Tappahannock / Essex County Airport (KXSA), Virginia
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport (KXSA) is a public-use general aviation field in Tappahannock, Virginia, roughly 42 nautical miles from its nearest metro area. The airport operates a single paved runway and offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel under an attendance schedule that shifts seasonally, running 0900-1900 from March through October and 0800-1800 from November through February. Business aviation traffic in 2025 accounted for 249 of the field's 601 total annual operations according to FAA TFMSC data. Customs clearance is not available onsite; the nearest customs point is Richmond International (KRIC), about 29 nautical miles away.
Runways
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport has one paved runway, 10/28, 4,300 ft long and 75 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Richmond International (KRIC), 29 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport recorded 249 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in September. Business aviation traffic at KXSA peaks in September at 36 operations and dips to its lowest point in February at 8 operations, according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month September, 36 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport averages 16.2 days above 90°F in July, 20.0 freeze days in January and 1.1 snow days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88.4°F, and January the coldest, at 46.8°F.
Weather station is 9.5 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
A 6-foot tree is located 196 feet from the threshold, 231 feet left of centerline, on the approach.
For clearance delivery, contact Potomac Approach.
The PAPI for runway 10 and 28, and the MIRL for runway 10/28, are activated via CTAF.
Deer and other wildlife are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
The rotating beacon is activated via CTAF.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport has five airfields within 28 NM. The closest is Middle Peninsula Regional (KFYJ), 21.25 NM south.
Part of the Richmond and Norfolk area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KXSA
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 KXSA.
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
Does KXSA have customs clearance onsite?
KXSA does not have customs clearance onsite. The nearest customs facility is Richmond International Airport (KRIC), located approximately 29.36 nautical miles away. Crews arriving from international departures should plan clearance through KRIC rather than expecting to process at Tappahannock / Essex County Airport directly.
What is the runway length at Tappahannock / Essex County Airport?
Tappahannock / Essex County Airport (KXSA) has a single paved runway, 10/28, measuring 4,300 feet long and 75 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This is also the airport's maximum paved runway length, a figure relevant for operators evaluating suitability for larger business aircraft types.
What fuel is available at KXSA?
KXSA offers both 100LL avgas and Jet A fuel. Attendance hours vary by season, running 0900 to 1900 from March through October and 0800 to 1800 from November through February, so fuel availability outside those windows should be confirmed before planning arrival at Tappahannock / Essex County Airport.
Are there any obstacles on approach at Tappahannock / Essex County Airport?
Yes, a close-in obstruction is noted at Tappahannock / Essex County Airport: a 6-foot tree located 196 feet from the runway threshold, 231 feet left of centerline on approach. Pilots flying into KXSA should account for this obstacle during approach planning, particularly given the airport's unattended, non-towered status.