The length of meteor ionization columns is defined as the maximum possible separation of points along the trail from which normal‐incidence radio reflections may be obtained, when a radio system of prescribed characteristics is used. A statistical method is employed to determine the relative frequency of trails of different lengths from simultaneous measurements made at two similar 23‐megacycle meteor detection stations 100 km apart. For sixth magnitude meteors, a mean trail length of 25 or 30 km is obtai