Gila Bend Af Aux Airport (KGXF), Arizona
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Gila Bend AF Aux, identified as KGXF, is a private-use military airfield in Gila Bend, Arizona, operating under Class D service during scheduled hours with Class G airspace outside those periods. The field is built around a single paved runway long enough to support a range of military types, and arrestment cables are installed for tactical operations. Access is restricted to prior permission requests and coordination with Luke or Phoenix Approach, reflecting its role as a range-support and training facility rather than a general civil airport. Customs clearance is not available onsite; the nearest customs airport is KPHX, roughly 48 nautical miles away.
Runways
Gila Bend Af Aux Airport has one paved runway, 17/35, 8,503 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Gila Bend Af Aux Airport has A++ available on the field. The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Gila Bend Af Aux Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Phoenix Sky Harbor International (KPHX), 48 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Gila Bend Af Aux Airport recorded 1 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in August. The limited business aviation traffic recorded at KGXF in 2025 was concentrated in a single month, August, according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 1 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Gila Bend Af Aux Airport averages 31.0 days above 90°F in July and 4.6 freeze days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 109.2°F, and December the coldest, at 69.5°F.
Weather station is 3.6 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Gila Bend Af Aux Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, emergency arresting systems and other notes.
Restriction: unlighted helicopter operations are limited to UH-60 or smaller aircraft, for day VFR use, without airfield manager approval.
Restriction: 24-hour prior permission is required for landing, except for emergencies, diversions, or scheduled range operations. Contact Airport Operations.
Service lighting: nonstandard, coincident night-vision infrared lighting is located between 1,000 and 7,000 feet from the threshold. Night vision operations require prior permission.
For clearance delivery, contact Luke Approach. If unavailable, contact Phoenix Approach.
Transient alert: follow-me service is available. Transient parking, ground support equipment, and fleet service are limited. 24-hour prior permission is required; contact Airport Operations.
Caution: braking action is poor when the runway is wet.
The first 1,444 feet of Runway 17 and the first 1,401 feet of Runway 35 are grooved concrete.
Miscellaneous: nonstandard lighting on both overruns. Five red pre-threshold lights are on each side, 100 feet from the threshold; three red, five white, and three red lights form a terminating bar on the north and south end centerline, 200 feet from the threshold.
Caution: unlighted obstacles are present on the airfield. When airfield lights are off, obstruction lights remain on at the BAK-12 shelters and the wind cone unit.
Nonstandard runway elevation sign is located at Taxiway A.
Caution: runway edge lights are not aligned with the outboard edge of the runway end lights.
Service lighting: runway edge lights are limited to MIRL. Use caution for nonstandard, non-coincidental frangible infrared lighting located between 1,000 feet and 7,000 feet from the landing threshold.
Caution: the surface is uneven, which may cause a tail hook to skip over the arresting cable. Shelters are located 200 feet from the runway centerline. The middle two tie-down bolts on the cable are 9.375 feet apart, where 7.5 feet is required.
Service: arresting gear on Runway 17/35 approach and departure ends includes BAK-12B(B) units in raised position with 8-point tie-downs; the south BAK-12B(B) is at 1,201 feet, the north BAK-12B(B) is at 1,238 feet, and the departure end E-5 is in the overrun, in raised position.
Caution: the E-5 arresting cable is located 1 foot from the threshold.
JAA fuel type. Unsupervised refueling service is available for F-35, F-16, and A-10 aircraft; a qualified supervisor must still be provided.
Restriction: back-taxi is required when landing.
Caution: Taxiway A is 50 feet wide with 25-foot shoulders. C-130 aircraft should idle outboard engines.
Caution: the outside taxilanes on the north and south turnarounds and the parking ramp are nonstandard, with only 20 feet to the edge.
Miscellaneous: no hazardous cargo pad is available.
Class D service operates from 1430 to 0630Z Monday through Friday and 1500 to 2359Z on weekends. The airfield is closed on holidays. Class G airspace applies at other times.
Caution: three ramp light poles are located 100 feet from the edge of the parking ramp.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Gila Bend Af Aux Airport has five airfields within 41 NM. The closest is Gila Bend Municipal, 4.92 NM northeast.
Part of the Phoenix and Scottsdale area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KGXF
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.
$1,200.00 catering order at KGXF.
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 KGXF open to civilian or transient general aviation traffic?
Gila Bend AF Aux is a private-use military airfield, not a public civil airport. Landing requires 24-hour prior permission, except for emergencies, diversions, or scheduled range operations. Unlighted helicopter operations are limited to UH-60 or smaller aircraft under day VFR, and only with the airfield manager's approval. Coordination for entry is handled through Luke Approach or, if unavailable, Phoenix Approach.
What runway does Gila Bend AF Aux offer for arriving aircraft?
KGXF has a single paved runway, 17/35, measuring 8,503 feet long and 150 feet wide with an asphalt surface. The first 1,444 feet of Runway 17 and the first 1,401 feet of Runway 35 are grooved concrete rather than asphalt. Braking action is noted as poor when wet. The runway also carries arresting cables for tactical aircraft recovery.
Is fuel available at KGXF?
Gila Bend AF Aux carries Jet A fuel under the JAA type designation. Unsupervised refueling service is available for F-35, F-16, and A-10 aircraft, but a qualified supervisor must still be provided for the operation. No general civil fuel service is described for other aircraft types at this field.
Are customs services available at Gila Bend AF Aux?
No customs facility is located onsite at KGXF. The nearest customs-equipped airport is KPHX, approximately 48.40 nautical miles away. Aircraft requiring customs clearance near Gila Bend must plan to route through Phoenix rather than clearing directly at this field.