Saint Clair County Airport (KPLR), Alabama
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
St Clair County Airport (KPLR) is a public-use, non-towered field near Pell City, Alabama, roughly 27.67 nautical miles from the nearest metro area and about 25 nautical miles from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International. With a single 5,001-foot asphalt runway, 100LL and Jet A fuel on the field, and FAA TFMSC data showing over 1,200 annual business aviation operations, KPLR functions as a regional option for operators serving the greater Birmingham area. The airport sits within Birmingham Approach's airspace and relies on a ground communication outlet for IFR clearance delivery in the absence of a tower.
Runways
Saint Clair County Airport has one paved runway, 03/21, 5,001 ft long and 80 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Saint Clair County Airport has Jet A+ and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Saint Clair County Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (KBHM), 25 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Saint Clair County Airport recorded 1,208 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May. Business aviation traffic at KPLR is concentrated in the May-through-October period, with May recording the highest monthly volume according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month May, 134 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 3.5 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Saint Clair County Airport has published operating constraints in three categories: access, runway notes and other notes.
If clearance delivery cannot be obtained via the GCO, contact Birmingham Approach for clearance.
PAPI on Runway 03 and Runway 21 is pilot-activated; MIRL on Runway 03/21 is controlled via CTAF.
The Runway 03 approach has an obstruction clearance ratio of 24:1 to the displaced threshold.
100LL fuel is available 24/7 with credit card payment.
Jet fuel after hours requires separate arrangement.
A ground communication outlet (GCO) is available on frequency 121.725 for clearance delivery through Birmingham Clearance Delivery.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Saint Clair County Airport has five airfields within 26 NM. The closest is Talladega Municipal (KASN), 9.92 NM east.
Part of the Birmingham area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KPLR
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 KPLR.
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 runway does KPLR offer for business aircraft?
St Clair County Airport (KPLR) has a single runway, 03/21, measuring 5,001 feet by 80 feet with an asphalt surface. That length accommodates most light and midsize business jets operating into the field. The airport is non-towered, so arrivals and departures are coordinated on CTAF. Pilots flying the Runway 03 approach should note a displaced threshold with a published obstruction clearance ratio of 24:1. Runway lighting includes MIRL and pilot-activated PAPI on both ends.
Is Jet A fuel available at KPLR?
St Clair County Airport carries Jet A fuel (listed as A+) along with 100LL. The 100LL grade is available 24/7 with credit card self-service. Jet A fuel access after hours requires separate arrangement, as noted in airport remarks, so crews planning an after-hours Jet A uplift should coordinate ahead of arrival. The field's standard attendance schedule runs Monday through Saturday, 0730 to 1700 local, with the field unattended on Sundays.
How does a pilot get an IFR clearance at KPLR without a tower?
KPLR is non-towered, but IFR clearance delivery is available through a ground communication outlet (GCO) on frequency 121.725, which connects to Birmingham Clearance Delivery. If the GCO cannot be reached, pilots are instructed to contact Birmingham Approach directly for clearance. This setup lets crews obtain and pick up clearances at St Clair County without relying on a local tower frequency. The arrangement reflects the airport's proximity to Birmingham's approach control airspace.
Where is the nearest customs clearance point to KPLR?
St Clair County Airport (KPLR) does not have onsite customs processing. The nearest customs facility is at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (KBHM), located approximately 25.18 nautical miles away. Aircraft requiring customs clearance after an international arrival need to route through KBHM rather than clearing directly at KPLR. Flight planners should factor this additional leg or ground coordination into arrival timing when customs processing is required.
When is business aviation traffic busiest at KPLR?
Business aviation traffic at St Clair County Airport (KPLR) is concentrated in the warmer months, with May standing out as the peak month at 134 operations according to FAA TFMSC data. Other strong months include July, August, and October, each above 120 operations. Traffic is comparatively lighter from January through March, with January the slowest month at 58 operations. Dispatchers scheduling flights into KPLR during the May-through-October window should anticipate a higher volume of surrounding business aviation activity.