KFAY Fayetteville — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Fayetteville Regional Airport/Grannis Field (KFAY) serves the Fayetteville, North Carolina area at 189 ft MSL and operates within Class C airspace. The airport is co-located with the broader Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) military installation complex and lies approximately 10 nm southeast of Pope Army Airfield (KPOB). This proximity to active military operations is the dominant IFR context at this airport — restricted airspace and special-use areas regularly affect routing for civilian IFR flights.

ATIS broadcasts on 121.25 MHz. Tower operates on 118.3 MHz. Fayetteville Approach uses 125.175, 127.8, and 133.0 MHz on direction and altitude-dependent sectors. Ground control is on 121.7 MHz. Two-way radio communication with approach control must be established before entering the Class C airspace under 14 CFR 91.130.

What instrument approaches are published at KFAY?

KFAY's approach suite includes a precision ILS to the primary runway, RNAV (GPS) coverage on all four runway ends, and both a localizer back course and VOR approaches that make it an effective training environment for non-precision procedures.

Special alternate minimums apply at KFAY. Always verify current minima on official FAA charts and check the alternate minimums panel when filing KFAY as an alternate under 14 CFR 91.169. The LOC BC RWY 22 is a notable procedure — back course approaches require the pilot to apply reverse CDI sensing when flying conventional instruments without a back course mode.

What is the runway configuration at KFAY?

KFAY operates two runways in a crossing configuration. Runway 04/22 is the primary ILS runway at 7,709 feet. Runway 10/28 at 4,801 feet is the crosswind runway, served by RNAV (GPS) and VOR approaches but no ILS.

The 4,801-foot length of runway 10/28 is adequate for light general aviation aircraft but limits options for heavier turboprops and jets. Most checkride scenarios at KFAY will use the 04/22 runway for ILS and back course operations, with runway 10/28 used for non-precision approaches when wind favors an east-west landing direction.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KFAY?

Fayetteville's location in North Carolina's coastal plain — flat terrain with proximity to both the Atlantic coast and inland river valleys — creates a mix of weather hazards throughout the year. Fall and early winter mornings are the highest-risk period for radiation fog: clear skies, light winds, and residual soil moisture from summer produce ground fog that can drop visibility to 1/4 mile or less by 0400–0700 local time. These events are typically short-lived, clearing within 1–2 hours of sunrise, but can trap early-morning departures.

Spring and summer bring the frontal and convective pattern typical of the Carolina piedmont. Squall lines track northeast along cold fronts from March through November, bringing rapid ceiling drops and embedded thunderstorms. Afternoon convective development peaks from June through August, with storms forming over the Sandhills to the west and tracking toward the coast. Pilots operating IFR into KFAY during summer afternoons should obtain convective SIGMET updates en route.

Winter frontal passages bring moderate to heavy rain, strong south-to-southwest winds ahead of the front, and northwest winds with lowering temperatures and potential for brief ice pellets or freezing drizzle in the post-frontal air mass.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KFAY?

A checkride at KFAY stands out for two reasons: the Class C airspace communication requirement and the proximity to restricted military airspace. Expect the DPE to ask about both during the oral portion. Under 14 CFR 91.130, you must have established two-way radio contact with approach before entering Class C — "Fayetteville Approach, Cessna 12345, 20 miles northwest, 3,500 feet, inbound with Information Bravo" triggers the controller's response that satisfies the requirement. Simply calling and not receiving a reply is not sufficient.

The LOC BC RWY 22 is a procedure the DPE may assign specifically to test your knowledge of back course operations. On conventional CDI equipment, the needle deflection is reversed from normal ILS operation: a needle deflected to the right means you should fly left to center it. Most modern EFIS avionics auto-reverse the needle when a back course mode is selected — but the DPE will ask whether you understand why that reversal occurs and what you would do if flying a conventional CDI with no back course mode switch.

The ILS RWY 04 is the bread-and-butter precision approach for checkrides here. On departure for a missed approach, comply immediately with the published missed approach procedure and expect Fayetteville Approach to provide vectors that route you around restricted airspace associated with Fort Liberty. If a hold is assigned, brief the entry and expect EFC times consistent with the military training tempo — restricted area activity can delay approach clearances.

Restricted area R-5314 and associated special-use airspace are active during military operations and can require significant rerouting. The DPE may present a scenario in which your filed route transits a restricted area that was cold at briefing time but has since activated — a direct test of ACS Area I weather and airspace situational awareness.

Practice Questions

1. You are approaching KFAY IFR from the west. Fayetteville Approach responds to your initial call with "Cessna 12345, standby." Under 14 CFR 91.130, are you authorized to enter Class C airspace? What would authorize entry?

2. You are cleared for the LOC BC RWY 22 at KFAY in an aircraft with a conventional CDI and no back course mode switch. The localizer needle deflects full-scale right. What is your correction, and why?

3. R-5314 activates while you are en route IFR toward KFAY on a route that penetrates the restricted area. Your clearance has not been amended. What is your obligation under 14 CFR 91.133, and what would you say to ATC?

4. You execute a missed approach on the RNAV (GPS) RWY 28 at KFAY. The published missed approach calls for a climbing right turn to 3,000 feet and a hold. Describe your entry procedure for the hold and what you would request from ATC regarding EFC time.

5. KFAY has special alternate minimums. You plan to file KFAY as an alternate with a TAF showing ceilings of 700 feet and 2 miles visibility at your ETA. How do you determine whether those conditions satisfy the applicable alternate minimums?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KFAY?

KFAY publishes an ILS or LOC RWY 04, RNAV (GPS) approaches to all four runway ends (04, 10, 22, 28), a LOC BC RWY 22, a VOR RWY 04, a VOR RWY 22, and a VOR RWY 28. Special alternate minimums apply.

Q: What airspace class is Fayetteville Regional Airport?

KFAY is a Class C airport. Two-way radio communication with Fayetteville Approach must be established before entering Class C airspace under 14 CFR 91.130.

Q: What is the ATIS frequency at KFAY?

KFAY ATIS broadcasts on 121.25 MHz. Tower operates on 118.3 MHz. Fayetteville Approach uses 125.175, 127.8, and 133.0 MHz. Ground control is on 121.7 MHz.

Q: What runways does KFAY have?

KFAY has two runways: Runway 04/22 at 7,709 feet by 150 feet (the primary ILS runway) and Runway 10/28 at 4,801 feet by 150 feet. RNAV (GPS) approaches cover all four runway ends.

Q: What military airspace affects KFAY IFR operations?

Fort Liberty and Pope Army Airfield (KPOB) are immediately adjacent to KFAY. Restricted airspace R-5314 and associated areas affect routing. Pilots should check NOTAMs before flight.

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

Fayetteville is susceptible to radiation fog in fall and winter mornings and convective activity in summer. Fall and early winter mornings can drop visibility below 1 mile. Summer afternoons bring scattered thunderstorms tracking northeast from the Sandhills and Appalachians.

Q: What is the LOC BC RWY 22 approach at KFAY?

The LOC BC (localizer back course) RWY 22 procedure uses the runway 04 localizer signal received from behind the antenna. On conventional CDI-equipped aircraft, needle sensing is reversed from normal ILS operation. Most glass cockpit avionics handle this automatically.

Sources

• AirNav — KFAY Airport Information
• SkyVector — KFAY Instrument Approach Procedures
• 14 CFR 91.130 — Operations in Class C Airspace (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.133 — Restricted and Prohibited Areas (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B

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.