KTLH Tallahassee International — Instrument Checkride Guide

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

Tallahassee International Airport (KTLH) is Florida's state capital airport, located at 83 feet MSL approximately 5 nm southwest of downtown Tallahassee. The airport operates in Class C airspace, requiring two-way radio communication with Tallahassee Approach before entering the Class C surface area and outer shelf.

ATIS broadcasts on 119.45 MHz. Tower operates on 118.7 MHz; Ground on 121.9 MHz; Clearance Delivery on 126.65 MHz. Tallahassee Approach provides radar services on multiple sector frequencies — 117.5T, 128.7, 133.85, and 135.8 MHz. The airport handles a mix of commercial airline flights, state government aircraft, and general aviation, making the communications environment during approach operations moderately busy.

KTLH is a common alternate airport for IFR flights in South Georgia and North Florida — its multiple ILS procedures and Class C services make it a reliable divert destination. Familiarity with KTLH's approach environment is valuable for any instrument pilot operating in this region.

What instrument approaches are published at KTLH?

KTLH has 10 published instrument approach procedures, sourced from SkyVector.

The ILS RWY 27 with its CAT II procedure is the most capable approach at KTLH. The existence of two separate ILS procedures for runway 36 (Y and Z) indicates different course structures, intermediate fixes, or missed approach procedures — ATC clearance specifies which procedure to fly. Always verify current approach minima on official FAA charts before flight.

What is the runway configuration at KTLH?

KTLH has 2 runways.

Runway 09/27 at 8,000 feet is the primary ILS runway, with the CAT II-certified approach serving runway 27. Runway 18/36 at 7,000 feet carries two ILS procedures to runway 36 and VOR-based approaches. Active runway selection depends on wind direction and airline traffic flow. Both runways have high-intensity edge lighting.

What weather should instrument pilots expect at KTLH?

Tallahassee's weather is shaped by its position at the junction of the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Red Hills region of North Florida and South Georgia. Three distinct seasonal IFR hazards apply.

Winter and early spring bring frontal weather with widespread low stratus and IFR conditions. Gulf of Mexico moisture is abundant, and cold frontal passages produce periods of low ceilings, reduced visibility in rain or drizzle, and occasional freezing rain during the coldest events. Ceilings below 1,000 feet are common during active frontal passages. Winter morning radiation fog is also frequent when clear nights allow surface cooling — these events can bring ceilings below 200 feet at dawn before burning off by mid-morning.

Summer convective activity is intense. North Florida is one of the most lightning-active regions in the United States. The sea-breeze convergence zone between the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast generates afternoon thunderstorms from June through September, often developing by noon and persisting into the evening. The Aviation Weather Center SIGMETs are essential for afternoon and evening IFR planning during summer months. KTLH is occasionally IFR for extended periods during severe weather outbreaks in spring.

Fall brings a transitional period — Gulf moisture is still high, but cold fronts become more frequent. October and November can produce excellent IFR training weather with widespread stratus and low ceilings that require instrument approaches without the convective hazards of summer.

What should you expect on an instrument checkride at KTLH?

KTLH's approach diversity makes it one of the richer checkride airports in North Florida. The DPE can assign a precision ILS, a CAT II discussion, two separate ILS procedures for the same runway, RNAV approaches to all runway ends, and a VOR approach — all within a single flight. Expect to fly at least 2–3 approaches.

The CAT II ILS RWY 27 is an examiner teaching tool even if you are not CAT II qualified. The DPE may ask you to explain the difference between CAT I and CAT II minimums, what equipment is required for CAT II operations under 14 CFR 91.189, and why CAT II certification matters for low-visibility operations. You are expected to understand CAT II conceptually without necessarily being authorized to fly it.

The dual ILS procedures for runway 36 (Y and Z) are a reliable oral question. When ATC issues a clearance for the ILS Y RWY 36, you must pull up the correct chart, brief it, and fly the correct procedure — not the Z. Mixing up Y and Z approaches is a mistake the DPE will note immediately during the approach briefing. Know the difference before your checkride.

Class C communication management mirrors what you would expect at any Class C airport. Tallahassee Approach sequences GA aircraft with commercial traffic, and the DPE will assess whether you handle radio calls professionally and whether you correctly identify when two-way communication has been established versus when you have simply called and not yet received a response. Under 14 CFR 91.130(c), communication is "established" only when ATC acknowledges your aircraft call sign — a student who only hears a frequency but does not yet have call-sign acknowledgment has not established two-way communication.

