It is not the airport’s food or the customer service. They are airports that are challenging for pilots to take off or land. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a list.
How do you know if a airport is special?
The FAA keeps a list. They publish a document titled “Special Pilot-In-Command Qualification Airports.” According to the Federal Aviation Regulations, airports make the list due to surrounding terrain, obstructions, or complex approach or departure procedures.
Pilots must have recent experience or familiarize themselves with the airport before flying there. Airlines are also responsible for ensuring pilots are trained and have the information they need to fly safely to these airports.
High terrain may have special weather, wind currents and turbulence, and aircraft performance requirements.
Airports not on the list can be challenging as well. The list are airports that the FAA deems special enough to require additional training and familiarization.
All the Airports on the List Due to Terrain Except for One Airport
All of the airports in the United States are on the list due to mountainous terrain except for one, Washington National Airport (DCA). National Airport has challenging approaches and departures because of its vicinity to Washington DC and prohibited airspace.
Ever wonder how airports get their code such as “DCA”?
Check out this post on airport names.
There are visual approaches, which must be flown by hand once you get down low. Asking an airline pilot to turn off the automation and make a low-altitude turn to land is kin to asking a NASCAR driver to turn in any direction other than left.
The “river visual approach” landing to the South is famous because of the incredible views of Washington, DC. As a regional pilot, I often had to circle to land on runway 33, a shorter runway, while landing North.
List of Special Airports in the Continental Untied States
Check the list below to see if your local airport is special. For the most up-date list please visit the FAA web site.
| Ashville, NC | AVL |
| Aspen, CO | ASE |
| Beckley, WV | BKW |
| Binghamton, NY | BGM |
| Bluefield, WV | BLF |
| Bullhead City, AZ | IFP |
| Burbank, CA | BUR |
| Burlington, VT | BTV |
| Butte, MT | BTM |
| Charleston, WV | CRW |
| Cody, WY | COD |
| Cumberland, MD | CBE |
| Durango, CO | DRO |
| Eagle, CO | EGE |
| Elmira, NY | ELM |
| Flagstaff, AZ | FLG |
| Gunnison, CO | GUC |
| Hailey, ID | SUN |
| Hayden, Yampa Valley, CO | HDN |
| Hot Springs, VA | HSP |
| Huntington, WV | HTS |
| Jackson Hole, WY | JAC |
| Keene/Dillant-Hopkins, NH | EEN |
| Klamath Falls, OR | LMT |
| Lebanon Regional, NH | LEB |
| Mammoth Lakes, CA | MMH |
| Missoula, MT | MSO |
| Ontario, CA | ONT |
| Palm Springs, CA | PSP |
| Pinal Airpark, AZ | MJZ |
| Reno, NV | RNO |
| Rifle/Garfield Regional, CO | RIL |
| Roanoke, VA | ROA |
| San Diego, CA | SAN |
| San Francisco Intl, CA | SFO |
| Saranac Lake, NY | SLK |
| Shenandoah Valley, VA | SHD |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | TVL |
| Telluride, CO | TEX |
| Washington, DC | DCA |
| West Yellowstone, MT | WYS |
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