Ingalls Field Airport (HSP) — Hot Springs, Virginia
Ingalls Field Airport (IATA: HSP) is the public-use general aviation airport serving Hot Springs, Virginia, in Bath County — one of the most remote and scenic airports in the entire eastern United States. Hot Springs is home to The Omni Homestead Resort, one of America's oldest and most celebrated mountain resorts, continuously operated since 1766. The airport is named for a member of the Ingalls family, longtime patrons of the Homestead, and exists primarily to serve the resort's affluent clientele who prefer flying their private aircraft or corporate jets directly to the mountain retreat rather than driving from Roanoke, Richmond, or Washington DC. Bath County is the least populous county in Virginia, with fewer than 5,000 residents spread across 532 square miles of Allegheny Mountain terrain.
HSP's runway sits in a mountain valley at approximately 2,200 feet MSL elevation, requiring careful density altitude calculations especially in summer when temperatures at altitude reduce aircraft performance significantly. The surrounding ridgelines create a challenging approach environment, and instrument procedures at HSP require precise flying and familiarity with mountain terrain. The FAA has developed special instrument approaches for HSP to accommodate the resort's year-round demand from corporate and charter operators. The Homestead's amenities — championship golf, skiing at Omni Homestead Ski Area, spa, equestrian activities, and fine dining — generate sustained demand for private jet and turboprop operations at this otherwise extremely remote airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does such a remote area have a public airport with instrument approaches?
The Omni Homestead Resort drives demand for a capable airport in one of Virginia's most remote counties. The resort has hosted US presidents, foreign dignitaries, and corporate retreats for over 250 years, and its affluent clientele arrive primarily by private aircraft. This demand has justified maintaining instrument approach procedures and a capable runway despite the low permanent population of Bath County.
What are the major challenges for pilots landing at HSP?
High terrain elevation (approximately 2,200 feet MSL), surrounding mountain ridges, density altitude effects in warm weather, potential mountain wave turbulence, and limited emergency landing options all present challenges. Pilots unfamiliar with mountain flying in the Alleghenies should thoroughly review FAA mountain flying guidance and consider local pilot familiarization before operating here.
Can charter operators fly passengers to The Homestead via HSP?
Yes. Charter operations are a primary use of HSP, with operators flying guests to the Homestead from major mid-Atlantic cities and beyond. The airport handles turboprop and light jet operations regularly. Coordination with the FBO and advance planning for mountain weather conditions is essential for all charter operations into HSP.
What other airports are near Bath County?
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) approximately 60 miles south and Lewisburg-Greenbrier Valley Airport in West Virginia to the west are the nearest airports with significant public facilities. Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Regional Airport (SHD) in the Shenandoah Valley to the northeast is another alternative for passengers connecting from the mid-Atlantic.
Ingalls Field Airport - HSP Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Hot Springs, Virginia.
| Name | Ingalls Field Airport - HSP |
| Address | 6240 Airport Rd, Hot Springs VA 24445 Map |
| Phone | (540) 839-5326 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Ingalls Field Airport - HSP
Airports near Hot Springs
HSP Airport — Gateway to America's First Resort
Ingalls Field Airport occupies a unique position in Virginia's aviation system: a public-use airport in the state's most remote county, maintained primarily because one of America's most historic resort destinations generates consistent demand for corporate and private aviation. The Omni Homestead Resort's history stretches back before the American Revolution, and the airport's continued operation reflects the resort's commitment to providing its guests with the best possible access to what has been called "America's First Resort." Without HSP, the Homestead would be a 90-minute minimum drive from the nearest commercial airport, a significant deterrent for the corporate and leisure travelers who are the resort's core clientele.
Bath County's position in the Allegheny Highlands gives HSP pilots an exceptional visual experience — the surrounding mountains, the warm springs and hot springs that give the area its name and reputation for therapeutic waters, and the expansive George Washington and Jefferson National Forests create a landscape unlike any other airport environment in Virginia. For experienced mountain pilots, a flight to HSP is one of Virginia's most memorable aviation experiences. The FAA Eastern Region and Virginia DOT Aviation continue to support the airport's infrastructure needs, recognizing that a capable airport in Bath County serves both the resort economy and the sparse but real needs of the county's permanent residents for emergency medical transport and access to mainland Virginia services.