In addition to the main commercial airport, the Knoxville, Tennessee, area is home to a sport-flying club, two private airstrips and a county-owned public airstrip, all for small planes. On the ground, Knoxville hosts Civil War reenactments, cultural and art festivals. Museums and walking tours offer information about the city’s history. Flying provides opportunities to see nature from above and interact with enthusiastic local pilots.
Operated by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, the city's major airport is just south of Knoxville and lands aircraft from several American carriers. Regional flights throughout the eastern United States leave daily between 11:30 a.m. and midnight and fly as far as Denver, New York and Fort Lauderdale. The airport handles air cargo and military aviation.
McGhee Tyson Airport
2055 Alcoa Highway
Alcoa, TN 37701
865-342-3000
tys.org
Located on an island in the Tennessee River in Knoxville, this airport is home base for private and corporate planes and was the first airport in Knoxville. Air service commenced in 1934, and flights have continued to take off and touch down, in greater or lesser numbers, as the facility changed hands. Today, Downtown Island Home advertises "fresh coffee, popcorn and a friendly and a friendly and helpful staff" who can help arrange ground transport after landing. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority owns this airport.
Downtown Island Home Airport
2701 Spence Place
Downtown Island Airport
Knoxville, TN 37920
865-577-4461
tys.org/downtown-island-airport
A few miles from Knoxville, Skyranch, a private pilot's club, offers membership to all east Tennessee flyers. The facility owns small planes that are for rent by the day or the hour. Flights and rentals can be scheduled directly from the club’s website. Facilities include a clubhouse, two hangars and a refueling station. Instructors offer flying lessons to pilots of all levels and can serve as copilots to those accumulating flight hours.
Skyranch Airport
3535 Alcoa Highway
Alcoa, TN 37920
865-577-4466
skyranchairport.org
About 20 miles outside of Knoxville, this privately owned and privately used airport requires prior permission to land. Attendance is irregular. Local flying clubs uses the airport, which is home to 22 single-engine planes. Parking is available in hangars.
Oliver Springs Inc. Airport
13 Windhaven Lane
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
865-483-3453
airnav.com/airport/TN08
Also almost 20 miles from Knoxville, Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport is another small regional airport offering facilities for the smallest of planes. Traffic at this airport also includes multiple engine planes, jets, helicopters and, occasionally, military aircraft. The county owns this airport, which is open to anyone for landing and taking off. Facilities include a refueling port and tie-down parking. Pilots are assisted by attendants and landing crew during daylight hours.
Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport
134 Air Museum Way
Sevierville, TN 37862
865-453-8393
airnav.com/airport/KGKT
