KJAN Jackson-Medgar Evers International — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (KJAN) is the primary commercial service airport for central Mississippi, located 10 nm northeast of downtown Jackson. Elevation is 346 ft MSL. The airport operates within Class C airspace and is served by Jackson Approach Control. Parallel runways oriented 16/34 give controllers and pilots flexibility for simultaneous approach and departure operations.

ATIS broadcasts on 121.05 MHz. Tower operates on 120.9 MHz. Jackson Approach handles arrivals on 123.9 MHz and 125.25 MHz depending on arrival direction. Ground is 121.7 MHz. Military UHF frequencies are also monitored. Radar service from Jackson Approach covers the terminal area including reliever airports such as Hawkins Field (KHKS) and Byram/Rankin County Airport.

What instrument approaches are published at KJAN?

All approach data sourced from AirNav — KJAN. KJAN has one of the most comprehensive approach suites in Mississippi, with precision guidance on 2 runway ends and RNAV coverage on all 4. Always verify current minima on official FAA charts before flight.

The ILS RWY 16L CAT II-III is among the most capable precision approach certifications available at Mississippi airports. Standard checkrides use the CAT I ILS on 16L or 34L. The VOR/DME or TACAN approaches require DME capability and present non-precision approach challenges due to their step-down fix structure.

What is the runway configuration at KJAN?

KJAN operates 2 parallel runways oriented north-south. Both are identical in dimensions at 8,500 by 150 feet with grooved asphalt surfaces. The parallel configuration allows simultaneous independent approach operations when traffic and weather conditions permit, though for standard general aviation checkrides only one approach is conducted at a time.

Note that the ILS procedures are published for 16L and 34L — both on the same physical runway (16R/34L). Runway 16L/34R has RNAV and VOR/DME approaches but no ILS. This is an important distinction when the DPE assigns you an approach — confirm which runway and which lateral designator applies.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KJAN?

Jackson, Mississippi sits in the lower Mississippi River valley, a region known for some of the most active severe weather in the United States. Convective activity is the dominant IFR hazard from late winter through fall. The Mississippi River valley acts as a warm, moist air corridor feeding Gulf moisture northward — this unstable airmass fuels frequent severe thunderstorm development when dynamic upper-level systems approach from the west.

Tornado season in central Mississippi runs from March through May. Significant tornado outbreaks have affected the Jackson metro area multiple times in recent decades. Pilots conducting checkrides or training flights at KJAN should treat convective SIGMETs and tornado watches as serious operational constraints. Never attempt to depart IFR into convective SIGMET airspace without an avoidance plan.

Summer brings daily afternoon and evening convective activity. By 1500-1600 local, scattered-to-numerous thunderstorms typically form over central Mississippi on unstable days. Pilots filing afternoon IFR departures from KJAN should plan for possible ground delays, rerouting, and at-altitude deviation requests.

Winter weather in Jackson is typically mild but includes occasional ice storm events when arctic air undercuts warm moist Gulf air. Freezing rain and sleet events are infrequent but can be significant when they occur — the area has limited deicing infrastructure. Mississippi River valley fog is a common early morning IFR condition from October through February, with ceilings dropping to 200-300 ft and visibility near 1 mile at and around KJAN.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KJAN?

KJAN is a common instrument checkride airport for applicants in the central Mississippi region. The DPE will typically assign the ILS RWY 16L or ILS RWY 34L — the two precision approach runways — as the primary approach. The parallel runway system means you may arrive over KJAN and receive vectors to either runway based on traffic flow.

Jackson Approach sequences arrivals from multiple directions depending on the active flow. Northwest arrivals from KJAN's direction on airways like V54 get the standard northeast-quadrant intercept for runway 34L. Southeast arrivals are sequenced for runway 16L. Know the full ILS plate for both ends before starting the checkride flight — the DPE may change the assigned runway after departure.

With ILS, RNAV, and VOR/DME procedures all available, KJAN offers maximum DPE flexibility to assign various approach types during the practical test. The VOR/DME or TACAN procedures test step-down fix technique — a non-precision skill involving discrete altitude restrictions at specific fixes before arriving at MDA. This contrasts with LNAV/VNAV approaches that provide advisory vertical guidance. Know the difference and explain it clearly when the DPE asks.

