Airport Overview
Leesburg Executive Airport at Godfrey Field (KJYO) is a Town of Leesburg-owned public reliever in Loudoun County, Virginia, about 3 nautical miles south of downtown Leesburg and roughly 35 miles northwest of Washington, DC. It is one of the busiest single-runway general aviation fields in the region, with annual operations near 82,000 and approximately 237 based aircraft, including a number of business jets.
Runway Capability
The airport's single runway, 17/35, provides 5,500 by 100 feet of grooved asphalt. This supports light jets and most midsize jets routinely; super-midsize types are operable with careful performance planning. Heavy and large-cabin jets generally use nearby Washington Dulles (IAD), about 10 miles southeast, instead.
Charter Considerations
KJYO is a strategic choice for DC-area charter because, unlike Reagan National (DCA), it requires no DASSP security program or PPR for private operators. Kuhn Jet Center provides a single point of contact for fuel, ramp, and customs, and the field's location in Loudoun County puts it close to Northern Virginia's defense, technology, and equestrian-country destinations.
Customs & International Access
Leesburg Executive has an on-field U.S. Customs and Border Protection general aviation clearance facility, opened in 2019, making KJYO one of the few DC-metro GA airports able to clear international arrivals directly. CBP typically operates seven days a week and requests at least 24 hours' advance notice; coordinate arrangements through Kuhn Jet Center and CBP before departure.
DC SFRA & Airspace
The airport lies on the outer boundary of the 30-nautical-mile Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area, but a dedicated triangular cut-out, the Leesburg Maneuvering Area, lets VFR traffic operate without filing a DC SFRA flight plan when following published procedures (squawk 1226, speeds at or below 180 KIAS, exit via the most direct route avoiding the SFRA). IFR arrivals and departures are handled normally. Compliance with the current SFRA NOTAM is mandatory, and crews should never squawk 1200 inside the SFRA.
Safety & Planning
The Jet Finder sources aircraft exclusively from FAA Part 135 certificated operators, with verified crew currency, insurance, and audit history. For KJYO, planning should account for the mobile control tower's published hours, SFRA NOTAM compliance, and balanced-field performance on the 5,500-foot runway, particularly for midsize jets departing at higher weights on warm days.
Seasonal & Operational Factors
Leesburg sees Mid-Atlantic weather: summer convection peaks in late afternoon, so morning departures generally find smoother, clearer conditions, while winter frontal passages can bring IFR ceilings and occasional freezing precipitation. The 389-foot field elevation keeps density-altitude penalties minor year-round. Instrument currency is recommended for reliable scheduling.