South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field (79J), Alabama
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field, listed under local identifier 79J, serves Andalusia, Alabama, with a single 6,000-foot asphalt runway and no operating control tower. The airport supports a mix of general aviation and business aviation traffic, with fuel available in both self-serve and contract configurations. Its position roughly 30 nautical miles from the nearest metro area and 64.72 nautical miles from customs-equipped KPNS shapes how dispatchers plan approaches, fueling, and cross-border routing through this field.
Runways
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field has one paved runway, 11/29, 6,000 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field has Jet A+ and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Pensacola International (KPNS), 65 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field recorded 2,578 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in June and July. Business aviation traffic at South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field concentrates in the mid-year months, with June, July, and September each posting the highest monthly operation counts.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month June, 279 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field averages 27.8 days above 90°F in July and 7.9 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93.9°F, and January the coldest, at 63.2°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field has published operating constraints in three categories: access, runway notes and other notes.
For clearance delivery, contact Cairns Approach; when that approach facility is closed, contact Jacksonville ARTCC instead.
The PAPI units on runway 11 and runway 29 are pilot-activated, as is the MIRL lighting on runway 11/29, both controlled via CTAF.
Runway markings are in fair condition due to fading.
100LL fuel is available via self-serve pump 24 hours a day.
Military contract fuel is available Monday through Friday from 0700 to 2400; other times follow separate arrangements.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field has five airfields within 34 NM. The closest is Florala Municipal, 16.49 NM south.
Part of the Southern Alabama area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at 79J
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at 79J.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field, and where is it located?
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field is a public-use airport serving Andalusia, Alabama, identified locally as 79J. It sits at 310 feet elevation and carries no control tower, so traffic operates on CTAF. A single asphalt runway, 11/29, spans 6,000 feet in length and 100 feet in width. According to FAA TFMSC data, the field recorded 3,669 total annual operations in 2025, with 2,578 of those business aviation movements. The airport lies roughly 30 nautical miles from the nearest metro area.
Does 79J have a control tower, and how should pilots handle traffic?
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field is non-towered, so arriving and departing aircraft coordinate over CTAF for runway 11/29 lighting and traffic sequencing. The MIRL system on runway 11/29 and the PAPI units on both runway ends are pilot-activated through CTAF rather than tower control. For clearance delivery needs, pilots contact Cairns Approach, and when that facility is closed, Jacksonville ARTCC handles the function instead. This setup reflects the field's status as an uncontrolled general aviation airport rather than a towered facility.
What fuel is available at South Alabama Regional (79J)?
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field stocks 100LL and Jet A fuel types, along with A+ fuel per airport data. The 100LL grade is available via self-serve pump around the clock, giving pilots access outside staffed hours. Military contract fuel is also offered, with published availability Monday through Friday between 0700 and 2400; service outside that window follows other arrangements noted in field remarks. General attendance at the airport runs 0630 to midnight on weekdays and 0730 to 1630 on weekends.
How busy is South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field, and does traffic vary by season?
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field logged 2,578 business aviation operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, out of 3,669 total annual operations. Monthly business aviation traffic is concentrated in the warmer months, with June, July, and September each exceeding 250 operations while April dips to 134. This pattern points to a seasonal skew toward mid-year activity rather than a flat year-round distribution. Dispatchers planning trips to 79J should account for this uneven monthly spread when estimating ramp or fuel demand.
Where is customs processing available for flights arriving at 79J?
South Alabama Regional at Bill Benton Field has no onsite customs service; the airport data lists customs_onsite as unavailable. The nearest customs-equipped airport is KPNS, located approximately 64.72 nautical miles away. Flights requiring international clearance must route through KPNS or another designated port rather than clearing directly at Bill Benton Field. Dispatchers planning international arrivals should build this distance into routing and timing before selecting 79J as a landing point.