🇺🇸 St Simons Island Airport

St. Simons Island Airport at McKinnon Field (KSSI or SSI) is a public-use general aviation facility located on St. Simons Island, Georgia, approximately one mile north of the city. It is owned by Glynn County.

Type of Facility and Operations: The airport primarily serves business and vacation travelers to the Golden Isles (St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and Little St. Simons Island). It accommodates a variety of aviation activities, including corporate/business jets, recreational flying, law enforcement, aerial photography, and tourism. The airport has two active asphalt runways: 4/22, which is 5,584 feet long, and 16/34, which is 3,313 feet long. It offers fuel (100LL, Jet A, Jet A+), aircraft maintenance (major airframe, minor engine), and other services such as charter, pilot instruction, and aircraft rental. There is no air traffic control tower.

Notable Features or History: Before the airport's construction, small aircraft used to land on beaches near the St. Simons Pier and on Sea Island. The airport was activated in April 1940. It is recognized by the Georgia Department of Transportation for its significant economic impact, generating an estimated $43.2 million annually for the state (pre-COVID-19 study). The airport is a popular location for business meetings, with a Hilton Hotels facility on-site providing conference amenities.

Current Status: The airport is operational and open to the public. As of a 2022-12-31 report, there were 62 single-engine and 13 multi-engine aircraft based at the field. There is an active construction notice at the airport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection provides a fact sheet for general aviation aircraft operators regarding procedures for arriving and departing from KSSI.

*Sources researched: flygcairports.com, dot.ga.gov, nfdc.faa.gov, cbp.gov, skyvector.com*