The Quest in the News: Listen to an interview on WVTF's Weekend Virginia (7/6/09, 1MB)
(note that the address at the end of the interview should be fifer.net, not .com)

THE QUEST

The quest is simple: to use as many airports in the world as possible.

RULES

A. You may join the Flight Quest whenever you like. There is no minimum number of airports to participate.

B. In order to count an airport as having been used:

1. You must have taken off from or landed at the airport in any aircraft of any type. It is not sufficient to have simply visited the airport (to give someone a ride, take a tour, eat at a restaurant, etc.)
    
2. For the purpose of the Flight Quest, "airports" are any named locations at which aircraft routinely takeoff and land, including airstrips, carriers, seaplane bases, and designated landing zones (however unfurnished). Airports may be temporary or permanent, but do not include arbitrary locations such as a crash site (unless otherwise at an airport), a random clearing in which a hot air balloon landed, or the ocean into which a hang glider landed.
    
3. Notwithstanding the definition of airport, an "aircraft" is any vehicle intended to travel through the air in free flight. An aircraft can be powered or unpowered, but may not be attached or tethered to a structure or to the ground.
    
4. If asked, you must be able to identify the approximate date on which or itinerary for which you used the airport.
    
5. You must be absolutely, positively sure you have used the airport.

GETTING STARTED

The easiest way to begin is to review your calendar and find the places you've visited. It will be fairly easy to identify the origin and destination airports, but you may have to review your ticket stubs, e-mail confirmations, frequent flyer statements, or other documentation to figure out connecting airports. E-mail me the list of airports and carriers you've used. Airport codes are helpful if you're sure about them, but I can look them up if you don't know them. Please be sure to include the city or airport name in addition to the code.

You can help stop human trafficking by staying alert while you travel.
Here are 7 signs to watch for in airports.

As of November 22, 2024, the Flight Quest includes:

• 9,272 unique visits
• 115 people and 1 dog
• 1,327 airports
• 177 countries and territories
• 156 of the 193 member states of the United Nations
• IATA codes starting with every letter except Q.
• 543 airports in the United States
• every continent except Antarctica
• all inhabited U.S. states and territories except American Samoa and the District of Columbia