The Tappahannock-Essex Airport serves the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula Tidewater regions of Virginia through both commercial and business aviation.

Originally an emergency landing field for military pilots in WWII, the local Tappahannock municipal airport W79 suffered from lack of funding and property restrictions. However, in the past year, the local airport authority received approximately $13 million in federal and state grants to create a beautifully developed airport for the surrounding community.



Local support also played a role in the development of this much needed airport, with both Tappahannock and Essex investing between $1.5 and $2 million. These funds also provide additional facilities for local and visiting aircraft owners. Land was acquired starting in 1999 and construction began in 2006 and has progressed on schedule - click here for a pictorial record of the project.

The project has received additional grants from the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as recognition from the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) as an integral airport to national air transportation. The airport is included in FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, and Delta Airport Consultants of Richmond is in charge of planning and construction.

The Tappahannock-Essex Airport Authority anticipates that the new airport will add to the economic growth of the region, bringing in more people, jobs, and business. The airport, located 4 miles South-West of Tappahannock on U.S. Route 360, is able to service small and medium size business aircraft, including twin-engine planes and small corporate jets, up to 12,500 pounds and 79 ft wingspan. Some of our recent visitors.

Official opening was celebrated on October 9, 2007 with a fully equiped 4,300 ft runway, 4,000-square-foot terminal building, 24 hangars weather station and self-serve fuel. Click here for a full specification of the airport equipment specification, both installed for initial opening, and planned for future development.

View the official celebration and opening of KXSA, the Tappahannock-Essex Airport and the James F. Moore Terminal Building on October 9, 2007. Linwood Wadsworth officiated and welcomed town, county and state representatives from local, state and federal government agencies and organizations. Check our photo gallery of the event.

Airport official opening on October 9th, 2007: Randall Burdette, Director, Virginia Department of Aviation; Monte Gladding, Town Mayor; Terry J. Page, Manager, Washington Airports District Office, FAA; Senator Ryan McDougle, 4th Senatorial District; Gordon M. Birkett, Tappahannock-Essex County Airport Authority; Linda E. Lumpkin, Assistant Essex County Administrator; Linwood E. Wadsworth, Chairman, Tappahannock-Essex County Airport Authority; Edwin E. “Bud” Smith, Jr., Chairman, Essex County Board of Supervisors; Roger Oberndorf, Chairman, Virginia Aviation Board

Other dignitaries attending besides those in the photo above: Delegate Harvey B. Morgan; Marianne Radcliff, Virginia Aviation Board; Bob Dix, Virginia Aviation Board; William Kehoe, Virginia Aviation Board; Kate Hanley, Secretary of the Commonwealth; P. Cliff Burnette, Director, Airport Services Division, Virginia Department of Aviation; Bob Mendez, Retired FAA Administrator, New York; Essex County Board of Supervisors – E. Stanley Langford, Jr., Margaret H. “Prue” Davis, Angelo S. Stevens, Bud – in photo; Town Council – James C. “Sonny” Terry, Oliver D. Washington, Marsha Jenkins

Fuel is available - 100 LL AV Gas - this service is available via automatic dispenser accessible 24/7 - see for Fuel Pricing

Airport construction progress as of September 2007.