KCHA Lovell Field — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Lovell Field (KCHA) is the commercial service airport for the Chattanooga, Tennessee metropolitan area, situated at 683 ft MSL in the Tennessee Valley between Lookout Mountain (2,126 ft) and Signal Mountain (2,000 ft). The airport is surrounded by Class C airspace requiring two-way radio communication with Chattanooga Approach before entry. Tower frequency is 118.3 MHz, ground is 121.7 MHz, ATIS broadcasts on 119.85 MHz, and approach/departure control is 125.1 MHz.

KCHA supports commercial airline operations alongside general aviation traffic. The valley terrain creates a unique IFR environment where minimum en route altitudes on surrounding airways are substantially higher than the airport elevation, and pilots arriving from the Atlanta area via V325 should expect terrain-driven altitude requirements during descent. Wilson Air Center provides full-service FBO support for transient general aviation. Hold-short instructions at KCHA require read-back confirmation per local airport procedures.

What instrument approaches are published at KCHA?

KCHA has a strong approach suite including precision ILS to both ends of the primary runway and RNAV coverage across all runway ends. Data sourced from AirNav.

Always verify current minima on official FAA charts before flight. The CAT II certification on runway 20 reflects the quality of the ILS signal and approach environment on that runway — pilots flying CAT I ILS on runway 20 benefit from the same precision instrument environment. RNAV approaches to runways 15 and 33 serve the crosswind runway pair when the primary runway is unavailable or wind requires its use.

What is the runway configuration at KCHA?

KCHA operates two runways oriented to accommodate the prevailing wind patterns in the Tennessee Valley.

Runway 02/20 is the primary instrument runway and handles the majority of ILS-equipped operations. Runway 15/33's 5,575 ft length is adequate for most general aviation IFR aircraft but may present landing distance considerations for heavier or faster aircraft in wet conditions.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KCHA?

Chattanooga's valley geography creates distinctive weather hazards for instrument pilots. Cold air draining off surrounding ridges at night can pool in the valley and generate radiation fog that brings ceilings below 200 ft by early morning. These surface-based fog layers are often thin — ceilings can lift rapidly as solar heating begins — but the timing is unpredictable and pilots scheduled for early departures should obtain current weather carefully.

In summer, the ridges surrounding the valley act as initiators for convective development. Thunderstorms building along Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge can affect approach paths and require airborne rerouting. The valley also channels outflow boundaries from storms that form to the southwest over Alabama and Mississippi, producing sudden wind shifts and turbulence on approach.

Winter cold air outbreaks can trap cold air in the Tennessee Valley for multiple days while warmer air circulates above, creating a classic cold air damming pattern that produces persistent IFR with freezing drizzle or light freezing rain. These events can keep ceilings at 100–300 ft for 24–48 hours. The NWS Morristown (MRX) office provides terminal forecasts and hazardous weather advisories for the KCHA area.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KCHA?

A checkride at Lovell Field blends Class C procedural knowledge with terrain awareness — a combination that makes it a popular checkride location in the Tennessee Valley. The DPE's oral exam will likely include questions about Class C airspace entry requirements and the distinction between Class C (two-way communication required) and Class B (explicit clearance required). Know 14 CFR 91.130 precisely — examiners often probe whether applicants understand that ATC simply acknowledging "standby" counts as two-way contact for Class C entry purposes.

The ILS RWY 20 is the primary checkride approach at KCHA. The CAT II certification means this ILS is held to a high maintenance standard, and pilots will find it a well-behaved precision approach. The DPE may assign the ILS RWY 02 as a second approach, which requires the pilot to quickly reconfigure for the opposite runway orientation. Knowing both approach plates and being able to brief the key minimums, course, and missed approach instructions without fumbling is an evaluable skill.

Terrain awareness during the missed approach is critical at KCHA. The missed approach instruction from the ILS RWY 20 takes the aircraft away from terrain, but a pilot who climbs slowly or turns early can encounter ridge terrain on a non-standard track. The DPE will be watching for positive aircraft control during missed approach execution and confirmation that the pilot is following published instructions, not improvising.

The RNAV (GPS) RWY 15 or 33 may be assigned as an additional approach to evaluate GPS navigation technique on the crosswind runway. Runway 33's shorter length (5,575 ft) with the aircraft configured for landing is something a well-prepared applicant will have considered during the approach brief.

Practice Questions

1. You are entering Chattanooga Class C airspace at the outer boundary. Chattanooga Approach responds to your initial call with "November 1234 Alpha, standby." Are you authorized to enter Class C airspace? Cite the relevant regulation.

2. On the ILS RWY 20 at KCHA, you are established on final and the glideslope needle drops to full deflection below at 1,500 ft AGL. What are the most likely causes, and what is the correct pilot response under 14 CFR 91.175?

3. You are flying the RNAV (GPS) RWY 15 approach. As you cross the FAF, the DPE covers the GPS display and says the GPS has failed. You are IMC. What are your options?

4. During the oral exam, the DPE asks you to explain the difference between CAT I and CAT II ILS operations. What are the key differences in minimums, equipment requirements, and pilot authorization?

5. You depart KCHA northbound and are cleared to climb to 3,000 ft. The published MEA on the first airway segment is 4,400 ft due to terrain. What do you do, and who has the responsibility for terrain clearance when ATC assigns an altitude?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KCHA?

KCHA has ILS or LOC approaches to runways 02 and 20, with runway 20 certified for CAT II operations. RNAV (GPS) approaches are published for all four runway ends: 02, 15, 20, and 33. This gives pilots both precision and area navigation options across all wind directions.

Q: What airspace class is KCHA?

Lovell Field (KCHA) is surrounded by Class C airspace. Under 14 CFR 91.130, two-way radio communication with Chattanooga Approach must be established before entering Class C airspace. Tower frequency is 118.3 MHz and approach control is 125.1 MHz.

Q: What is the ATIS frequency at KCHA?

KCHA ATIS broadcasts on 119.85 MHz. Tower operates on 118.3 MHz and ground on 121.7 MHz. Approach/departure control is on 125.1 MHz. Always confirm current frequencies on your Chart Supplement or EFB before flight.

Q: Does KCHA have a CAT II ILS?

Yes. The ILS RWY 20 at KCHA is certified for CAT II operations. Standard checkride operations use the CAT I ILS minimums on the same procedure. CAT II operations require special pilot authorization, avionics certification, and airport qualification separate from normal IFR currency.

Q: What terrain considerations apply at KCHA?

Chattanooga sits in a valley between Lookout Mountain to the southwest and Signal Mountain to the north-northwest. Ridge-and-valley terrain affects MEAs on approach routes and can generate turbulence, mountain waves, and orographic lifting that produces localized convection in summer.

Q: What weather hazards should instrument pilots expect at KCHA?

Chattanooga's valley location produces temperature inversions and radiation fog that can lower ceilings rapidly at night. Summer afternoons bring convective storms along the mountain ridges. Winter cold air can become trapped in the Tennessee Valley, producing persistent IMC with ceilings at 200–500 ft for multiple days during major cold outbreaks.

Q: What are the runway lengths at KCHA?

KCHA has two runways: 02/20 at 7,400 ft × 150 ft and 15/33 at 5,575 ft × 150 ft, both asphalt/grooved. Runway 02/20 is the primary ILS runway. Runway 15/33 is served by RNAV approaches and is typically used in crosswind conditions.

Sources

• AirNav — KCHA Airport Information
• SkyVector — KCHA Instrument Approach Procedures
• 14 CFR 91.130 — Operations in Class C Airspace (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B
• NWS Morristown (MRX) — 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.