, then turn onto M83 Airport Road. The drive takes ten minutes. There is no public transport to the airport. Taxis and ride-shares are scarce in West Point; the closest Uber or Lyft service may originate in Columbus (20 miles south) or Starkville (30 miles southwest). Most pilots arrange a rental car in advance through one of the local agencies in town. The airport has a small parking lot for transient aircraft — tie-downs are first-come, first-served. For overnight parking, contact the airport manager on the published phone number. Bicycles are not a practical option: the road has no shoulder and traffic moves at highway speeds.

Inside the Terminal

There is no true terminal building at Mccharen Field. What exists is a one-story concrete-block structure that houses the airport office, a small waiting area, and restrooms. The waiting area contains four plastic chairs, a vending machine that offers soda and packaged snacks, and a bulletin board with notices from the FAA and local pilot groups. Heating and air conditioning are functional but basic — expect temperatures to lag slightly behind the thermostat setting. The restroom is single-occupancy, clean during business hours, but not stocked beyond toilet paper and soap. There is no jet bridge, no baggage carousel, no security checkpoint. Passengers walk from the parking lot directly to their aircraft across the ramp. For arrivals, the process is equally simple: park, retrieve luggage from the aircraft, and walk to the office to file a flight plan if continuing onward. Fuel is available 24 hours via credit card — 100LL and Jet-A. Pilots should note that self-serve is the only option after the office closes.

Mccharen Field (M83) and West Point

West Point (population 11,000) is the seat of Clay County, deep in Mississippi's Black Belt — a region named for its fertile dark soil, not its demographics. The town was founded in 1858 as a railroad stop on the Mobile and Ohio line. Cotton drove the economy then; today, manufacturing and poultry processing dominate. The most notable landmark is the Waverley Mansion, a restored antebellum plantation home five miles west of the airport. Open for tours Tuesday through Saturday, the house features a free-standing spiral staircase that rises three floors without central support. For Civil War historians, the nearby site of the Battle of West Point (also called the Battle of Plymouth) saw Union forces occupy the area in 1864. The local museum, housed in the old Clay County Courthouse, holds relics from that period alongside exhibits on Choctaw history and the region's agricultural past. Outdoor enthusiasts use the Tombigbee River, which flows just east of town, for fishing and canoeing. The river's name comes from the Choctaw words for "coffin maker," a reference to the early settlers' habit of making coffins from the abundant cypress trees. West Point also hosts the annual Prairie Arts Festival each October, drawing visitors from across the state. The airport itself plays a quiet role in the community. It is used by agricultural pilots servicing the surrounding farms — soybeans, corn, and cotton are the dominant crops. It also supports emergency medical flights: helicopters from North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo use Mccharen as a transfer point for patients. For a town of its size, West Point is not a tourist destination; it is a working Southern town where the airport serves local needs rather than vacation travel. Anyone flying in with expectations of resort amenities will be disappointed. The appeal lies in the unhurried pace, the hospitality of the people, and the access to a part of Mississippi that large airports skip over.

Practical Information

Mccharen Field (M83) is classified as a general aviation public use airport. Hours of operation: the office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, closed Sunday. However, the airfield is always accessible for arrivals and departures; be aware that after-hours fuel requires credit card at the self-serve pump. To reach the manager on duty, call +1 662-524-0039. There is no website; the airport is operated by the Clay County Airport Commission. For flight planning, the nearest weather reporting station is at Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) in Columbus, about 25 miles south. No courtesy car is available, so arrange ground transport ahead of your arrival. A concrete tip: if you are flying in for the first time, call the manager a day before to confirm the runway condition — crop-dusting aircraft can leave residue that may affect braking on the pavement.