Airports / Illinois / SQI
Whiteside County Airport - Joseph H Bittorf Field.
Rock Falls, Illinois · 648 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
5.0/5
Google rating
4 ratings
0
Operators based
648
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
FBOs on field
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#2 / 42
Illinois airports by Google rating
5.0★ across 4 Google ratings , ranked against 42 rated IL fields.
37 nm
To the nearest alternate
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Rock Falls, Illinois, Whiteside County Airport - Joseph H Bittorf Field (KSQI / SQI) operates as a general aviation field. The airport sits 648 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into SQI for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD, 37 nm), Quad City International Airport (MLI, 41 nm), and Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ, 61 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 6,499-foot paved runway, SQI can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from SQI depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under Sauk Valley Aviation. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Rock Falls.
1 FBO serves KSQI. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Sauk Valley Aviation
Your FBO? Claim it, free- Fuel
- Hangar
- Mon-Sun 08:00-17:00
- Unicom 123.0
- Wi-Fi
- Vending
- Courtesy car
- Car rental
- Restrooms
- Hangar
- Maintenance
- Parking
- +8 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
Field capability
ICAO
KSQI
IATA
SQI
FAA / Local
SQI
Elevation
648 ft
Coordinates
41.7422° N · 89.6736° 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 IL fields
state range 321–871 ft
At 648 ft, SQI sits higher than 55% of the 51 Illinois fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,499 ft
- 07/256,499 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 18/363,900 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,499 ft
SQI's 6,499 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- 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. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 37nmRFDChicago Rockford International AirportChicago/Rockford
- 41nmMLIQuad City International AirportMoline
- 61nmDBQDubuque Regional AirportDubuque
- 65nmDPADupage AirportChicago/West Chicago
- 65nmPIAGeneral Wayne A. Downing Peoria International AirportPeoria
- 80nmORDChicago O'Hare International AirportChicago
Location
Open the full mapKSQI · Whiteside County Airport - Joseph H Bittorf Field · Rock Falls, IL
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SQI on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville (BNA) | 365 nm | 1h 15m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 583 nm | 1h 45m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 634 nm | 1h 52m |
| Denver (DEN) | 690 nm | 2h 0m |
| New York (TEB) | 705 nm | 2h 2m |
| Houston (HOU) | 776 nm | 2h 12m |
| Austin (AUS) | 794 nm | 2h 15m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 794 nm | 2h 15m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SQI?
- Whiteside County Airport - Joseph H Bittorf Field's longest paved runway is 6,499 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. 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 SQI?
- Whiteside County Airport - Joseph H Bittorf Field has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,499 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Which FBOs are at Whiteside County Airport - Joseph H Bittorf Field?
- One FBO serves SQI: Sauk Valley 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 SQI?
- The closest alternate is Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), about 37 nm away, followed by Quad City International Airport (MLI) at 41 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SQI to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Nashville about 1h 15m (365 nm), Washington DC about 1h 45m (583 nm), Dallas about 1h 52m (634 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.