Airport History.  In 1943, the citizens of Ames voted 1,225 to 257 to establish a municipal airport. In the beginning, two turf runways pioneered the development of the James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport. Since then, two paved runways, numerous aircraft and hangars, modern terminal, and several other additions have contributed to the growth of this valuable resource in our community. In 2017, the City of Ames leased the municipal airport to Central Iowa Air Service, the current Fixed Base Operator. The City of Ames owns and operates the airport.

Airport Location.  The James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport is located at 2520 Airport Drive, within the corporate boundaries of the City of Ames. This site is located south of US Highway 30 and west of US Highway 69. US Highway 69, together with Interstate Highway 35, provide north/south access to the community, while US Highway 30 provides intrastate access in an east/west direction. Access to the terminal area is provided via Airport Road.

James Herman Banning Airport Services include:

• 100LL and Jet A fuel, Full Service
• Charter Flights
• Parking and hangars (for transient aircraft)   
• Aircraft maintenance
• Passenger terminal and lounge
• Flight school/flight training   
• Crew cars
• Hangar rental
• Pilot lounge/snooze room/shower 
• Aircraft rentals
• Restrooms
• Flight Planning Room

James Herman Banning 
Mayor John Haila and the Ames City Council held a dedication ceremony in June 2023 to rename the Ames Municipal Airport the James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport.

James Herman Banning, who moved to Ames in 1919 to attend Iowa State College, was the first African American to receive his pilot’s license from the U.S. Department of Commerce. His flight instructor was WWI veteran Lt. Raymond Fisher, who agreed to train Banning after he had been rejected by several flight schools. Banning and mechanic Thomas C. Allen were the first African Americans to complete a transcontinental flight.

Banning developed his love for flying while living in Ames and named his plane “Miss Ames” after the city. While Banning lived in Ames, he owned and operated an auto repair shop. Banning moved to Los Angeles in 1929 when he was recruited to be the chief pilot for the Bessie Coleman Aero Club. He died in a plane crash in San Diego in February 1933 while flying as a passenger. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles.

General Airport Information

Public Notice for DBE

Ames Wildlife Fencing-Floodplain Public Notice 

Ames Airport Wildlife Fence

Terminal Map

The City of Ames hereby announces its proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal of 3.5% for FAA funded contracts/agreements. The proposed goal pertains to federal fiscal years 2022 through 2024. The proposed goals and rationale are available for inspection between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at City Hall, 515 Clark Ave, Ames, IA 50010 for 30 days from the date of this publication.

Comments on the DBE goal will be accepted for 30 days from the date of this publication and can be sent to the following:

Casandra Eames, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator DBE Liaison Officer
City Hall
515 Clark Ave
Ames, IA 50010
515-239-5219
Casandra.Eames@CityofAmes.org
(For general Airport questions, please refer to contact information at the top of the page)

AND

Federal Aviation Administration Office of Civil Rights

Ofelia Medina
FAA Office of Civil Rights
777 S. Aviation Blvd, Suite #150 El Segundo, CA 90245

Ofelia.Medina@faa.gov

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/acr/bus_ent_program/