Airports / Idaho / CHL
Challis Airport.
Challis, Idaho · 5,072 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.8/5
Google rating
4 ratings
0
Operators based
5,072
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
FBOs on field
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
39 nm
To the nearest alternate
Lemhi County Airport (SMN).
Overview
Challis Airport, listed as KLLJ / CHL, is a general aviation field in Challis, Idaho. The field lies at an elevation of 5,072 feet. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
CHL has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Lemhi County Airport (SMN, 39 nm), Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN, 61 nm), and McCall Municipal Airport (MYL, 83 nm). CHL offers a single 4,601-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the midsize jet class.
Quotes for flights out of CHL vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as U15. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from CHL, or browse verified operators serving the area.
1 FBO serves KLLJ. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Middle Fork Aviation
Your FBO? Claim it, free- Fuel
- Hangar
- Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Sat-Sun call ahead
- Unicom 122.800
- Courtesy car
- Hangar
- Maintenance
- Parking
- Fuel
- Parts
- Oxygen
- Pilots lounge
- +1 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
Field capability
ICAO
KLLJ
IATA
CHL
FAA / Local
LLJ
Elevation
5,072 ft
Coordinates
44.5230° N · 114.2180° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs ID fields
state range 1,442–5,318 ft
At 5,072 ft, CHL sits higher than 86% of the 22 Idaho fields on the register, a high-elevation field where density altitude can trim aircraft performance on warm days.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 4,601 ft
- 17/354,601 ft × 60 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 4,601 ft
CHL's 4,601 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to midsize jets.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation, and at 5,072 ft this field's density altitude can extend the runway a jet actually needs on warm days. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 39nmSMNLemhi County AirportSalmon
- 61nmSUNFriedman Memorial AirportHailey
- 83nmMYLMcCall Municipal AirportMcCall
- 104nmBOIBoise Air Terminal/Gowen FieldBoise
- 111nmIDAIdaho Falls Regional AirportIdaho Falls
- 113nmBTMBert Mooney AirportButte
Location
Open the full mapKLLJ · Challis Airport · Challis, ID
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CHL on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 160 nm | 46m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 245 nm | 58m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 380 nm | 1h 17m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 437 nm | 1h 25m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 457 nm | 1h 28m |
| Denver (DEN) | 508 nm | 1h 35m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 509 nm | 1h 35m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 554 nm | 1h 41m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CHL?
- Challis Airport's longest paved runway is 4,601 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to midsize jets. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CHL?
- Challis Airport has one runway; the longest measures 4,601 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Which FBOs are at Challis Airport?
- One FBO serves CHL: Middle Fork Aviation. Phone, website, hours, unicom and services for each are listed on this page. Call ahead for fuel, ramp space, and ground handling.
- What is the nearest major airport to CHL?
- The closest alternate is Lemhi County Airport (SMN), about 39 nm away, followed by Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) at 61 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CHL to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Salt Lake City about 58m (245 nm), Seattle about 1h 17m (380 nm), Vail / Eagle about 1h 25m (437 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.