Compton Airport (3LL9) — Private Airstrip Serving Pocahontas, Illinois
Tucked into the rolling farmland of Bond County, Compton Airport (FAA identifier 3LL9) is a privately operated airstrip near Pocahontas, Illinois, a small community situated roughly midway between St. Louis and Effingham along Interstate 70. The airport sits within the heart of Illinois's agricultural belt, where grass and turf strips serve crop-dusters, agricultural surveillance flights, and personal aircraft belonging to local landowners. Pocahontas itself has a population of just a few hundred residents, meaning airports like 3LL9 are primarily used by farm operators and recreational pilots rather than commercial travelers.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics oversees general aviation safety and development throughout the state under the FAA's Great Lakes Region. Small private strips such as Compton Airport supplement the regional network by providing on-farm access that reduces ferry time for agricultural aircraft. Pilots operating in this corridor of southwestern Illinois typically fly under Visual Flight Rules and coordinate with St. Louis Approach Control for any transitions through Class B or C airspace. The nearest towered facility is St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) in East Alton, approximately 35 miles to the west.
Is Compton Airport (3LL9) open to the public?
Compton Airport is a privately owned airstrip. Access requires prior permission from the owner; it is not a public-use facility.
What type of aircraft use 3LL9 near Pocahontas?
The airport primarily accommodates light single-engine aircraft, crop-dusters, and personal planes associated with agricultural operations in Bond County.
What is the nearest public airport to Pocahontas, Illinois?
Centralia Municipal Airport (ENL) and St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) in East Alton are among the closest public-use airports, both within roughly 30–40 miles.
Who regulates private airstrips like Compton Airport in Illinois?
IDOT's Division of Aeronautics maintains records of private landing areas and enforces Illinois aeronautical statutes, while the FAA retains federal oversight authority.
Compton Airport - 3ll9 Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Pocahontas, Illinois.
| Name | Compton Airport - 3ll9 |
| Address | Landolt Road, Pocahontas IL 62275 Map |
| Phone | (618) 654-1500 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Compton Airport - 3ll9
Airports near Pocahontas
Bond County Agricultural Aviation and the Role of Private Strips
Bond County's economy is anchored in grain farming—primarily corn and soybeans—and the flat-to-gently-rolling terrain makes it well-suited for low-altitude agricultural aviation. Crop-dusting operations, aerial seeding, and remote sensing flights are all common in the area, and private airstrips like Compton Airport (3LL9) reduce the logistical burden of staging those missions from distant public airports. Pilots flying out of southwestern Illinois private strips must file any necessary Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) and comply with low-altitude agricultural flight advisories issued through IDOT.
For travelers needing commercial air service near Pocahontas, the closest major airports are St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) approximately 50 miles to the west and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) in Mascoutah, a joint-use military and commercial facility roughly 40 miles away. The Interstate 70 corridor through Bond County links Pocahontas to both urban St. Louis and the downstate Illinois aviation network, making road connections to these larger airports straightforward for most residents and visitors.