KABY Albany GA — Instrument Checkride Guide

What kind of airport is KABY and what is its IFR environment?

Southwest Georgia Regional Airport (KABY) serves Albany, Georgia, a mid-sized city in the southwestern corner of the state approximately 170 nm south of Atlanta. Elevation is 197 ft MSL. The airport operates Class D airspace when the control tower is open (0800–2000 local), requiring only an ATC communication — not a formal clearance — to enter. Outside those hours the airspace reverts to Class E and traffic is self-announced on CTAF 120.25 MHz.

IFR operations at KABY are handled by Jacksonville ARTCC (ZJX) through a Remote Communications Air/Ground (RCAG) facility on 125.75 MHz — there is no dedicated TRACON serving Albany. The practical implication for instrument applicants is that IFR clearances, en route handling, and approach sequencing all flow directly through a Center, not an approach control. Controllers may be managing traffic across a wide geographic area, so readback precision and frequency discipline matter.

What instrument approaches are published at KABY?

KABY's published approach suite provides coverage to both runway ends of the primary runway as well as both ends of the crosswind runway, sourced from AirNav.

Always verify current minimums on official FAA charts. The ILS RWY 05 is the highest-capability approach at KABY and the most likely procedure a DPE will assign on a checkride. LOC-only minimums on runway 05 carry a higher decision altitude and reduced visibility than the ILS line.

What is the runway configuration at KABY?

KABY operates two asphalt runways. Runway 05/23 is the primary instrument runway at 6,601 ft — sufficient length for most general aviation aircraft conducting checkrides. Runway 17/35 is shorter at 5,200 ft and is in fair condition per published data; it supports RNAV and VOR approaches but does not have an ILS.

Wind direction at KABY is predominantly from the southwest in summer and varies more in winter as cold fronts track through the region. Active runway selection depends on wind; the DPE will coordinate with tower or self-announce as appropriate.

What frequencies does KABY use?

Outside tower hours, CTAF is 120.25 MHz — the same frequency as the tower. Pilots should announce position and intentions on CTAF at all standard reporting points: 10 miles out, entering the pattern, base, final, and clear of the runway.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KABY?

Albany sits in the flat coastal plain of southwest Georgia where weather is heavily influenced by Gulf of Mexico moisture. Radiation fog is the most significant IFR hazard, forming most often in autumn and early winter after clear, calm nights when surface temperatures drop below the dewpoint. These fog events can drop ceilings to 200–300 ft with near-zero visibility before clearing rapidly once surface heating begins — often between 0900 and 1100 local. Pilots planning morning departures should obtain current PIREPs and monitor ATIS closely.

Summer afternoons and evenings bring convective activity driven by Gulf moisture interacting with daytime heating. Isolated thunderstorms develop regularly from May through September, sometimes without significant advance warning in area forecasts. Instrument pilots departing KABY in summer should obtain a full weather briefing including radar and SIGMET status, and file alternates that remain clear of convective areas.

Winter weather at KABY is generally mild compared to northern states, but frontal passages can bring a brief period of low IFR ceilings with rain and occasionally freezing rain at lower altitudes during cold air damming events east of the Appalachians. The National Weather Service Tallahassee (TAE) office covers the Albany area.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KABY?

KABY is a tower-controlled field with moderate traffic — a realistic but not overwhelming IFR environment for a checkride. The DPE will typically request an IFR clearance through Jacksonville Center before departure, giving the applicant immediate practice in clearance copying and readback. Because Center — not a TRACON — handles all IFR traffic, expect slightly longer controller response times and wider radar vectors than at a busier terminal environment.

The ILS RWY 05 is the natural focus of the checkride's precision approach segment. Expect the DPE to brief whether you will fly the ILS to a full-stop, a missed approach, or a touch-and-go, and to ask you to verbally brief the approach plate before beginning the procedure. Under ACS Task VI.B, the examiner evaluates your understanding of course intercept, glidepath tracking, and decision altitude compliance — not just aircraft control.