Practice Questions

1. ATC clears you for the ILS Y RWY 36. You load the ILS Z by mistake and do not notice until established on final. The courses are slightly different. Describe what you would do and how this situation could have been prevented.

2. The DPE asks you to explain CAT II operations on the ILS RWY 27. What equipment is required in your aircraft, what crew qualifications are required under 14 CFR 91.189, and what are the general minimums for CAT II compared to CAT I?

3. You are entering the KTLH Class C outer area and call Tallahassee Approach. The controller responds with "N12345, standby." Have you established two-way radio communication under 14 CFR 91.130(c)? Explain your reasoning.

4. On the RNAV (GPS) RWY 09 approach, your GPS annunciates LNAV mode only — no LNAV/VNAV available. Runway 09 is the opposite end from the ILS. Describe how you execute an LNAV-only approach and where your MDA is located on the chart.

5. A SIGMET for embedded thunderstorms is active 15 nm north of KTLH as you begin the ILS RWY 27 approach. The field is reporting 300 broken, 1 mile in rain, no convective echoes on your onboard weather display. Walk the DPE through your risk assessment and go/no-go decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What instrument approaches are published at KTLH?

KTLH has an ILS or LOC RWY 27 (including CAT II), ILS Y or LOC Y RWY 36, ILS Z or LOC Z RWY 36, RNAV (GPS) approaches to all four runway ends (09, 18, 27, 36), a VOR RWY 18, and a VOR or TACAN RWY 36. Always verify current minima on official FAA charts before flight.

Q: What airspace class is KTLH in?

KTLH operates in Class C airspace. Under 14 CFR 91.130, two-way radio communication with Tallahassee Approach must be established before entering Class C airspace. Tower operates on 118.7 MHz, Ground on 121.9 MHz, and Clearance Delivery on 126.65 MHz.

Q: What is the ATIS frequency at KTLH?

KTLH ATIS broadcasts on 119.45 MHz. Tower is on 118.7 MHz, Ground on 121.9 MHz, Clearance Delivery on 126.65 MHz. Tallahassee Approach operates on 117.5T, 128.7, 133.85, and 135.8 MHz depending on sector.

Q: Does KTLH have a CAT II ILS?

Yes. The ILS RWY 27 at KTLH includes a CAT II procedure. CAT II operations require specific aircraft equipment, crew certification, and airport infrastructure. Standard CAT I minimums apply to pilots without CAT II authorization under 14 CFR 91.189.

Q: What runways does KTLH have?

KTLH has two runways: runway 09/27 at 8,000 feet by 150 feet and runway 18/36 at 7,000 feet by 150 feet. Both runways have high-intensity edge lighting. Runway 27 carries the CAT II ILS; both ends of runway 18/36 have published ILS procedures.

Q: What weather hazards should IFR pilots expect at KTLH?

Tallahassee experiences North Florida IFR conditions including morning radiation fog in winter, afternoon convective thunderstorms from June through September, and frontal weather with low ceilings and rain in winter. The airport's inland position east of the Gulf protects it somewhat from direct coastal fog but moisture is abundant year-round.

Q: Why are there two separate ILS approaches to runway 36 at KTLH?

The ILS Y or LOC Y RWY 36 and ILS Z or LOC Z RWY 36 are separate procedures with different course structures, intermediate fixes, or missed approach procedures. When two procedures serve the same runway, the clearance specifies which one to fly. The DPE may test whether you can identify the distinguishing features on the approach charts.

Sources

• SkyVector — KTLH Airport Information
• 14 CFR 91.130 — Operations in Class C Airspace (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.175 — Takeoff and Landing Under IFR (Cornell LII)
• 14 CFR 91.189 — Category II and III Operations (Cornell LII)
• FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15B
• FAA Instrument Procedures Handbook FAA-H-8083-16B
• Aviation Weather Center — Convective SIGMETs

This article was researched from FAA primary sources (ACS, FAR/AIM, Instrument Flying Handbook), approach procedure data from SkyVector, and current 14 CFR Part 91 — drafted by MockDPE Editorial Team. Last updated: May 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, email corrections@mockdpe.org.