Trent Lott International (KPQL), Mississippi
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Trent Lott International (KPQL) serves Pascagoula, Mississippi, with a single long asphalt runway and onsite customs clearance that support a meaningful share of business aviation activity along the Gulf Coast. The airport sits roughly 90 nautical miles from the nearest major metro area and shares regional airspace with several nearby fields, including Mobile Regional and Gulfport-Biloxi International. With 24-hour aircraft rescue and firefighting coverage and a full-time control tower, KPQL is positioned to handle a mix of civil, business, and military-contract fuel traffic.
Runways
Trent Lott International has one paved runway, 17/35, 6,501 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Trent Lott International has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Trent Lott International 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
Trent Lott International recorded 1,668 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in February, October and November. Business aviation traffic at Trent Lott International (KPQL) is stronger in winter, early spring, and fall, with a noticeable dip during the summer months of June through August.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month February, 170 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Trent Lott International averages 23.0 days above 90°F in August and 9.4 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90.9°F, and January the coldest, at 62.5°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Trent Lott International has published operating constraints in two categories: access and other notes.
Runway 17 approach lighting system (MALSR) is activated; Runway 35 has a PAPI; medium-intensity runway lighting (MIRL) serves Runway 17/35, all controlled via CTAF.
For clearance delivery when the airport traffic control tower is closed, contact Mobile Approach; when Mobile Approach is closed, contact Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center.
Military contract fuel is available.
Numerous low-flying fish spotter aircraft operate near the shoreline between Bay St. Louis and Pascagoula from sunrise to sunset.
Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) service operates 24 hours.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Trent Lott International has five airfields within 29 NM. The closest is Saint Elmo, 13.36 NM east.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KPQL
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 KPQL.
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 the runway length at KPQL?
Trent Lott International (KPQL) has a single runway, 17/35, measuring 6,501 feet long and 150 feet wide with an asphalt surface. That length supports most business jet types operating in and out of Pascagoula without payload restrictions tied to runway distance. The airport's maximum paved surface matches this runway at 6,501 feet, confirming it as the only paved movement area. Runway 17 has approach lighting (MALSR) and Runway 35 is equipped with a PAPI, both aiding low-visibility arrivals. Both runway ends carry medium-intensity runway lighting on CTAF.
Does KPQL have customs and border clearance available?
Trent Lott International (KPQL) has CBP inspection services available onsite, allowing crews to clear customs without diverting to another airport. This is a full customs presence rather than a restricted or CANPASS-only arrangement. Combined with 24-hour ARFF coverage, this makes KPQL a practical option for international general aviation traffic along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Dispatchers should still coordinate arrival timing directly with CBP given staffing schedules are not guaranteed around the clock. The airport is towered, which adds another coordination point for inbound flights requiring customs handling.
What fuel is available at Trent Lott International Airport?
Trent Lott International (KPQL) stocks both 100LL avgas and Jet A fuel, covering piston and turbine aircraft. A separate remark notes that military contract fuel is also available at the field. Fuel service aligns with the airport's ALL / ALL / ALL attendance schedule, meaning the field is staffed year-round. This combination of civil and military-contract fuel supports mixed traffic, from general aviation piston aircraft to larger turbine and government operations. No specific fuel truck capacity or grade restrictions are noted beyond these types.
Is there seasonal variation in business aviation traffic at KPQL?
Yes, business aviation traffic at Trent Lott International (KPQL) shows clear month-to-month variation based on 2025 FAA TFMSC data. February recorded the highest monthly count at 170 operations, while June was the lowest at 91. Traffic tends to be stronger in the winter and early spring months, and again in fall, with a dip through the summer months of June through August. Total annual business aviation operations for the airport reached 1,668 out of 3,441 total operations recorded for the year. Dispatchers planning summer trips should expect comparatively quieter ramp conditions relative to the shoulder seasons.
What air traffic control coverage applies at KPQL when the tower is closed?
At Trent Lott International (KPQL), when the airport traffic control tower is closed, clearance delivery is handled by Mobile Approach. If Mobile Approach is also closed, coordination shifts to Houston ARTCC. This layered handoff ensures IFR clearance procedures remain available outside tower operating coverage. Pilots and dispatchers filing IFR flight plans to or from KPQL during non-towered hours should be prepared to contact the appropriate facility based on which layer is active. The airport is towered under normal conditions per its published attendance schedule.