Finkley Farm Airport – Opelika, Alabama

Finkley Farm Airport (FAA Identifier: AL26866) is a private general aviation facility located in Opelika, Alabama, within Lee County in the eastern portion of the state. Situated in the heart of the Auburn-Opelika metropolitan area, this small airfield serves local pilots, agricultural operators, and private aviation enthusiasts who rely on convenient access to a rural strip without the overhead of commercial airport operations. Opelika, a city of approximately 30,000 residents, sits just three miles east of Auburn, home to Auburn University, and this proximity to a college town gives the surrounding region a blend of agricultural heritage and modern suburban growth.

Finkley Farm Airport occupies a footprint typical of private grass or turf airstrips found throughout rural Alabama, designed primarily for single-engine piston aircraft and light sport aircraft. Operations here are entirely private, meaning access is coordinated through the airport owner or operator rather than through a staffed fixed-base operator (FBO). Pilots transiting through east-central Alabama who are familiar with the area can use this strip as a convenient fuel and rest stop, provided prior arrangements are made in advance.

The airport's location in Lee County places it within easy reach of several regional transportation corridors. U.S. Highway 280 runs through Opelika and connects directly to Birmingham to the northwest and Phenix City to the southeast, while Interstate 85 bisects the county and links the Auburn-Opelika metro to Atlanta, Georgia, approximately 110 miles to the east. For pilots arriving at Finkley Farm Airport from neighboring states, the strip sits roughly 85 miles southwest of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the nearest major commercial hub, and about 60 miles east of Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), which offers scheduled commercial service on major carriers including American Eagle and Southern Airways Express.

Aviation activity in the Auburn-Opelika corridor is supported by several nearby general aviation facilities. Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO), located approximately four miles west of Finkley Farm Airport, is the primary public-use airport serving the region and offers a paved 8,000-foot runway, instrument approaches, and a full-service FBO. AUO accommodates corporate jets, charter operations, and flight training associated with Auburn University's aviation program. Finkley Farm Airport complements this infrastructure by providing a more intimate, private-use landing strip for operators who prefer rural settings or have specific agricultural or personal aviation needs.

Lee County's agricultural economy has historically supported private airstrips like Finkley Farm Airport, where crop dusters, survey aircraft, and personal planes serve landowners across the region's timber, poultry, and row-crop operations. The eastern Alabama piedmont landscape features gentle rolling terrain, and the airstrip's positioning on farmland provides clear approach paths largely free of tall obstructions. Pilots should be aware that the surrounding area includes tall pine plantations and occasional power line crossings along approach corridors, and standard due diligence through NOTAM checks and direct contact with the airport operator is strongly advised before any inbound flight.

Weather in Opelika follows the humid subtropical pattern characteristic of the Deep South, with hot summers, mild winters, and year-round thunderstorm activity, particularly from April through September. Afternoon convective storms during summer months can develop rapidly, and pilots based at or transiting through Finkley Farm Airport should maintain close awareness of current METARs from Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO) and area WSR-88D radar data from the Birmingham (KBMX) and Columbus, Mississippi (KDGX) NWS offices. The region rarely sees icing conditions but can experience low-visibility fog events during fall and winter mornings.

Finkley Farm Airport does not appear in the FAA's public airport database as an open public-use facility, and it is listed under the private-use designation in FAA records under the identifier 26866. Pilots researching the facility should consult current FAA aeronautical data, Chart Supplement Southeast edition, and direct coordination with the airport owner before planning any flight operations at this location. Alabama state aviation authorities maintain records on private-use strips, and the Alabama Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Bureau can provide updated operational status and owner contact information for pilots seeking access.

For local residents and aviation observers in the Opelika area, Finkley Farm Airport represents a piece of the working general aviation infrastructure that keeps rural Alabama connected by air. Whether supporting agricultural missions, personal travel, or weekend recreational flying in the clear autumn skies over Lee County, this modest airstrip reflects the enduring importance of small, private-use airports across the American South.

Finkley Farm Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Douglas, Arizona.

Name Finkley Farm Airport
Address Stillwell Road, Opelika AL 36804 Map
Phone (334) 291-9814
Website
Hours

Map of Finkley Farm Airport

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Frequently Asked Questions – Finkley Farm Airport, Opelika, Alabama

Finkley Farm Airport (FAA ID: 26866) is designated as a private-use general aviation airstrip located in Opelika, Alabama. Unlike public-use airports such as Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO) approximately four miles to the west, Finkley Farm Airport requires prior coordination with the owner or operator before any aircraft lands or departs. The facility is not open to the general public without permission, and pilots should contact the airport owner directly, consult the FAA Chart Supplement Southeast, or reach out to the Alabama Department of Transportation Aeronautics Bureau for current contact and operational information.

The closest public-use airport to Finkley Farm Airport is Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO), located roughly four miles west in Auburn, Alabama. AUO features an 8,000-foot paved runway, instrument approach procedures, a full-service FBO, and aviation programs affiliated with Auburn University. Other nearby general aviation options in the broader region include Prattville Airport and Autauga County Airport to the northwest near Montgomery, Greenville Municipal Airport (PRN) to the southwest, and Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport serving the Brewton area further south. For commercial air travel, Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM), about 60 miles west, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), approximately 110 miles east, serve as the primary commercial gateways.

Opelika and Lee County experience a humid subtropical climate with significant thunderstorm activity from April through September. Afternoon convective storms can develop rapidly and produce strong wind shear, lightning, heavy rain, and reduced visibility. Pilots should monitor real-time METARs from Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO), consult area radar from Birmingham (KBMX) and Columbus, Mississippi (KDGX) NWS radar sites, and check current NOTAMs before flying to Finkley Farm Airport. Autumn and winter mornings can bring dense radiation fog that clears by late morning. Icing is rare but possible during December through February cold spells. Since Finkley Farm Airport lacks on-site weather reporting equipment, pilots must rely on nearby official observation stations and preflight weather briefings through 1800wxbrief.com or ForeFlight.

Finkley Farm Airport is a private-use facility and does not maintain a public fixed-base operator (FBO) or self-serve fuel station. Pilots requiring avgas (100LL) or jet-A fuel in the area should plan to refuel at Auburn University Regional Airport (AUO), which offers full FBO services including fuel, tie-down, and aircraft maintenance. Pilots should confirm the availability of on-site services at Finkley Farm Airport directly with the airport owner before arrival, as private strips may occasionally have limited arrangements for based aircraft. Planning fuel stops at public airports like AUO before proceeding to Finkley Farm Airport is strongly recommended for visiting pilots.

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