Allendale County Airport essentials pilots and residents should know

Allendale County Airport (FAA identifier KAQX, sometimes shown as AQX) is the county-owned, public-use field serving the towns of Allendale and Fairfax. For residents and pilots, the airport’s published operational details provide the baseline needed for safe flying, travel planning, emergency response and local economic activity.

The airport listing carried by aviation publications and government records includes key items every user should note: the airport manager’s contact information, runway and lighting notes, the CTAF/UNICOM frequency used by pilots in the traffic pattern, AWOS weather frequencies for on-site aviation weather, and references to RNAV/GPS instrument procedures with current FAA effective dates. Those pieces together determine whether flights can operate safely in marginal weather, at night, or during emergency missions such as medical evacuations or disaster response.

Runway and lighting notes are particularly important for pilots judging what aircraft the field can handle and whether night operations are feasible. AWOS (automated weather observing system) frequencies let pilots get up-to-the-minute surface conditions before landing or departing, reducing diversion risk and supporting consistent scheduling. CTAF/UNICOM is the radio channel pilots use to announce position and intentions in the pattern, a basic safety measure for non‑towered fields like KAQX. Published RNAV/GPS approaches with FAA effective dates indicate instrument flight rules (IFR) capability, which improves reliability for business travel and medical flights when visual conditions are poor.

County ownership means Allendale County is responsible for maintenance and local oversight of the airport. That governance affects budgeting decisions, potential improvements and how the field is integrated with county emergency planning and economic development. For businesses considering Allendale or Fairfax, the presence of a county airport with instrument procedures and weather reporting can be a factor in site selection and logistics planning.

What this means for residents: if you live near the airport, runway and lighting notes explain when and why aircraft operate evenings or in low visibility, and CTAF/UN‑ICOM procedures describe how pilots reduce local noise and safety risks. If you fly into or out of KAQX, confirm the airport manager’s current contact, check AWOS before departure, and verify RNAV/GPS approach status and frequencies in official FAA publications prior to flight.

Looking ahead, keeping these operational details current helps the county maintain safe aviation access, support emergency services, and present Allendale County as a reliable option for small-business travel and air operations. Contact the airport manager or county offices for the latest phone numbers and operational advisories before planning travel.