(Please see updates Cordele Flight Operations and Safety Rules Below)

Cordele-Crisp County Airport (CKF) was built during World War II as a B-25 bomber pilot training base. It has three 5000-foot runways in a triangular layout. The primary instrument runway is 10 – 28, and the runway we will use most is 05 – 23. It is closed by NOTAM for contest use. The third runway, 14 – 32 is closed permanently, but it is usable in an emergency. There is light crop duster traffic, and a few large corporate planes.

Please refer to the airport diagram for areas where you may park your trailer, drive and park your car, and get water. When you enter the airport property, make an immediate left turn so that you pass between the fuel pumps and the fence. This keeps the ramp clean for transient traffic. The open hangars are in an “L” configuration, but there is a wide opening at the bend of the “L”. Drive through there and out the taxiway to the trailer parking area adjacent to the end of Runway 05.

There are 12 motor home hookups in the trailer parking area, with electricity, water, and sewer service. We provide porta-johns at various points on the field. Please use these except in extreme need, as the office restrooms are on a septic tank and can easily get overloaded. Also, please make sure no trash is thrown into the port-o-lets. This can damage the pumps used to service them.

To get to the airport from I-75 Exit 101, turn west and go to the traffic light at Pecan Street. Turn right, cross two sets of railroad tracks; turn left at 8th Avenue (GA 257) next to the funeral home. Go until you see the National Guard Armory and some baseball fields on the left. Turn right at the convenience store (2nd Street) and go until it ends at the airport.

Occasionally trains may block the two crossings for long periods of time. Remember, you can always go out to the interstate and go from Exit 101 to 102, or vice versa. There is also an overpass on 5thStreet, closer to downtown.

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CORDELE FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND SAFETY RULES (updated)

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS Crisp County Airport has frequent crop duster operations and occasional transient IFR and VFR traffic. Other than dusters, local traffic is minimal.

Runway 10-28 is the primary runway and is always open. It has an instrument approach and must never be obstructed. Please look before crossing and do not loiter when crossing. It may be used for glider landings if Rwy 05-23 is obstructed. It is normally used for relights during the launch.

Runway 05-23 will be closed to normal traffic by local NOTAM to reserve it for soaring contest operations. It is the primary runway for glider operations. Use caution since many pilots do not check NOTAMS and may land there anyway. After landing, clear it immediately. When landing on Rwy 23, DO NOT roll at high speed into the area of Rwy 23 west of the Rwy 10-28 intersection.

Runway 13-31 is closed. The surface is not maintained and there is some sand and loose gravel, but it is generally usable, particularly from the southeast end. In the event of strong post-frontal, northwesterly winds, we may elect to use Rwy 31 for launch if the winds prevent use of Rwy 05-23.

During the launch, towplanes may land in the grass area adjacent to the launch area on previously-surveyed areas. Please NO TRAILERS in this area (Red area on diagram)

Transient traffic arriving and departing during periods of glider operation is asked by the FBO to back-taxi on Rwy 10-28.

GLIDER STAGING AND GRIDDING Staging for the selected runway will be done before grid time. Grid numbers are marked for two lines of sailplanes on each end of Rwy 5-23. Daily advisories will tell you whether to put your wheel or wing tip on the number. The grid sheet will give you your grid position.

Using Runway 05, stage gliders from the tiedown area to the side of the runway appropriate to your assigned grid position. Trailers and vehicles must be 100 feet back from the pavement. Towplanes land in the grass south of Rwy 10-28

Using Rwy 23, gliders must be towed along Rwy 05 to the grid area on the launch end of Rwy 23. This necessitates crossing Rwy 10-28. There will be a safety monitor at the runway intersection. Cross only on their direction. If there is no monitor when you need to cross the intersection, use extreme caution and clear both directions for aircraft traffic. All vehicular traffic to and from the grid area MUST be along the sides of Rwy 05-23. After gridding, vehicles must be parked in the grass area south of the runway between the runway and the nearby taxiway and 100 feet back from the pavement. Towplanes usually use the grass area north of the runway.

