About Gadsden Municipal Airport (GAD)
Gadsden Municipal Airport, FAA identifier GAD, is the primary general aviation and limited commercial aviation facility for Gadsden, the county seat of Etowah County in northeastern Alabama. Gadsden is the major city of the northeastern Alabama piedmont, known for its manufacturing heritage — particularly in rubber, steel, and automotive parts — and as a gateway to the scenic Coosa River and Noccalula Falls. GAD serves business aviation supporting Gadsden's industrial economy and provides GA access for a community that would otherwise need to drive to Birmingham or Huntsville for aviation services. FAA Southern Region oversight applies, and the airport is registered with the Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau.
Gadsden Municipal Airport offers Avgas (100LL) and Jet-A fuel through its FBO, which serves the business aviation needs of the Etowah County industrial sector. The airport's instrument approach procedures allow operations in marginal weather, an important capability for business aviation serving time-sensitive manufacturing and industrial operations. Current service details including runway status, fuel, and hangar availability should be confirmed with the airport's management before departure.
Does Gadsden Municipal Airport have a control tower?
Gadsden Municipal Airport (GAD) operates a control tower during published hours. Pilots should check current NOTAMs for tower operating times and use standard CTAF procedures when the tower is closed outside published hours.
Is fuel available at Gadsden Municipal Airport (GAD)?
Yes, Avgas (100LL) and Jet-A fuel are available at GAD's FBO. The airport serves both piston and turbine aircraft serving Gadsden's business aviation community. Advance call for after-hours fueling is recommended.
What industries drive business aviation at GAD?
Gadsden and Etowah County's rubber, tire, steel, and automotive parts manufacturing sectors generate business aviation traffic. Companies with operations in the Gadsden area use GAD for executive travel and site visits from corporate offices in other cities.
Is GAD near Northeast Alabama Regional Airport?
Both Gadsden Municipal Airport (GAD) and Northeast Alabama Regional Airport serve the Gadsden area. They are separate airports; pilots should verify which facility best serves their specific needs. GAD carries the established FAA identifier and has historically been the primary public airport for Gadsden.
Gadsden Municipal Airport - GAD Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Rainbow, Alabama.
| Name | Gadsden Municipal Airport - GAD |
| Address | Turnberry Lane, Rainbow AL 35906 Map |
| Phone | (256) 570-0569 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Gadsden Municipal Airport - GAD
Visiting Gadsden Municipal Airport (GAD)
Gadsden Municipal Airport connects one of northeastern Alabama's most important industrial cities to the state and national aviation network. Gadsden's manufacturing economy — anchored by facilities producing tires, pipe, and automotive components — creates a consistent need for business aviation between the city and corporate centers in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Nashville. GAD's FBO serves this corporate travel market while also supporting private pilots based in Etowah County for recreational and personal flying across northeastern Alabama's scenic landscape.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) is approximately 60 miles to the southwest and provides commercial airline service for Gadsden residents. Huntsville International Airport (HSV) is approximately 60 miles to the northwest. Centre Municipal Airport in Cherokee County covers the northeastern corner of the region. The Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau has supported Gadsden Municipal Airport's infrastructure as a critical business aviation facility for the Etowah County manufacturing sector, recognizing that time-sensitive industrial operations require reliable air access for executives and technical personnel traveling to Gadsden from the larger business centers that interact with the city's manufacturing base.