KAIK Aiken SC — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Aiken Regional Airport (KAIK) is a non-towered general aviation airport in Aiken, South Carolina — a city immediately west of Augusta, Georgia, across the Savannah River. Elevation is 528 ft MSL. The airport operates in Class E airspace with no control tower; all traffic is self-announced on CTAF/UNICOM 122.8 MHz.

IFR services at KAIK are provided by Augusta Approach on 119.15 and 124.15 MHz when Augusta is operational. When Augusta Approach is closed, Columbia Approach takes over on 124.15 MHz. Clearance delivery is on a separate frequency (126.075 MHz), which means pilots must contact clearance delivery — not ground or CTAF — to obtain their IFR clearance before departure. This is an important operational detail for any pilot who only trains at towered airports.

Because KAIK is non-towered, instrument pilots must maintain full situational awareness of VFR traffic on CTAF throughout approach and landing. The DPE will evaluate whether you announce your position and intentions on CTAF at appropriate points during IFR operations, even while on an active IFR clearance with approach control.

What instrument approaches are published at KAIK?

KAIK has a stronger approach suite than most pilots expect for a non-towered airport, including a full ILS, sourced from AirNav.

The ILS RWY 07 makes KAIK a more capable destination than many non-towered airports in the region. LOC/DME minimums — flown without the glideslope — carry a higher DA and reduced visibility requirement; understand both lines on the plate before the checkride. The RNAV (GPS) RWY 25 approach provides instrument access to the reciprocal runway end.

Always verify current minimums on official FAA charts. When filing KAIK as a destination, note whether the airport meets the alternate minimums requirements under 14 CFR 91.169 for your planned conditions — the approach plate alternate minimums box governs this calculation.

What is the runway configuration at KAIK?

KAIK operates two asphalt runways. Runway 07/25 is the primary instrument runway at 5,500 ft. Runway 01/19 is a shorter secondary runway at 3,800 ft with no published instrument approaches.

Runway 07/25 at 5,500 ft is adequate for most single-engine and light twin IFR training aircraft. Runway 01/19 in fair condition with no IFR approaches is used primarily as a crosswind runway for VFR operations. Be aware that a published instrument approach does not guarantee the runway surface will be clear — check NOTAMs before operating to KAIK.

What frequencies does KAIK use?

The AWOS-3PT at KAIK provides surface weather including wind, altimeter, temperature, dewpoint, and precipitation type — a more capable system than a basic AWOS-1. Report the AWOS observation time when briefing weather to the DPE. Because there is no ATIS letter identifier, reference the observation time in your IFR clearance request to Augusta Approach.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KAIK?

Aiken sits in the South Carolina Midlands, near the Savannah River floodplain. The river corridor creates conditions favorable for radiation fog formation on calm, clear nights — moist air from the river pools in low-lying areas and reduces visibility to near zero within minutes of sunset temperature drops. Fog events are most common in October through February and can persist until mid-morning. Pilots filing KAIK as a destination should always have a filed alternate given the fog risk during autumn and winter.

Summer convection in the Aiken area follows the southeast regional pattern: afternoon thunderstorm development from May through September, typically between 1400 and 2100 local. The Aiken terrain, slightly higher than the coastal plain, provides modest orographic lifting that can enhance local convection. Obtain a full convective briefing including SIGMETs and area forecasts from NWS Columbia (CAE), which covers Aiken.

Winter presents the cold air damming and freezing precipitation risk, particularly when high pressure builds northeast of the region. Freezing drizzle or light freezing rain in the Aiken area can significantly affect runway braking action and airframe icing on approach. PIREPs from aircraft operating in the region and a current freezing level forecast are essential before winter IFR operations at KAIK.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KAIK?

KAIK is frequently used as the destination airport for instrument checkrides departing Augusta Regional (KAGS) — the triad AGS to AIK is an 18 nm cross-state hop specifically designed to highlight the contrast between a Class C precision-approach airport (KAGS) and a Class E non-towered airport with GPS-only approaches (KAIK). That combination generates rich discussion on alternate minimums, approach procedure selection, and non-towered operations.

The ILS or LOC/DME RWY 07 is the primary checkride approach at KAIK. Because there is no tower, the DPE will expect you to self-announce your position on CTAF at appropriate points throughout the approach — even while maintaining communication with Augusta Approach. Transitioning between IFR communication with approach control and VFR position announcements on CTAF simultaneously is a practical skill tested in real non-towered IFR operations.

