KLYH Lynchburg Regional Airport — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Lynchburg Regional Airport/Preston Glenn Field (KLYH) serves central Virginia from a plateau above the James River at 938 ft MSL. The airport has a control tower operating 0630–2230 local (Class D airspace), and Roanoke Approach controls IFR traffic in the terminal area on two frequencies: 125.475 MHz east of the LYH VORTAC and 135.0 MHz west of the VORTAC. Outside tower hours, the field reverts to Class E to the surface and pilots coordinate directly with Roanoke Approach for IFR services.

Under 14 CFR 91.129, two-way radio communication with the control tower must be established before operating within Class D airspace during tower hours. Lynchburg Tower operates on 127.65 MHz. ATIS is on 119.8 MHz. The airport is also a significant flight training hub — student IFR operations are common, and the DPE will factor that ambient traffic into the checkride routing.

What instrument approaches are published at KLYH?

KLYH publishes 5 instrument approach procedures, sourced from AirNav and verified against current SkyVector chart listings.

The ILS RWY 04 is the only precision approach at KLYH. Its MALSR approach lighting and touchdown zone RVR equipment make it the DPE's preferred instrument approach in reduced visibility. Special alternate minimums apply — always check the published alternate minimums before designating KLYH as an IFR alternate.

What is the runway configuration at KLYH?

KLYH operates 2 runways. Runway 4/22 at 7,100 × 150 ft is the primary instrument runway. Runway 17/35 at 3,386 × 75 ft is the shorter crosswind runway; it carries a restriction requiring prior permission (PPR) for aircraft exceeding 12,500 lbs gross weight.

Runway 4 is favored when winds are northerly; runway 22 when winds are southerly. Crosswind operations on runway 17/35 are limited by the short length and weight restriction. A DPE may assign the RNAV RWY 17 or 35 to check whether you identify the runway weight restriction and brief the shorter landing distance.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KLYH?

KLYH's position on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge makes it one of the more challenging IFR environments in Virginia. Upslope flow — when Atlantic moisture-laden air is pushed westward against the mountains — is the primary weather producer. In autumn and winter, upslope events can sustain ceilings below 800 ft overcast for 24–72 hours, with drizzle and mist reducing visibility to 1–3 miles. These conditions are deceptively stable — the ceiling does not fluctuate dramatically, but it also does not improve quickly, which makes fuel and alternate planning critical for any IFR flight to KLYH.

Icing is a significant hazard from October through April. The Blue Ridge orographic lifting mechanism produces saturated air at 4,000–8,000 ft MSL on the windward side, and temperatures in that layer are frequently between -5°C and 0°C during winter frontal events. Pilots operating to KLYH in winter should ensure their aircraft has appropriate ice protection and should obtain PIREPs from aircraft operating in the area.

Summer weather is more benign. Convective activity driven by the Blue Ridge can produce afternoon thunderstorms tracking northeast, but KLYH itself is typically downstream of the main Blue Ridge lifting, so convection usually clears the field by early evening. Morning fog in the James River valley occasionally affects surface visibility but rarely persists past 0930 local in summer.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KLYH?

Lynchburg is a terrain-awareness airport, and the DPE will expect a thorough understanding of the IFR environment before you leave the ground. During the oral, expect questions about westbound departure MEAs, the MOCA on airways crossing the Blue Ridge, and how you would handle inadvertent IMC at low altitude in the mountains west of the airport. The FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook (FAA-H-8083-16) covers terrain avoidance procedures and is direct source material for these questions.

The ILS RWY 04 is the standard checkride approach. MALSR approach lighting will be visible at standard Cat I minimums; the DPE may ask you to identify the approach lighting components and describe what visual reference is required to descend below DA. Under 14 CFR 91.175(c), approach lights alone permit descent to 100 ft above the touchdown zone elevation — below that, you need runway environment references.