The CAT II-III ILS on runway 16L is a natural oral exam topic. Under 14 CFR 91.189, Category II and III operations require specific authorization that goes well beyond a standard instrument rating. DPEs at KJAN regularly ask applicants to explain what CAT II minimums are, what equipment and training would be required, and whether their aircraft is equipped for CAT II. The correct answer for most general aviation aircraft is no — and knowing why is the point of the question.

Missed approach execution at KJAN requires immediate compliance with the published missed approach instructions and a prompt report to Jackson Approach. With parallel runway operations possible, ATC needs timely go-around calls to separate traffic. The DPE will evaluate whether your missed approach is executed at the DA without hesitation, and whether your first call to approach is prompt and complete — state aircraft identification, position, and intentions in one transmission.

Practice Questions

1. Jackson Approach clears you for the "ILS RWY 34L." You are arriving from the north on a 160-degree heading. Identify whether 34L is the left or right runway from your perspective on final, and confirm which ILS lateral designator applies.

2. The DPE asks you to fly the VOR/DME or TACAN RWY 16L approach. You do not have TACAN capability but you do have DME. Are you authorized to fly this procedure? What does the "or" in the title indicate?

3. On the ILS RWY 16L, you break out at 400 ft AGL and see the approach lighting system and the PAPI but not the runway end identifier lights. Under 14 CFR 91.175(c), which of these visual references permit continued descent to landing?

4. During the oral exam, the DPE asks what additional requirements a pilot must meet to fly the ILS RWY 16L CAT II-III approach. List the regulatory basis under 14 CFR 91.189 and describe at least 3 differences from a standard CAT I operation.

5. You are holding at PEKKA intersection as published on the ILS RWY 34L, right turns, 340-degree inbound course. ATC has not issued an EFC time. What are your responsibilities if you have not received a further clearance within your calculated fuel holding endurance?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KJAN?

KJAN publishes ILS or LOC to runways 16L and 34L, including ILS RWY 16L SA CAT I and CAT II-III procedures. RNAV (GPS) approaches serve all four runway ends — 16L, 16R, 34L, and 34R. VOR/DME or TACAN approaches also exist for all four ends. Radar approaches are available from Jackson Approach.

Q: What is the airspace class at KJAN?

KJAN operates within Class C airspace. Under 14 CFR 91.130, two-way radio communication with Jackson Approach is required before entering Class C airspace. IFR clearances automatically establish this contact as part of the departure or arrival sequence.

Q: What are the runway dimensions at KJAN?

KJAN has two parallel runways — 16L/34R and 16R/34L — each 8,500 feet long and 150 feet wide with grooved asphalt surfaces. Parallel runway configuration allows independent IFR operations on separate approach procedures.

Q: What are the ATC frequencies at KJAN?

ATIS broadcasts on 121.05 MHz. Tower operates on 120.9 MHz. Jackson Approach handles arrivals on 123.9 and 125.25 MHz depending on direction. Ground is 121.7 MHz. Military UHF frequencies are also active.

Q: Does KJAN have CAT II or CAT III ILS operations?

Yes. The ILS RWY 16L includes SA CAT I and CAT II-III certified procedures. CAT II-III operations require special aircraft equipment, crew certification, and airport infrastructure per 14 CFR 91.189. Standard instrument rating checkrides use CAT I minimums on the ILS RWY 16L unless the DPE and aircraft are specifically authorized otherwise.

Q: What weather hazards should pilots expect at KJAN?

Jackson, Mississippi experiences significant convective weather from spring through fall. Severe thunderstorms and tornado activity are most common March through May. Summer brings frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winter fog is common in the Mississippi River valley, and occasional ice storms affect the region.

Q: What makes KJAN useful for an instrument checkride?

KJAN offers ILS-served runway ends on two runways, parallel runway configuration, Class C airspace, and CAT II-III certification — making it one of the best-equipped checkride airports in Mississippi. The approach variety lets the DPE assign ILS, RNAV, and VOR/DME procedures to test all non-precision and precision skills.

Sources

• AirNav — KJAN Airport Information
• SkyVector — KJAN 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)
• 14 CFR 91.189 — Category II and III Operations (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 Editorial Team. Last updated: May 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, email corrections@mockdpe.org.