Missed approach at KABY on the ILS RWY 05 requires a climbing right turn to a published altitude and fix. Execute the missed approach immediately when directed or when required by 14 CFR 91.175(e) — descending below DA without the required visual references mandates an immediate missed approach regardless of how close you are to the runway.

The DPE may also assign a non-precision RNAV approach to one of the crosswind runway ends to test your understanding of MDA versus DA procedures, step-down fixes, and CDFA technique. Be prepared to explain the difference between LNAV, LNAV/VNAV, and LPV lines of minima and when each is applicable given your aircraft's avionics.

Holding is a common checkride task at KABY. Jacksonville Center may issue a published or unpublished hold; the DPE may also issue one directly. Entry procedure, timing, and EFC time requests are all evaluated under ACS Area V.

Practice Questions

1. You receive an IFR clearance at KABY via Jacksonville Center on 125.75 MHz. The clearance includes a void time rather than a release time. What does a void time mean, and what are your obligations under 14 CFR 91.185 if you are unable to depart before the void?

2. On the ILS RWY 05 approach, you reach DA and have only the approach lighting system (ALS) in sight — no runway environment. Under 14 CFR 91.175(c), how far below DA may you descend using approach lights alone?

3. The DPE assigns the RNAV (GPS) RWY 17 approach. Your avionics show LNAV only — no LPV available. What MDA applies, and how does Continuous Descent Final Approach (CDFA) technique affect your planning?

4. After a missed approach on the ILS RWY 05, Jacksonville Center issues a hold at a fix on the missed approach procedure. Your heading inbound to the fix is 045°. Describe your hold entry.

5. KABY tower closes at 2000 local. You land at 1950 and need to taxi. Ground is unavailable — what frequency do you use and what are your obligations?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KABY?

KABY publishes an ILS or LOC to runway 05, RNAV (GPS) approaches to runways 05, 17, 23, and 35, and a VOR approach to runway 17. The ILS RWY 05 is the only precision approach at the field.

Q: What is the airspace class at Southwest Georgia Regional?

KABY operates inside Class D airspace when the tower is open (0800–2000 local). Outside tower hours the airspace reverts to Class E and CTAF 120.25 governs traffic. No ATC clearance is required to enter Class D beyond an ATC communication.

Q: What is the ATIS frequency at KABY?

KABY ATIS broadcasts on 133.05 MHz. Tower operates on 120.25 MHz from 0800 to 2000 local. Ground control is 121.9 MHz. Approach and departure services are provided by Jacksonville ARTCC on 125.75 MHz.

Q: What runways are available at KABY?

KABY has two runways: 05/23 (6,601 ft × 150 ft, asphalt/grooved) and 17/35 (5,200 ft × 150 ft, asphalt/grooved). Runway 05/23 is the primary instrument runway with both an ILS and RNAV approach published.

Q: What weather hazards should pilots expect at KABY?

Southwest Georgia experiences radiation fog most frequently in autumn and winter, particularly after clear nights. Summer brings afternoon and evening thunderstorms driven by Gulf moisture. The flat terrain around Albany offers little orographic lifting, so fog can be dense and slow to dissipate.

Q: Does KABY have RNAV approaches with LPV minimums?

KABY RNAV (GPS) procedures may publish LPV lines of minima on some runway ends where WAAS signal geometry supports it. Always verify current minimums on the official FAA chart — do not rely on memory for approach minimums.

Q: Who provides approach control services at KABY?

Jacksonville ARTCC (ZJX) provides en route and approach services at KABY via a Remote Communications Air/Ground (RCAG) facility on 125.75 MHz. There is no dedicated TRACON for Albany; all IFR handling flows through Jacksonville Center.

Sources

• AirNav — KABY Airport Information
• SkyVector — KABY Instrument Approach Procedures
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.185 — IFR Two-Way Radio Communications Failure (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B
• NWS Tallahassee (TAE) — Terminal Forecasts

This article was researched from FAA primary sources (ACS, FAR/AIM, Advisory Circulars, Instrument Flying Handbook), approach procedure data from AirNav and SkyVector, and citing current 14 CFR Part 91 — drafted by MockDPE. Last updated: May 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, email corrections@mockdpe.org.