The RNAV (GPS) RWY 25 approach provides an opportunity to evaluate non-precision skills and the MDA vs. DA distinction. On this approach, LPV minimums may be available depending on current WAAS geometry; confirm which line of minima applies based on your aircraft avionics before the approach. The DPE may ask you to fly LNAV-only minimums even if LPV is showing, to test your understanding of step-down procedures and CDFA technique.

Alternate airport planning is a common oral exam topic at KAIK. When KAIK is the destination, an alternate must be filed unless the forecast at KAIK meets the 1-2-3 rule under 14 CFR 91.169. When KAIK is used as an alternate, the applicable minimums are found in the approach plate alternate minimums notation — verify the airport qualifies and calculate the required ceiling and visibility.

Practice Questions

1. You are departing KAIK IFR. There is no tower. Describe the complete sequence of radio calls from engine start through departure, including CTAF self-announce, clearance delivery, and handoff to Augusta Approach.

2. On the ILS or LOC/DME RWY 07, you reach DA and see only approach lighting — no runway environment visible. Under 14 CFR 91.175(c), are you permitted to descend below DA using approach lights alone?

3. You are filing KAGS to KAIK. What are the requirements for filing KAIK as a destination without a filed alternate under 14 CFR 91.169? If the forecast at KAIK shows OVC008, do you need an alternate?

4. The DPE assigns the RNAV (GPS) RWY 25 approach. Your avionics show LNAV/VNAV guidance available but LPV is not flagged. What minimums apply, and how does a VNAV glidepath differ from an ILS glideslope in terms of obstacle protection?

5. Augusta Approach is closed when you arrive for an instrument approach to KAIK. Who provides your IFR services, and how do you confirm this before initiating the approach?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KAIK?

KAIK publishes an ILS or LOC/DME to runway 07, and RNAV (GPS) approaches to runways 07 and 25. The ILS RWY 07 is the only precision approach at the field. Augusta Approach provides IFR services on 119.15 and 124.15 MHz.

Q: What is the airspace class at Aiken Regional?

KAIK operates in Class E airspace — there is no control tower. Traffic is self-announced on CTAF/UNICOM 122.8 MHz. IFR pilots receive clearances and approach services through Augusta Approach, which covers the Aiken area.

Q: What frequencies does KAIK use?

KAIK CTAF and UNICOM share 122.8 MHz. AWOS-3PT weather broadcasts on 118.025 MHz. Augusta Approach and Departure are on 119.15 and 124.15 MHz. Clearance delivery is on 126.075 MHz. Columbia Approach covers the airport when Augusta is closed on 124.15/338.2 MHz.

Q: What runways are available at KAIK?

KAIK has two runways: 07/25 (5,500 ft × 100 ft, asphalt) and 01/19 (3,800 ft × 75 ft, asphalt/aggregate). The primary ILS runway is 07 at 5,500 ft. Runway 01/19 at 3,800 ft is the secondary runway and has no published instrument approaches.

Q: What weather hazards should pilots expect at KAIK?

Aiken's inland South Carolina location produces radiation fog in autumn and winter. The Savannah River corridor nearby creates low-lying moist air that can pool into dense fog on calm nights. Summer afternoon thunderstorms are frequent from May through September. Cold air damming east of the Appalachians can produce freezing rain in winter.

Q: How does KAIK's ILS relate to alternate minimums planning?

KAIK has a single ILS approach (RWY 07) and two RNAV approaches. When filing KAIK as an alternate, standard alternate minimums require either a precision approach with 600-2 minimums or a non-precision approach with 800-2 minimums. Verify whether KAIK's approaches qualify using current approach plate alternate minimums notation.

Q: Who provides approach control when Augusta Approach is closed?

When Augusta Approach is not operational, Columbia Approach provides IFR services for KAIK on 124.15 MHz (also 338.2 MHz for military). Pilots should confirm current controlling facility from their IFR clearance or by monitoring ATIS at nearby Augusta Regional (KAGS).

Sources

• AirNav — KAIK Airport Information
• SkyVector — KAIK Instrument Approach Procedures
• 14 CFR 91.169 — IFR Flight Plan and Alternate Airport (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B
• NWS Columbia (CAE) — 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.