H L Sonny Callahan Airport (KCQF), Alabama
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
H L Sonny Callahan Airport, identifier KCQF, serves the Fairhope area of Baldwin County, Alabama, roughly 87 nautical miles from the nearest major metro reference point. The airport is public-use, non-towered, and sits at 91 feet elevation, with onsite CBP inspection services supporting international business aviation traffic. A single asphalt runway, along with year-round fuel availability including Jet A, supports the airport's role as a business aviation destination on the Gulf Coast.
Runways
H L Sonny Callahan Airport has one paved runway, 01/19, 6,604 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
H L Sonny Callahan Airport has Jet A+ and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
H L Sonny Callahan Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
H L Sonny Callahan Airport recorded 4,166 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in April and October. Business aviation traffic at KCQF is concentrated in the months outside November, which shows a marked drop compared to the rest of the year.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month April, 422 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 3.2 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
H L Sonny Callahan Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures and pavement strength.
For clearance delivery, contact Mobile Approach; when approach control is closed, contact Houston ARTCC instead.
The REIL for runway 01 and 19, the PAPI for runway 01 and 19, and the HIRL for runway 01/19 are activated via CTAF. The HIRL for runway 01/19 is preset to low intensity; intensity can be increased via CTAF.
Noise abatement procedure applies to runway 01 and runway 19: departing aircraft must fly straight out until reaching 600 feet AGL before turning.
PCR VALUE: 326/F/D/X/T
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
H L Sonny Callahan Airport has five airfields within 15 NM. The closest is Holk Field at Foley Municipal, 9.32 NM east.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KCQF
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 KCQF.
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
Is customs available at KCQF?
Yes, CBP inspection services are available onsite at H L Sonny Callahan Airport. This allows international arrivals to clear customs directly at KCQF rather than diverting to another port of entry. Operators should still coordinate arrival details in advance with the CBP office, since onsite availability does not guarantee immediate processing. KCQF's paved runway and business aviation traffic volume make it a practical option for crews needing customs clearance in the Mobile Bay area.
What runway does KCQF offer for business aircraft?
H L Sonny Callahan Airport, identifier KCQF, has a single paved runway, 01/19, measuring 6,604 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This length supports a wide range of business jets without requiring a weight-limited operation. The runway carries a PCR value of 326/F / D/X / T, which crews should reference when checking pavement strength against their aircraft's classification number. There is no second runway at KCQF, so wind conditions on 01/19 determine the usable direction.
Does KCQF have a control tower?
No, H L Sonny Callahan Airport is non-towered, so arriving and departing traffic self-announces and coordinates on the common traffic advisory frequency. Pilots activate the runway edge lights, PAPI, and REIL for runway 01/19 through CTAF, and the high-intensity runway lights are preset to low intensity with the option to increase intensity by clicking the CTAF frequency. When the Mobile approach control is closed, coordination for clearance delivery routes through Houston ARTCC instead. Crews operating into KCQF should expect standard uncontrolled-field procedures at all hours.
What is the attendance schedule at KCQF?
H L Sonny Callahan Airport is attended from 0700 to 2000 local time daily between April and October, and from 0700 to 1900 local time daily from November through March. Outside these windows, services at KCQF are unattended, which affects fuel availability and any ground support planning. The airport stocks both 100LL and Jet A fuel, so operators should time arrivals within the attended hours if fuel service is required. This seasonal shift in hours reflects the shorter daylight period during the winter months.
Are there noise restrictions for departures from KCQF?
Yes, H L Sonny Callahan Airport enforces a noise abatement procedure for both runway ends, 01 and 19. Departing aircraft are required to fly straight out after takeoff until reaching 600 feet AGL before any turn. This procedure applies regardless of destination or departure direction on runway 01/19. Crews filing departures from KCQF should brief this straight-out climb requirement to avoid conflicts with noise-sensitive areas near the airport.