In the event of a launch on Rwy 31, special instructions will be given at the morning pilots briefing.

LAUNCH OPERATIONS A five-minute alert will be given before the start of the launch. Pilots should be in the cockpit five minutes before their anticipated launch time with their takeoff checklist completed. In order to get all pilots into the air as expeditiously as possible, pilots MUST be ready for the launch to begin when the rope is taut between the sailplane and towplane.

Crews are expected to help with the launch of both their pilot’s aircraft and of adjacent aircraft if and as requested by contest personnel.

There will be NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC on the airport during the launch.

INFLIGHT CONSIDERATIONS Traffic patterns are arranged to avoid disturbing the downtown area and residential areas south of the airport. Therefore, plan a right hand pattern for Rwy 23 and Rwy 28 and a left-hand pattern for Runway 10 and Runway 05.

When flying in the local area  and when the gate is not operating, use the Unicom frequency 123.050 for the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF).

There is an AWOS-3 at Cordele which gives winds and cloud bases on 119.325 MHz.

When the contest gate is operating,  radio traffic announcing on the CTAF will be relayed to the contestants on 123.300 MHz by the Contest Director.

When finishing with the finish gate in operation, all other radio traffic using Cordele airspace will be relayed to the contestants.

Be careful when approaching low on Rwy 23 and Rwy 10 and be aware that the runway is built-up from the lower areas around the ends. Also, Rwy 10 has elevated approach lights to mark the extension of the runway centerline.

Thermaling turns MUST be to the left within five miles of the airport or turnpoint.

Please, no thermaling below 500-ft. Relights will be immediately available at the specified runway, normally Runway 10-28 during the launch.

Towplanes towing gliders have the right-of-way over other aircraft. Gliders have the right-of-way over powered aircraft. The least maneuverable aircraft has the right-of-way over others. Landing aircraft have the right-of-way. An aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over all others.

VEHICLES Please maintain a speed not exceeding 15 mph when driving on the airport. All vehicle operators are urged to carry an operative handheld radio to monitor traffic.

To gain access to the tiedown area, please drive BEHIND the FBO and adjacent hangars. In order to help prevent possible FOD to transient aircraft, please do not drive on the ramp area in front of the FBO and adjacent hangars or in front of the fuel pumps.

In order to gain access to the grid area for launches on Rwy 23, vehicles must travel along the sides of Rwy 10-28. Stop and observe for traffic or obey the safety monitor’s instructions before crossing Rwy 10-28 before or after the launch.

Under NO circumstances may pilot/crew vehicles cross Rwy 10-28 at the central taxiway from the ramp in front of the FBO or use the taxiway complex north of that area. ONLY Contest Officials may use that area for vehicular traffic.

TRAILER TIE DOWN Trailers may be parked along the outside of the taxiway from the ramp area on out to Runway 10 departure end except across the approach end of Runway 05. (Areas marked in green on diagram above) It would be poor management if someone came in a little short and your trailer was in the way. Please avoid area marked in red on diagram above.

While most will want to park their trailer right next to the water supply, near camper hook-ups, we need a space of 50 feet on both sides in the water area free of any trailer anchoring or location of a glider after removal from its trailer. (Blue area in diagram above)

Trailers may also be parked along the other or inside edge of the taxiway from the ramp to Runway 05 and along either side of Runway 05, BUT THEY MUST BE 100 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY HARD SURFACE.

Please leave enough clearance from taxiway with your assembled sailplane so others may freely use the taxiway. Every effort will be made to prevent transient general aviation from using the above-mentioned taxiway.

One local rule, “Don’t ever tie out at night in South GA in the Summer”. Popup thunderstorms are common. And always secure your trailer at all times as well with the top down when you are not close by.

There is no year-round glider operation at Cordele. Everyone you will see working here, and all the equipment, comes from as far away as North Carolina and Tennessee. Some members of the staff have been coming here for nearly thirty years, so it’s like a second home to us.

Our hosts, Dub and Cecile Cooper, who run the FBO, have been very good to the contest for many years, so please respect their ground rules on the airport. They are always glad to help answer any questions about Cordele.