KVLD Valdosta Regional — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Valdosta Regional Airport (KVLD) is a public-use, tower-controlled airport located 3 miles south of Valdosta, Georgia, at 203 ft MSL. It sits inside Class D airspace, and the operating control tower requires two-way radio communication under 14 CFR 91.129 before entry. Tower frequency is 128.35 MHz; ground is 121.7 MHz. Valdosta Approach handles IFR arrivals and departures on 126.6 MHz during tower hours. When the tower is closed, Jacksonville ARTCC assumes approach and departure service on 133.7 MHz.

KVLD is regularly used as both a departure airport and a cross-country destination in IFR checkride scenarios for south Georgia and north Florida pilots. The airport's mix of a precision ILS and several non-precision RNAV and VOR approaches makes it well-suited for evaluating multiple ACS approach tasks in a single flight.

What instrument approaches are published at KVLD?

KVLD publishes 6 instrument approach procedures, sourced from SkyVector. The ILS or LOC RWY 36 is the only precision procedure; all other approaches are non-precision.

Always verify current minima on official FAA charts before flight. LOC-only minima on the ILS or LOC RWY 36 are published separately from the ILS line and carry a higher MDA rather than a DA.

What is the runway configuration at KVLD?

KVLD operates 2 runways. Runway 18/36 is the primary IFR runway at 8,003 feet long by 150 feet wide, aligned north-south, and hosts all precision and most non-precision approaches. Runway 04/22 is a crosswind runway at 5,598 feet by 100 feet and serves the RNAV (GPS) RWY 04 approach.

The long north-south runway accommodates jet traffic and IFR operations comfortably. Runway 04/22's 5,598-foot length is sufficient for most piston singles and twins operating under instrument conditions.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KVLD?

South Georgia's flat, low-lying terrain and humid subtropical climate create two primary IFR weather threats at KVLD. Radiation fog forms on clear, calm nights when moisture is plentiful — most frequently from October through March — and can drop ceilings to near zero within a few hours of sunset. Fog typically burns off by mid-morning but can persist until late morning during the coolest months.

Summer afternoons from May through September bring convective buildup that can rapidly develop scattered to broken ceilings across the region. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms are common, and pilots filing IFR southbound toward KTLH should check the SIGMET and Convective SIGMET products at aviationweather.gov before departure.

KVLD does not have its own ATIS. The nearest ASOS is at Moody Air Force Base (KVAD), approximately 12 nm north — its frequency is 142.6 MHz. Pilots should also obtain a full standard weather briefing from 1800wxbrief.com or ForeFlight before operating in the area.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KVLD?

KVLD appears in MockDPE checkride scenarios as a departure airport in the South Georgia triad (KVLD to KABY, alternate KTLH). Departing KVLD places the applicant immediately in a region-specific scenario: flat terrain, morning fog potential, a cross-state alternate, and a mix of precision and non-precision approaches at the destination.

On the oral portion, expect the DPE to probe alternate airport requirements. Under 14 CFR 91.169, a destination airport requires a filed alternate if the forecast ceiling and visibility fall below 2,000 ft and 3 sm during the window from 1 hour before to 1 hour after estimated arrival. With KTLH as the alternate and KABY as the destination, the applicant must correctly apply alternate minimums for each airport — a frequently tested knowledge item in ACS Area I.

In the airplane, expect the ILS RWY 36 to be the primary approach. KVLD's ILS serves the long runway and is the examiner's default for evaluating full ILS tracking, DA discipline, and missed approach execution. The DPE may also assign the VOR RWY 36 or VOR RWY 18 to test non-precision MDA discipline and step-down fix awareness — core competencies under ACS Task VI.B.

Missed approach at KVLD requires prompt compliance with published instructions and an immediate call to Valdosta Approach. Under 14 CFR 91.175(e), once you descend below MDA or DA, the missed approach is mandatory if the required visual references are lost.

Practice Questions

1. You are filed KVLD to KABY with KTLH as the alternate. The TAF for KABY shows a ceiling of 1,800 ft and visibility 2.5 sm from 1 hour before until 2 hours after your ETA. Do you need to file an alternate? What are the IFR alternate minimums for KTLH?

2. On the ILS RWY 36, you intercept the glideslope from below at 3 nm from the FAF. You are 200 ft above the published glideslope intercept altitude. Describe what the CDI and glideslope needles show and how you correct.

3. You are cleared for the VOR RWY 36 approach and have the current VOR RWY 36 plate. The procedure has a step-down fix inside the FAF. At what altitude may you descend below the FAF crossing altitude before the step-down fix, and how does crossing the step-down fix change your descent?

4. Tower is closed on arrival. Jacksonville Center hands you off to 133.7 MHz. You arrive at the VOR RWY 18 MDA with the runway not in sight. What is your obligation under 14 CFR 91.175, and what do you tell the controller?

5. The DPE asks you to fly the RNAV (GPS) RWY 04 approach with LNAV minima active (no vertical guidance). How does your descent technique differ from flying an approach with LNAV+V advisory glidepath?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KVLD?

KVLD publishes an ILS or LOC to Runway 36, RNAV (GPS) approaches to runways 04, 18, and 36, and VOR approaches to runways 18 and 36. The ILS RWY 36 is the only precision approach. Always verify current minima on official FAA charts before flight.

Q: What is the airspace class at Valdosta Regional Airport?

KVLD operates inside Class D airspace due to its operating control tower on 128.35 MHz. Under 14 CFR 91.129, two-way radio communication with the tower must be established before entering Class D airspace.

Q: Does KVLD have a published LOC-only approach?

Yes. The ILS or LOC RWY 36 procedure publishes both an ILS line of minima and a LOC-only line. LOC-only minima carry a higher MDA and typically a reduced visibility requirement compared to the ILS DA. Check the current chart for exact values.

Q: What approach control frequency serves KVLD?

Valdosta Approach operates on 126.6 MHz. When the tower is closed, Jacksonville ARTCC provides approach and departure services on 133.7 MHz. Tower is on 128.35 MHz; ground on 121.7 MHz.

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

South Georgia's flat, moist terrain produces radiation fog and low IFR ceilings on clear, calm nights — most common from October through March. Summer afternoons bring scattered to broken convective ceilings and isolated thunderstorms. Check ASOS at nearby KVAD and obtain a full weather briefing before departure.

Q: How long are the runways at KVLD?

Runway 18/36 is 8,003 feet long by 150 feet wide — the primary IFR runway. Runway 04/22 is 5,598 feet long by 100 feet wide and supports the RNAV (GPS) RWY 04 approach.

Q: What ACS tasks does a KVLD checkride scenario typically emphasize?

A South Georgia departure from KVLD tests alternate airport planning (flat terrain, morning fog risk), non-precision MDA discipline, and VOR approach execution — all core ACS Area VI tasks. The cross-state alternate to KTLH adds flight planning complexity.

Sources

• SkyVector — KVLD Valdosta Regional Airport
• 14 CFR 91.129 — Operations in Class D Airspace (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.169 — IFR Flight Plan: Information Required (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B
• FAA Instrument ACS (IRA)

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