KHPN Westchester County — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Westchester County Airport (KHPN) is a commercial service and general aviation airport in White Plains, New York, located approximately 25 nm north-northeast of midtown Manhattan. Elevation is 439 ft MSL. The airport falls within the lateral limits of the New York Class B airspace, and all IFR operations are handled by New York TRACON — one of the highest-volume approach control facilities in the United States.

ATIS broadcasts continuously on 133.8 MHz. Tower frequency is 118.575 MHz. New York TRACON handles approach and departure on 126.4 MHz (0700-2300 local) and 120.8 MHz overnight. Ground control operates on 121.825 MHz. Clearance delivery when tower is open is 126.4 MHz; when the tower is closed, contact New York TRACON on 127.25 MHz.

What instrument approaches are published at KHPN?

All approach data sourced from AirNav — KHPN. Procedure names and availability should always be verified on current FAA charts before flight.

The ILS RWY 16 and ILS RWY 34 are the primary precision approaches used on checkrides. The ILS RWY 16 SA CAT I-II procedure requires special authorization. RNAV (RNP) Z approaches require aircraft authorization and crew training not typical of general aviation checkrides.

What is the runway configuration at KHPN?

KHPN operates 2 paved runways. Runway 16/34 is the sole instrument-capable runway and the primary arrival and departure runway for IFR traffic. Runway 11/29 is used for visual operations and VFR traffic but has no published instrument approach.

At 6,549 feet, runway 16/34 is adequate for most turboprops and light jets conducting checkrides, but the length is a planning consideration for higher-performance aircraft in wet or contaminated conditions. Grooved asphalt surface is maintained on both runways.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KHPN?

Westchester County's location in the lower Hudson Valley creates a distinct local weather pattern. Cold air draining from the Catskill foothills to the north frequently collides with moist maritime air from Long Island Sound, producing radiation fog and low stratus during fall and early winter mornings. Ceilings at KHPN can be 200-500 ft lower than at nearby KTEB or KJFK during these events.

Nor'easter events from November through March are a significant operational hazard. These systems track along the coast and can deliver heavy snow, ice, and northeast winds sustained at 30-40 knots directly into the prevailing runway 34 flow. Ground deicing and runway clearing operations at KHPN have limited capacity compared to major airports, and expect delays during and after significant snow events.

Summer convective weather builds rapidly over the Hudson Valley on unstable afternoons. Thunderstorm outflow can produce sudden wind shifts, gusts to 40+ knots, and rapidly changing visibility. New York Center frequently issues miles-in-trail restrictions affecting KHPN arrivals during convective events.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KHPN?

Flying a checkride at KHPN means operating in one of the most complex ATC environments in the country. New York TRACON manages traffic for JFK, LGA, EWR, TEB, and a dozen satellite airports simultaneously. Expect a brisk pace from first contact — controllers issue altitude, heading, and speed instructions in rapid succession, and they do not repeat themselves.

Departure from KHPN into the Class B structure typically involves a published departure procedure or immediate radar vectors. The DPE will evaluate whether you comply with departure instructions precisely and brief the procedure in advance — a skill evaluated under ACS Area V. If assigned a RNAV departure, you need to know the initial constraints cold before you get airborne.

On the approach, expect vectors to a long final for the ILS RWY 16 or ILS RWY 34. New York TRACON often sequences KHPN arrivals behind airline traffic inbound to JFK or LGA, which means you may get a tight sequence with a speed restriction. Manage the descent, configure the aircraft, and brief the approach plate simultaneously — the DPE is watching whether workload peaks cause you to fixate on one task while letting another slip.

Missed approach execution at KHPN requires an immediate climb and prompt frequency change or report to approach control. The published missed approach climbs into airspace shared with airline traffic. 14 CFR 91.175(e) requires a missed approach be initiated the moment you lose the required visual references below DA — hesitation is a test failure.

The DPE may also request a hold. KHPN is close enough to the New York metro that holding patterns in the terminal area are common during weather events. Know your hold entries cold, including the parallel entry from a southwest arrival heading on the ILS RWY 16 — that geometry catches applicants unprepared.

Practice Questions

1. New York TRACON clears you for the ILS RWY 34 and assigns 3,000 feet until established. At what point are you authorized to descend below 3,000 on the approach, and what does "established" mean under the ACS?

2. You are on a heading of 250 degrees being vectored to the ILS RWY 16 final. Determine the hold entry type if approach gives you a published hold at KENTA intersection on the ILS RWY 16 approach.

3. The RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 34 shows LPV minimums and LNAV minimums. Explain to the DPE how LPV guidance is generated and why its DA may differ from the LNAV MDA.

4. You break out at 600 ft AGL on the ILS RWY 34 and see the approach lighting system but not the runway. Under 14 CFR 91.175(c), what reference allows you to continue descending, and to what limit?

5. After a missed approach on the ILS RWY 16, approach assigns a heading of 360 and 3,000 feet. Describe your crew resource management — avionics management, checklist execution, and communication — for the first 60 seconds after initiating the missed approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KHPN?

KHPN publishes ILS or LOC approaches to runways 16 and 34, an ILS RWY 16 SA CAT I-II, RNAV (RNP) Z approaches to both runway ends, and RNAV (GPS) Y approaches to runways 16 and 34. A Sound Visual approach is also charted for runway 34.

Q: What is the airspace class at Westchester County Airport?

KHPN operates within the New York Class B airspace structure. Aircraft transiting to or from KHPN under IFR receive clearances that implicitly authorize Class B transit. Under 14 CFR 91.131, an explicit ATC clearance is required before entering Class B airspace.

Q: What are the runway lengths at KHPN?

Runway 16/34 is the primary instrument runway at 6,549 feet long and 150 feet wide. Runway 11/29 is a crosswind runway at 4,451 by 150 feet. Only runway 16/34 has published ILS and RNAV procedures.

Q: What are the ATC frequencies at KHPN?

ATIS is on 133.8 MHz. Tower operates on 118.575 MHz. Approach and departure are handled by New York TRACON on 126.4 MHz (0700-2300) and 120.8 MHz (2300-0700). Ground is 121.825 MHz.

Q: What weather hazards should pilots expect at KHPN?

Westchester County's location in the Hudson Valley produces significant low-cloud events in fall and winter when moist air from the Hudson River interacts with terrain. Fog and low ceilings are common in the morning hours. Winter northeasters bring heavy snow and low visibility to the New York metro area.

Q: Does KHPN have RNAV (RNP) approaches?

Yes. KHPN publishes RNAV (RNP) Z procedures for both runway 16 and runway 34. RNP AR approaches require aircraft authorization and special crew training — they are not flown on a standard instrument checkride without specific equipment and approvals.

Q: What ACS tasks apply to a checkride at KHPN?

A checkride at KHPN tests ILS precision approach skill (ACS Area VI), missed approach execution, holding, and communication management in busy NY TRACON airspace. The proximity to NYC Class B makes airspace management under ACS Area II especially relevant.

Sources

• AirNav — KHPN Airport Information
• SkyVector — KHPN 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

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