KFTY Atlanta Fulton County — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Fulton County Executive Airport/Charlie Brown Field (KFTY) sits in northwest Atlanta at 841 ft MSL elevation — inside the lateral boundary of Atlanta's Class B airspace, though not itself a Class B primary airport. This distinction is operationally important: flights departing or arriving KFTY must navigate the Atlanta Class B structure, obtaining explicit ATC clearance to transit Class B sectors or maintaining altitudes that remain below applicable Class B floors. Under 14 CFR 91.131, no person may operate an aircraft in Class B airspace without an ATC clearance.

ATIS broadcasts on 120.175 MHz. Tower operates on 118.45 MHz. Atlanta Approach handles KFTY IFR traffic on 121.0 MHz. Ground control uses 121.7 MHz. Special alternate minimums and special takeoff minimums/departure procedures apply — both require review on the official FAA chart before any IMC operation.

What instrument approaches are published at KFTY?

KFTY's approach suite is concentrated on runway 08, with runway 26 served by a single RNAV (GPS) procedure.

The RNAV (RNP) Z RWY 08 is an Authorization Required procedure — not available to standard instrument rating holders without specific aircraft avionics and crew authorization. The RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 08 is available to any IFR-equipped aircraft and publishes LPV guidance where the aircraft's avionics support it. Special alternate minimums apply; verify on the FAA chart alternate minimums panel before filing KFTY as an alternate under 14 CFR 91.169.

What is the runway configuration at KFTY?

KFTY operates a single runway, 08/26, at 5,797 feet by 100 feet. This length is adequate for most light general aviation and piston twin aircraft but limits heavier turboprops and jets. All traffic — arrivals, departures, pattern work — shares this single runway.

With prevailing west-southwest winds in Atlanta, runway 26 is often the preferred landing direction for VMC operations. IFR operations typically use runway 08 when precision approach guidance is required. The 5,797-foot length leaves limited overrun margin for aircraft operating near maximum landing weight — a performance consideration the DPE may raise in the oral portion.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KFTY?

Northwest Atlanta's piedmont location produces a convective-dominated summer weather pattern and a frontal-dominated winter pattern. From May through September, afternoon thunderstorms develop over the Atlanta metro area and surrounding ridges by 1400–1600 local time, producing rapid ceiling drops, microbursts, and strong outflow winds. These cells can be isolated or embedded in a larger squall line tracking northeast with a cold front. The proximity to KATL means convective ground delays propagate quickly to KFTY departures.

Winter frontal passages are the primary IFR source from November through March. Cold fronts dropping south out of Canada can bring sustained low ceilings (300–800 ft AGL) with rain or drizzle for 12–24 hours. Post-frontal arctic air can introduce freezing rain or ice pellets at higher altitudes west of the Appalachians. Radiation fog is common in fall and spring mornings when overnight temperatures drop below the dew point, typically clearing by 1000 local.

The National Weather Service Atlanta (FFC) office issues terminal forecasts and convective products for the KFTY area. Atlanta Center (ZTL) manages en route airspace above the Atlanta TRACON.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KFTY?

KFTY is one of the most realistic checkride environments in the Atlanta area for general aviation instrument applicants. It places you inside the Atlanta Class B structure without the full commercial-airport pace of KATL, while requiring that you demonstrate Class B awareness and clearance procedures from the outset. The DPE will evaluate whether you can articulate the Class B authorization requirements under 14 CFR 91.131 and how an IFR clearance — once issued — satisfies the Class B entry authorization embedded within it.

The ILS or LOC RWY 08 is the anchor approach for checkrides. With a 5,797-foot runway and an 841-foot elevation, the aircraft's descent profile will produce a DA of approximately 1,200 ft MSL or higher depending on procedure design — know your DA in MSL, not just AGL. The DPE may ask the relationship between field elevation, DA, and the height above touchdown zone (HAT) published on the approach chart.

Special takeoff minimums are a realistic oral topic. KFTY's published ODP routes departures around Class B floors and terrain. Know the specific ODP before any IMC departure — the DPE will ask whether you reviewed it and what the published visibility minimum is for single-engine aircraft.

The RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 08 with LPV guidance is an increasingly common checkride approach here, as glass cockpit aircraft dominate the KFTY fleet. The DPE may ask you to compare LPV guidance with the ILS — including why LPV is classified as an APV (Approach with Vertical Guidance) procedure rather than a precision approach under ICAO standards, even though it provides a DA rather than an MDA.

Missed approach execution on a single-runway airport is direct: climb immediately on runway heading, execute the published missed approach, and coordinate with Atlanta Approach on 121.0 MHz. There is no complex intersection or holding fix sequence — but the DPE will verify that you declare "missed approach" on frequency, initiate the climb without delay, and obtain further clearance promptly.

Practice Questions

1. You are departing KFTY IFR in IMC. Atlanta Approach issues your clearance with an initial altitude of 3,000 feet. The Atlanta Class B floor in that sector is 3,500 feet. Are you authorized to climb through the Class B at 3,000 feet? What is the basis for your answer under 14 CFR 91.131?

2. The ILS RWY 08 at KFTY publishes a DA of 1,260 ft MSL. Field elevation is 841 ft MSL. What is the HAT (height above touchdown zone), and why does the examiner care whether you state your DA in MSL or AGL?

3. You are cleared for the RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 08 with LPV guidance active. At DA you have the approach lighting system in sight but the runway threshold is not visible. Under 14 CFR 91.175(c), are you authorized to continue the descent? How far below DA may you go using approach lights alone?

4. KFTY has special takeoff minimums. You are departing runway 08 with a 1/4-mile visibility and a 200-foot ceiling. What does the ODP require, and where do you find that requirement on the official FAA chart?

5. After a missed approach on the RNAV (GPS) RWY 26 at KFTY, Atlanta Approach vectors you for the ILS RWY 08. You are now flying the reciprocal direction. Walk the DPE through your approach briefing — items you must cover before intercepting the localizer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KFTY?

KFTY publishes an ILS or LOC RWY 08, an RNAV (RNP) Z RWY 08 (authorization required), an RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 08, and an RNAV (GPS) RWY 26. Special alternate minimums and special takeoff minimums/departure procedures apply.

Q: What airspace class is Fulton County Airport?

KFTY sits within the Atlanta Class B airspace lateral boundary. Operations require either a Class B clearance or maintaining altitudes below the applicable Class B floor. Under 14 CFR 91.131, explicit ATC clearance is required to operate within Class B airspace.

Q: What is the ATIS frequency at KFTY?

KFTY ATIS broadcasts on 120.175 MHz. Tower operates on 118.45 MHz. Atlanta Approach is on 121.0 MHz. Ground control uses 121.7 MHz.

Q: What runway does KFTY have?

KFTY has a single runway: 08/26, measuring 5,797 feet by 100 feet. The ILS approach serves runway 08. Runway 26 has RNAV (GPS) only.

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

Northwest Atlanta's piedmont location produces afternoon thunderstorms from May through September and IFR frontal weather from November through March. Radiation fog is common on fall and spring mornings. Convective cells can produce rapid ceiling drops and microbursts.

Q: What are the special takeoff minimums at KFTY?

Special Takeoff Minimums/Departure Procedures apply at KFTY. Pilots must review the official FAA chart ODP panel before departing in IMC. The proximity to Atlanta Class B airspace adds complexity to the published departure routing.

Q: What is the RNAV (RNP) Z RWY 08 approach at KFTY?

The RNAV (RNP) Z RWY 08 is an Authorization Required procedure requiring specific aircraft avionics capability and crew training. Standard IR applicants fly the RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 08 instead.

Sources

• AirNav — KFTY Airport Information
• SkyVector — KFTY Instrument Approach Procedures
• 14 CFR 91.131 — Operations in Class B Airspace (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B
• NWS Atlanta (FFC) — Terminal Forecasts

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. Last updated: May 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, email corrections@mockdpe.org.