About Bessemer Airport
Bessemer Airport serves Bessemer, Alabama — a historic industrial city in Jefferson County that was once a major steel production center in the American South. Bessemer's name comes from the Bessemer process for steel production, and the city's iron and steel heritage is celebrated at the Bessemer Hall of History. Located southwest of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Bessemer is part of the greater Birmingham metropolitan area and serves as an important aviation alternative to the congested Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) Class B airspace for general aviation pilots whose destinations are in the Bessemer-Hoover-Vestavia Hills corridor of southwest Jefferson County.
Bessemer Airport provides general aviation services for light piston and light twin aircraft. Its position southwest of BHM's Class B airspace boundary makes it a practical choice for pilots who want to avoid entering the Birmingham terminal control area. FAA Southern Region oversight applies, and the airport is registered with the Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau. Mitchell Airport and other area facilities also serve the southwest Jefferson County aviation community.
Is Bessemer Airport open to the public?
Yes, Bessemer Airport is a public-use general aviation airport. All licensed pilots may land without prior permission. CTAF self-announcement procedures apply in the uncontrolled traffic pattern.
How does Bessemer Airport relate to BHM's airspace?
Bessemer Airport is located beneath or near Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport's Class B airspace. Pilots using Bessemer must be thoroughly familiar with the BHM Class B airspace boundaries and must not enter the Class B without ATC clearance. Contact Birmingham Approach Control for guidance when operating near the BHM airspace boundary.
Is fuel available at Bessemer Airport?
Avgas (100LL) fuel should be available at Bessemer Airport. Pilots should confirm availability and hours of operation before departure. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM) and its full-service FBOs are available as alternatives if Bessemer fuel service is not available.
What is Bessemer known for?
Bessemer is known as the former heart of Alabama's iron and steel industry, with a museum dedicated to the Bessemer Hall of History preserving the city's industrial heritage. The city is named for the revolutionary steel-making Bessemer process and was a major steel producer for much of the 20th century.
Bessemer Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Bessemer, Alabama.
| Name | Bessemer Airport |
| Address | 900 Mitchell Field Road Southeast, Bessemer AL 35022 Map |
| Phone | (205) 424-7234 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Bessemer Airport
Visiting Bessemer Airport
Bessemer Airport provides southwest Jefferson County with a general aviation alternative to the complexity of operating at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM). For pilots based in the Bessemer-Hoover-McCalla corridor who need to fly locally without entering the Birmingham Class B airspace, the airport provides a practical base that avoids the frequency congestion and procedural demands of BHM operations. The airport's position in Jefferson County connects it to the broader Birmingham metropolitan aviation system.
Mitchell Airport and the Bessemer area's multiple GA facilities give southwest Jefferson County pilots several landing options. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is the region's commercial hub and provides full FBO services for larger or turbine-powered aircraft. Shelby County Airport (EET) in Calera to the south serves the rapidly growing Shelby County corridor. The Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau's Jefferson County planning accounts for the complex interaction between BHM's major airport operations and the cluster of general aviation airports that surround the Birmingham metro area, supporting safe and efficient operations for all aircraft types in Alabama's busiest airspace.