Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field (KSQI), Illinois
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field, identified as KSQI, serves the Sterling / Rockfalls area of Illinois with a single non-towered field roughly 84 nautical miles from the nearest major metro. The airport offers a primary paved runway long enough for most business jet types alongside a shorter crosswind runway, with both 100LL and Jet A available through a self-serve dispenser. Nearest customs clearance is at Rockford, about 37.5 nautical miles away, since KSQI has no onsite customs service. Traffic at this ops tier 2 field is moderate, with business aviation movements tracked through FAA TFMSC data for 2025.
Runways
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field has two paved runways. The longest, 07/25, is 6,499 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 5pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Chicago / Rockford International (KRFD), 38 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field recorded 240 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May. Business aviation traffic at KSQI is concentrated in May, which recorded well over double the volume of any other month in 2025.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month May, 58 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field averages 3.0 snow days in January.
Weather station is 3.7 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field has published operating constraints in two categories: runway notes and other notes.
Runway 07 is the preferred runway during calm wind conditions.
MIRL on runway 18/36 is preset to low intensity. Pilots can increase intensity and activate HIRL on runway 07/25. MALSR is available on runway 25, and REIL is available on runways 07, 18, and 36. All lighting is controlled via CTAF.
100LL and Jet A fuel are available from a self-serve dispenser that accepts credit card payment.
The terminal building can be accessed after hours by cipher lock, with applicable instructions posted at the lock.
Oxygen service is unavailable.
For clearance delivery, contact Chicago ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field has five airfields within 34 NM. The closest is Tri-Township (KSFY), 26.52 NM northwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KSQI
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 KSQI.
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 runways are available at KSQI?
KSQI, Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field, has two paved asphalt runways. Runway 07/25 is the primary strip at 6,499 feet long and 150 feet wide, suitable for most business jet operations. Runway 18/36 is shorter at 3,900 feet long and 100 feet wide. Runway 07 is noted as the preferred runway during calm wind conditions.
Is fuel available at KSQI?
Yes, KSQI stocks both 100LL and Jet A fuel. The fuel dispenser operates on a self-serve basis and accepts credit card payment, which is useful information for crews arriving outside the posted attendance schedule. The airport's attended hours run daily from 0800 to 1700 local time.
Can international flights clear customs at KSQI?
KSQI does not have onsite customs service. The nearest customs clearance point is Rockford, KRFD, located approximately 37.5 nautical miles away. Flight crews requiring customs processing should plan to route through KRFD or another designated port of entry rather than expecting clearance directly at Whiteside County / Jos H Bittorf Field.
What lighting is available at KSQI for night or low-visibility operations?
KSQI provides runway lighting activated via CTAF. Runway 18/36 has MIRL preset to low intensity, while pilots can increase intensity and activate HIRL on runway 07/25. Runway 25 has a MALSR approach lighting system, and REIL is available on runways 07, 18, and 36, all controllable through the common traffic advisory frequency at this non-towered field.