Missed approach from the ILS RWY 04 at KLYH requires prompt turn and climb to avoid terrain. The published missed approach procedure specifies a climbing turn — brief it explicitly during your approach briefing. The DPE will evaluate whether your missed approach is immediate and whether you execute the turn per the published procedure without hesitation.

Flight training traffic in the pattern is common at KLYH. ATC may interpose a training flight call-out while you are on final — managing the radio while maintaining instrument scan is a realistic task management challenge that mirrors real-world operations.

Practice Questions

1. You are inbound to KLYH on the ILS RWY 04. Roanoke Approach assigns 3,000 ft until established on the localizer. At what point are you "established" on the localizer, and can you descend below 3,000 ft before reaching the FAF?

2. The RNAV (GPS) RWY 22 chart shows LNAV/VNAV and LNAV lines of minima. Your avionics are WAAS-capable but the LPV box shows "not available." Explain why LPV may be unavailable and what minimum you use instead.

3. You are departing KLYH westbound IFR on a route with an MEA of 6,000 ft MSL crossing the Blue Ridge. Your aircraft's service ceiling is 8,500 ft. The OAT is -10°C and a SIGMET for icing from 4,000–9,000 ft is active. What are your options?

4. Runway 17/35 at KLYH has a PPR restriction for aircraft over 12,500 lbs. The DPE assigns you the RNAV RWY 17. Your aircraft weighs 3,200 lbs. What does PPR mean operationally, does it apply to you, and how do you brief the runway length for landing?

5. After a missed approach from the ILS RWY 04 at KLYH, Roanoke Approach issues you a hold at the LYH VORTAC. Describe the hold entry procedure from a heading of 040 degrees, the expected hold structure, and how you request an EFC time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KLYH?

KLYH publishes an ILS or LOC to runway 4 and RNAV (GPS) approaches to all four runway ends: 4, 17, 22, and 35. The ILS RWY 04 is the only precision approach. Runway 17/35 requires prior permission for aircraft over 12,500 lbs.

Q: What airspace class is Lynchburg Regional Airport?

KLYH operates inside Class D airspace with a control tower active 0630–2230 local. Roanoke Approach handles IFR arrivals and departures on 125.475 MHz (east of the LYH VORTAC) and 135.0 MHz (west of the LYH VORTAC). Outside tower hours, the airport reverts to Class E to the surface.

Q: What are the runway lengths at KLYH?

KLYH has two runways: runway 4/22 at 7,100 × 150 ft (primary instrument runway with ILS on runway 4) and runway 17/35 at 3,386 × 75 ft (RNAV only; PPR for aircraft over 12,500 lbs).

Q: What is the ATIS frequency at KLYH?

KLYH ATIS broadcasts on 119.8 MHz. Lynchburg Tower operates on 127.65 MHz (0630–2230 local). Roanoke Approach uses 125.475 MHz east of the LYH VORTAC and 135.0 MHz west of the VORTAC.

Q: How does Blue Ridge terrain affect IFR operations at KLYH?

The Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and northwest drive higher minimum en route altitudes on westbound IFR routes — typically 5,000–7,000 ft MSL. Mountain obscuration is common in low ceilings, making KLYH a terrain-awareness airport where thorough weather briefing and MOCA knowledge are particularly important.

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

Lynchburg sits on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, where orographic lifting and upslope flow produce persistent low ceilings. Winter upslope events can keep ceilings below 1,000 ft for days. Icing is a hazard from October through April, especially on the windward side of the Blue Ridge at 4,000–8,000 ft MSL.

Q: What is the field elevation at Lynchburg Regional Airport?

Lynchburg Regional Airport/Preston Glenn Field (KLYH) has a surveyed field elevation of 938 ft MSL. It sits on a plateau above the James River valley, with the Blue Ridge Mountains rising to over 4,000 ft MSL within 20 nm to the west.

Sources

• AirNav — KLYH Airport Information
• SkyVector — KLYH Instrument Approach Procedures
• 14 CFR 91.129 — Operations in Class D Airspace (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B
• FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook FAA-H-8083-16B

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.