Wallops Flight Facility Airport (KWAL), Virginia
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Wallops Flight Facility (KWAL) sits on Wallops Island, Virginia, and operates as a private-use, towered airfield supporting extensive research, test, and development activity alongside military turboprop training conducted daily into the evening. The field sits within a broader radar and range environment, with multiple radar facilities on the airport that carry a possible radio frequency hazard to ordnance, and wildlife including deer and birds present on and around the airport. As seen by the FAA, cross-border and tracked traffic through KWAL remains modest, consistent with its specialized mission rather than general aviation transit.
Runways
Wallops Flight Facility Airport has three paved runways. The longest, 04/22, is 8,748 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt and concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Wallops Flight Facility Airport has Jet A 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
Wallops Flight Facility Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Delaware Coastal (KGED), 45 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Wallops Flight Facility Airport recorded 53 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July. Business aviation traffic at KWAL concentrates notably in July, according to FAA TFMSC data, with much lower activity across most other months of the year.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 20 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Wallops Flight Facility Airport averages 8.5 days above 90°F in July, 19.7 freeze days in January and 1.2 snow days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86.1°F, and January the coldest, at 46.2°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Wallops Flight Facility Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, environmental and other notes.
A 166-foot-high radar dish is located 800 feet right of the approach to runway 22.
A 510-foot CATV tower is located 4 miles off the approach to runway 28.
FCLP equipment is located directly adjacent to the left side of runway 10, between 1,335 and 1,725 feet from the approach end. FCLP equipment is also located directly adjacent to the left side of runway 28, between 1,340 and 1,725 feet from the approach end.
Prior permission is required, with 24-hour notice before landing.
For clearance delivery, contact Patuxent Approach; when Patuxent Approach is closed, contact Potomac Approach.
Runway 17/35 is closed when the air traffic control tower is closed.
E-28 arresting gear, located 1,500 feet from the north end of runway 22, is rigged and in battery.
Deer and birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
For remote operation of the rotating beacon, call CTAF.
Extensive research, test, and development activity is in progress at the airport.
Numerous radar facilities at the airport carry a possible radio frequency hazard to ordnance.
Military turboprop training occurs daily until 2300 local time.
Touch-and-go landings are not available when the air traffic control tower is closed.
When the air traffic control tower is closed, 126.5 is the only CTAF; expect no response or advisory services.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Wallops Flight Facility Airport has five airfields within 46 NM. The closest is Accomack County (KMFV), 22.49 NM southwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KWAL
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 KWAL.
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 customs available at KWAL?
KWAL, Wallops Flight Facility, does not have onsite customs clearance. The nearest customs facility is at KGED, located approximately 45 nautical miles away. Crews requiring customs processing should plan their arrival through KGED rather than expecting service at Wallops itself. This distance should factor into routing and fuel planning for international arrivals.
What runways are available at Wallops Flight Facility?
Wallops Flight Facility offers three paved runways: 04/22 at 8,748 feet, 10/28 at 8,005 feet, and 17/35 at 4,808 feet, all with asphalt-concrete surfaces. Runway 17/35 closes when the air traffic control tower is closed. The two longer runways accommodate a wide range of aircraft, though the field supports extensive research and test activity that can affect availability.
Are there any prior notification requirements to land at KWAL?
Yes, KWAL requires prior permission with 24-hour notice before landing (PPR 24 HR PN TO LDG). This applies given the facility's use as a research, test, and military training site. Operators should also expect touch-and-go landings to be unavailable when the tower is closed, and clearance delivery is handled through Patuxent Approach, or Potomac Approach when Patuxent is closed.
When does business aviation traffic peak at Wallops Flight Facility?
Business aviation traffic at Wallops Flight Facility, per FAA TFMSC data for 2025, concentrates heavily in July with 20 operations, well above any other month. Other months such as May, June, and August see moderate activity between 6 and 8 operations, while January, April, September, and October show no recorded business aviation operations. Crews planning summer visits should anticipate the busiest period of the year at KWAL.