Airport Procedures
Kentmorr is near Washington DC and the associated Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA). Kentmorr is not in the SFRA, so you can fly into and out of Kentmorr without having to file flight plans, talk to Potomac TRACON, or squawk a special transponder code. But there are a few things you need to do.
In order to fly VFR within 60NM of Washington, the pilot-in-command must have completed the on-line training required by 14CFR 91.161. This includes an IFR arrival where you cancel VFR to land—so please take the training. It only takes a few minutes. The training can be found at faasafety.gov—create an account and click on the “DC SFRA” link on the upper left of the page.
The SFRA, which is a 30 NM circle around the DCA VORTAC, is only about 1.6 NM west of the end of Runway 28. If you enter from and depart to the north, east, or south, there is no restriction from the SFRA. However, if you enter from or depart to the west, you must follow the Washington SFRA procedures. As long as you stay to the north, east, or south of the airport, you will be clear of the SFRA and can follow the procedures below.
The pattern altitude is 1000 ft with left traffic for both Runway 10 and 28. Runway 28 is preferred due to noice sensitive areas—so please use Runway 28 when the wind allows. We recommend you enter left traffic for runway 28 from the east by flying upwind and turning crosswind over the shoreline of the Bay. See the picture below. Note that folks can also enter left traffic via a standard 45-degree entry south of the field—but stay east of the shoreline to avoid the SFRA. Also, folks entering on an SFRA flight plan may use a standard 45-degree entry.
On departure from Runway 28, turn to the east as soon as you can safely do so unless following an SFRA or IFR flight plan. The edge of the SFRA is 1.6 NM from the west end of Runway 28. Please—first fly your plane safely; worry about the SFRA later.
In order to fly VFR within 60NM of Washington, the pilot-in-command must have completed the on-line training required by 14CFR 91.161. This includes an IFR arrival where you cancel VFR to land—so please take the training. It only takes a few minutes. The training can be found at faasafety.gov—create an account and click on the “DC SFRA” link on the upper left of the page.
The SFRA, which is a 30 NM circle around the DCA VORTAC, is only about 1.6 NM west of the end of Runway 28. If you enter from and depart to the north, east, or south, there is no restriction from the SFRA. However, if you enter from or depart to the west, you must follow the Washington SFRA procedures. As long as you stay to the north, east, or south of the airport, you will be clear of the SFRA and can follow the procedures below.
The pattern altitude is 1000 ft with left traffic for both Runway 10 and 28. Runway 28 is preferred due to noice sensitive areas—so please use Runway 28 when the wind allows. We recommend you enter left traffic for runway 28 from the east by flying upwind and turning crosswind over the shoreline of the Bay. See the picture below. Note that folks can also enter left traffic via a standard 45-degree entry south of the field—but stay east of the shoreline to avoid the SFRA. Also, folks entering on an SFRA flight plan may use a standard 45-degree entry.
On departure from Runway 28, turn to the east as soon as you can safely do so unless following an SFRA or IFR flight plan. The edge of the SFRA is 1.6 NM from the west end of Runway 28. Please—first fly your plane safely; worry about the SFRA later.
For left traffic to Runway 10, you can enter downwind directly from the east. See the picture below. You can also use a standard 45-degree entry, but this puts you in proximity to Bay Bridge airport to the north, so eyes outside of the cockpit. Please note that we prefer you to use Runway 28 for takeoffs and landings when winds are light—that helps keep our neighbors happy.
The taxiway for transients is on the north side of the airport, away from the houses. Most people park near the Chesapeake Bay since that is closest to the restaurant. We suggest you lock your airplane while you are parked here to align with TSA's recommendations for airport security.
There are no lights on the runway and no published instrument approaches, so airport operations are limited to day VFR only. Note that we have no fences, and we occasionally have visitors on the runway that operate at night without lights—see below. Meeting one of these friends during a night landing or takeoff could spoil everyone’s evening, and we’re sure neither the FAA nor your insurance company would be pleased either. Day only operations, please.
There are no lights on the runway and no published instrument approaches, so airport operations are limited to day VFR only. Note that we have no fences, and we occasionally have visitors on the runway that operate at night without lights—see below. Meeting one of these friends during a night landing or takeoff could spoil everyone’s evening, and we’re sure neither the FAA nor your insurance company would be pleased either. Day only operations, please.
The runway can be soft after heavy rains, especially on the east end. We will publish a NOTAM closing the airport to transients in this case (“CLSD TNST” or “RWY 10/28 CLSD TNST” in NOTAM-speak).
There are displaced thresholds at both ends, which are marked with orange cones. You can use the areas outside of the cones for takeoff, and we encourage this if you need the runway length.
We have a huge goose population on Kent Island, and they like our grass. If you see them on the runway, make a low pass and they will leave.
We cut the grass ourselves. If you see the mower, make a low pass and we’ll clear out and let you land.
There are displaced thresholds at both ends, which are marked with orange cones. You can use the areas outside of the cones for takeoff, and we encourage this if you need the runway length.
We have a huge goose population on Kent Island, and they like our grass. If you see them on the runway, make a low pass and they will leave.
We cut the grass ourselves. If you see the mower, make a low pass and we’ll clear out and let you land.