Airport Inspections

The KDA Airport Inspection Team looks forward every year to visiting the General Aviation airports of the Commonwealth and seeing all of the great things the airports are doing for Kentucky’s aviation industry. The state's public use airports are inspected annually to ensure for their safe operation and functionality.

Airports are grouped into eight zones for the inspection year. The inspections are aligned with the federal fiscal year beginning in October with the Zone 1, 2, and 3 inspections. During the winter months of January through March, office activities, planning, legislative issues, and other special projects are the focus. Inspections resume in April with the remaining five zones completed by August .

KDA conducts both federal and state inspections. KRS 183.090 and 602 KAR 20:020 require annual inspections and the FAA requires a 5010 safety inspection on a three-year cycle.

Both state and federal inspections include but are not limited to:

• Pavement – all pavement areas (runway, taxiway, aprons, vehicle parking, etc.
• Airfield Pavement Marking
• Runway/Taxiway Edge Lighting System
• Fuel Systems – fire extinguishers, spill kits, filter change dates, grounding cables/clamps, after hours/emergency phone numbers, overall condition and cleanliness
• Runway and Taxiway Safety Area
• FAA Title 14 CFR Part 77 Approach Slopes
• 20:1 or better for a visual approach
• 34:1 or better for a non-precision approach
• 50:1 for a precision approach
• Navigational Aids; Segmented Circle, Wind Cone, Beacon, PAPIs, REILSs, etc.
• Overall aesthetics of the airport to include the condition of the U.S. and Commonwealth flags and installation of the Governor’s signage