KHXD Hilton Head Airport — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Hilton Head Airport (KHXD) is a small commercial service and general aviation airport located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, approximately 80 nm south of Charleston and 20 nm northeast of Savannah. Elevation is 19 ft MSL. The airport is a part-time towered facility — tower operates from 0700 to 2100 local. Outside tower hours, pilots contact Savannah Approach/Departure directly on 125.3 MHz for IFR service.

ATIS broadcasts on 121.4 MHz. Tower is 118.975 MHz. Ground is 121.1 MHz. Clearance delivery when the tower is closed uses 121.1 or 123.85 MHz and involves direct coordination with Savannah Approach. KHXD's position as a coastal island airport means all IFR departures and arrivals route through Savannah TRACON airspace.

What instrument approaches are published at KHXD?

Approach data sourced from AirNav — KHXD. KHXD has no ILS. All published procedures are non-precision or approach-ban limited. Always verify current minima on official FAA charts before flight.

The LOC RWY 21 uses localizer-only guidance — no vertical guidance is provided. Pilots must fly a stabilized descent from the final approach fix at the published MDA, then remain at or above MDA until the runway environment is in sight as required by 14 CFR 91.175(c). The VOR-A is a circling approach, meaning the final approach course does not align with any runway and a circling maneuver is required to land.

What is the runway configuration at KHXD?

KHXD operates a single runway oriented 03/21. At 5,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, it accommodates most general aviation and commuter turboprop aircraft. The surface is grooved asphalt and is well-maintained. However, the single-runway configuration means no instrument approach alternative exists if the primary runway is out of service due to NOTAMs or crosswind conditions beyond aircraft limits.

The 5,000 ft length is a planning consideration for higher-performance single-engine and twin-engine aircraft. Runway 21 is the primary IFR arrival runway given its published LOC and RNAV approaches. Runway 03 has only RNAV guidance available.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KHXD?

Hilton Head Island's coastal location on the South Carolina Low Country produces a predictable pattern of sea fog and marine stratus. Warm moist air advects onshore from the Atlantic and can quickly reduce visibility to below 1 mile with ceilings at or below 300 ft — particularly on spring and summer nights when sea surface temperatures are cooler than the ambient air. These events typically clear by mid-morning but can persist through noon or later during blocked weather patterns.

Summer afternoon convective weather is an acute hazard from June through September. Sea breeze convergence zones over the island trigger rapid thunderstorm development on unstable summer afternoons. Storms can build from scattered cumulus to severe within 45 minutes. Pilots departing KHXD in the afternoon should file IFR, obtain an ATC radar weather summary from Savannah Approach, and be prepared to deviate.

Tropical systems from June through November introduce a separate hazard category. KHXD is within the cone of influence for Gulf and Atlantic storms tracking up the Eastern Seaboard. A hurricane or tropical storm landfall within 150 nm of Savannah can produce sustained instrument conditions across the entire coastal South Carolina region for 12-24 hours.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KHXD?

KHXD is most commonly used as the destination airport in a checkride triad departing from Charleston (KCHS) or Savannah (KSAV). The DPE uses it specifically because the lack of an ILS forces the applicant to demonstrate non-precision approach technique — a fundamentally different skill from flying a precision approach.

On the LOC RWY 21, you must establish a stabilized descent profile using only the localizer for lateral guidance. There is no glideslope needle to follow. The DPE will evaluate whether you maintain a constant-rate descent from the FAF to MDA, arrive at MDA with runway environment in sight or execute a missed approach, and never descend below MDA without the required visual references. This tests a core competency under ACS Area VI.B.

The VOR-A circling approach tests your ability to fly to the VOR, execute the published procedure, and then maneuver to land on the appropriate runway while maintaining the circling MDA. Circling approaches at coastal airports are particularly challenging when low ceilings restrict the circling maneuver arc visibility — know the circling minimums and the protected area limits before the approach begins.

Alternate airport planning is another frequent oral and flight topic at KHXD. Because KHXD has no ILS, it may not qualify as an alternate under standard alternate minimums — pilots must check the alternate minimums section of the approach chart. Savannah/Hilton Head International (KSAV) is the standard alternate, and the DPE will expect you to explain why KSAV qualifies and KHXD may not, referencing 14 CFR 91.169.

Practice Questions

1. You are flying the LOC RWY 21 at KHXD. You arrive at MDA and see only dark terrain — no runway lights or approach lighting. What must you do under 14 CFR 91.175(c)?

2. The DPE asks why KHXD cannot be used as an IFR alternate airport for most flights. Explain the alternate minimums requirement and what approach types qualify an airport as an alternate.

3. You are flying the VOR-A approach and the tower at KHXD is closed. Who issues your approach clearance and what frequency do you use for position reporting?

4. Your RNAV (GPS) RWY 21 shows LPV minimums are available. Explain the difference between LPV, LNAV/VNAV, and LNAV lines of minima in terms of guidance type and when each applies.

5. After a missed approach on the LOC RWY 21, Savannah Approach assigns you a heading of 180 and 2,000 feet. Describe your immediate cockpit actions in order — avionics, power, pitch, and communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KHXD?

KHXD publishes RNAV (GPS) approaches to runways 03 and 21, a LOC RWY 21 approach, and a VOR-A approach. There is no ILS at Hilton Head Airport. The LOC RWY 21 provides non-precision lateral guidance only, without glideslope.

Q: Does KHXD have an ILS approach?

No. Hilton Head Airport does not have a published ILS approach. The most precise lateral guidance available is the LOC RWY 21, which uses localizer-only guidance with no vertical guidance. RNAV (GPS) approaches with LPV minimums may provide vertically guided minima — always verify on current FAA charts.

Q: What is the airspace class at Hilton Head Airport?

KHXD operates as a towered airport with tower hours of 0700-2100 local. IFR arrivals and departures are handled by Savannah Approach on 125.3 MHz. When the tower is closed, pilots contact Savannah Approach/Departure directly.

Q: What are the ATC frequencies at KHXD?

ATIS broadcasts on 121.4 MHz. Tower is on 118.975 MHz (0700-2100 local). Savannah Approach handles arrivals and departures on 125.3 MHz. Ground is 121.1 MHz. Clearance delivery when the tower is closed is on 121.1 or 123.85 MHz.

Q: What weather hazards should pilots expect at KHXD?

Hilton Head Island's coastal location produces sea fog and marine stratus that can reduce ceilings and visibility to instrument minimums, especially on spring and summer nights and mornings. Summer afternoon thunderstorms are frequent and can develop rapidly over the island. The single short runway limits go-around margins in gusty crosswind conditions.

Q: What are the runway dimensions at KHXD?

KHXD has one runway — 03/21 — measuring 5,000 by 100 feet with a grooved asphalt surface. This is the shortest runway among common Southeast checkride airports and constrains which aircraft types can conduct checkrides there.

Q: Why is KHXD a useful IFR checkride destination?

KHXD is useful for testing non-precision approach technique, alternate airport planning, and MDA vs. DA decision-making. GPS-only and LOC-only approaches make it an ideal destination for discussing what to do when only non-precision guidance is available — a core ACS Area VI competency.

Sources

• AirNav — KHXD Airport Information
• SkyVector — KHXD Instrument Approach Procedures
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.169 — IFR Flight Plan: Information Required (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.