EDEN PRAIRIE
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
Busy airport life at Flying Cloud Airport
Within the Metropolitan Airport Commission’ s reliever airport system is Flying Cloud Airport, the busiest airport out of the six reliever airports in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. More than 100,000 takeoffs and landings a year-round out Flying Cloud Airport’ s contribution to nationwide air travel.
Located in Eden Prairie just 10 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Flying Cloud Airport is a hub for recreational aircraft, corporate jets and helicopters and is home to several businesses that offer everything from aviation lessons to custom upholstery.
Logging more than 120,000 operations annually at the airport, Flying Cloud Airport operations increased 11.7 % in 2023, with more than 136,000 takeoffs and landings. Inflight Aviation acquired the former Elliott Aviation facility, which had been based at Flying Cloud for more than five decades. Inflight is now renovating the six-acre facility, its first fixedbase operation.
Airport investments in 2023 included enhancements to the Taxiway H Holding Bay and the construction of a new service road on the south side of the airport.
The airport is served by three runways and operates 362 base aircraft.
One impact often not seen is the traffic that brings doctors into the metro for specialty surgeries and organ transplants. Blaine Peterson, Flying Cloud manager, said the airport has been a significant partner in the transport of those doctors and has also been the destination for organs being sent to the Twin Cities for transplant. In addition, an area news organization flies its helicopter out of Flying Cloud.
“ There is a diverse mix of aircraft that flies out of this hidden gem,” Peterson said.
The manager doesn’ t see things slowing down any time soon, noting that“ general aviation is going to stay vibrant,” he said.
In terms of outreach, Flying Cloud also hosted Girls in Aviation Day in September, where attendees met successful women in the aviation profession and explored the roles that science, technology, engineering and math play in aviation. They also hosted a Discover Flying Cloud event in May 2023 to share development concepts with the public.
The Metropolitan Airport Commission is also in the throes of generating a long-term plan for Flying Cloud and opened a 45-day public comment period in March 2025, before the plan continues through a formal review process with the Metropolitan Council and the commission.
The airport is overseen by the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission, which is composed of appointed airport users and Eden Prairie community members. The commission advises the City Council and the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the owner and operator of the airport, on matters affecting the operation of Flying Cloud Airport and the community.
The commission meets quarterly at the Eden Prairie City Center, generally on the second Thursday of the month, to discuss issues pertaining to the airport.
Flying Cloud Airport 10110 Flying Cloud Drive 952-944-1035 metroairports. org / our-airports / flying-cloud-airport
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