Departure
98%
vs 95% ▲ 3
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Hartford Brainard Airport (KHFD) is a towered general aviation field on the east bank of the Connecticut River, just south of downtown Hartford, Connecticut. It offers an ILS approach, a rare LDA procedure, and a mix of flight training, private and business aviation traffic within a few miles of the much busier Bradley International Airport. For the simulator pilot it makes an interesting short-hop destination into a compact, river-hugging urban airfield with a full-time tower.
Hartford Brainard is a general aviation airport lying immediately alongside the Connecticut River, only a short distance south of Hartford's state capitol. It has an operating control tower, an instrument landing system, and even a locally unusual LDA (localiser-type directional aid) approach, making it a more capable field than many airports of its size. It supports everything from primary flight training through advanced commercial flying, and its proximity to Bradley International Airport gives it a busy slice of Connecticut's general aviation traffic.
The airport sits close to the Connecticut River a few miles south of downtown Hartford. Given its operating control tower and ILS approach it lies within controlled airspace, and pilots inbound or outbound should expect to work with Bradley Approach/Departure on 127.8 MHz given the field's proximity to Bradley International Airport's airspace.
Brainard has two paired physical runways. Runway 02/20 is a hard-surfaced, lit strip, with the 02 threshold measuring 3994 feet and served by an ILS, while the 20 threshold measures 3846 feet. Runway 11/29 is a shorter hard-surfaced, lit crosswind runway, with the 11 threshold at 2153 feet and the 29 threshold at 2037 feet. Field elevation is 13 feet above mean sea level, at coordinates 41.7367 N, 72.6494 W.
Brainard Tower operates on 119.6 MHz, which also serves as the CTAF. Ground movements are handled on 121.6 MHz, and the same 121.6 MHz frequency is listed for Bradley Clearance Delivery. The airport's ATIS broadcasts on 126.45 MHz, and Unicom is available on 122.95 MHz. Bradley Approach/Departure, relevant given the airport's proximity to Bradley International, operates on 127.8 MHz. Runway 02 is equipped with an ILS, and the field also offers a locally notable LDA approach.
The Connecticut River runs immediately alongside the airport, forming a clear and continuous visual reference for pilots tracking toward the field, while Hartford's capitol city skyline lies just to the north, giving a useful landmark for orientation on approach.
Brainard remains an active general aviation airport with flight training conducted on the field, including primary through advanced commercial instruction offered by a based flight school. A full-time FBO provides fuel around the clock, and there is a restaurant on the airport grounds. A local airport association advocates for the field's continued operation, reflecting ongoing efforts to keep Brainard open as a general aviation resource for the region.
