53U Ferndale Airfield

Before you fly into 53U

Conditions

VFR

Good for visual flying

Airport

Non-towered

Self-announce on CTAF

Pattern alt

4,072'

MSL · field 3,072' + 1,000 AGL

Favored RWY

RWY 15

H/W +6 · X/W 1 kt L

METAR & TAF 53U

53U does not publish a METAR.

Showing the nearest reporting station: KGPI (GLACIER PARK INTL) · 18.1 NM away. Conditions at 53U may differ.

METAR · KGPI

Observed 21:55Z

KGPI 112155Z 16006KT 10SM SCT065 BKN085 18/05 A3006

Wind: 160° @ 6 kt
Visibility: 10 SM
Temp / Dew: 18°C / 5°C
Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
Clouds: BKN
Density alt: 3,996 ft
Ceiling: 8,500 ft AGL
Rules: VFR

53U does not issue a TAF.

Showing the forecast from the nearest station: KGPI (GLACIER PARK INTL) · 18.1 NM away. Conditions at 53U may differ.

Forecast · TAF

Valid 11 18:00Z–12 18:00Z

TAF KGPI 111720Z 1118/1218 19012KT P6SM SCT060 FM112000 23012G18KT P6SM SCT060 FM120300 19005KT P6SM FEW250 AMD NOT SKED

BASEVFR

11 18:00Z–11 20:00Z

Wind: 190° at 12 kt
Visibility: ≥ 6 SM
Sky: Scattered 6,000 ft
Weather: None forecast

18Z

21Z

00Z

03Z

06Z

09Z

12Z

15Z

18Z

NOW

How to read

The top lane is always the active baseline (BASE + FM). Secondary lanes stack temporary and probabilistic deviations in the order they appear in the TAF.

Tap any pill to see the decoded conditions for that period.

Change indicators

BASEBase

Initial conditions at the start of the forecast.

FMFrom

A new baseline that replaces the previous forecast completely, starting at the stated time.

BECMGBecoming

Conditions change gradually over the window shown. By the end, the new conditions apply.

TEMPOTemporary

Fluctuating conditions lasting less than an hour at a time within the window — not the dominant forecast.

PROB30/40Probability

30 or 40% chance of the conditions occurring within the period. Never combined with BECMG.

Airport info & contacts

Manager on record, flight service, ARTCC, attendance schedule and pattern altitude — published by the FAA and refreshed every 28 days.

Location

From city: 3 NM NE
VFR sectional: GREAT FALLS
ARTCC: ZLC · SALT LAKE CITY
NOTAM facility: GTF (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name: ROB RATKOWSKI
Phone: 406-257-5994
Address: 4170 HIGHWAY 2-E, KALISPELL MT 59901

Flight service · Hours

FSS GTF: GREAT FALLS1-800-WX-BRIEF
Attendance: Unattended

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway

160° · 6 kt

See full METAR & TAF

RWY 15

153°M

Head/Tail

+6 kt

Crosswind

1 kt L

Pattern entry · RWY 15

LEFT TRAFFIC

Runway	Heading (°M)	Length	Surface	Traffic
15/33Favored	153° / 333°	3,500 ft	TURF	Standard L

Runway end performance

End	TORA	TODA	ASDA	LDA	VGSI	Approach lights	Obstruction
15	—	—	—	—	—	—	100', trees, 477' from thr, 400' R of cntrln, slope 4
33	—	—	—	—	—	—	100', trees, 600' from thr, 115' R of cntrln, slope 6

Declared distances in feet. TORA = takeoff run available, TODA = takeoff distance, ASDA = accelerate-stop, LDA = landing distance.

Airport sketch

Runways drawn to scale from FAA survey coordinates, rendered over satellite imagery. Not for navigation.

Top-down satellite sketch of 53U FERNDALE AIRFIELD in BIGFORK, MONTANA, showing runways 15/33 drawn to scale over Esri World Imagery

Approaches & charts

Chart Supplement

53U · CHART_SUPP

Chart Supplement

53U · CHART_SUPP

Services on the field

Fuel grades, oxygen, maintenance, ramp storage and lighting — as declared to the FAA by the airport operator.

Fuel & services

Fuel: Not available
Oxygen (bottled): Not available
Oxygen (bulk): Not available
Airframe repair: Major
Power plant repair: Major

Ramp & ground

Transient storage: Tie-down
Landing fee: No fee published
Wind indicator: Yes
Segmented circle: No

Fuel & FBOs

Cheapest 100LL and Jet A on the field and nearby. Always confirm with the FBO before taxi.

Cheapest 100LLNearby

$5.79

8S1·Lake Aero/Ronan Aviation·23.1 nm

Cheapest Jet ANearby

$8.20

KGPI·Atlantic Aviation·18.1 nm

No on-field FBO prices. See nearby fuel options below.

Cheaper nearby (within 50 nm)

100LL$5.79at8S1Lake Aero/Ronan Aviation23.1 nm
Jet A$8.20atKGPIAtlantic Aviation18.1 nm

Airport notes

Surface conditions, obstructions, local procedures, lighting outages and other notes published with each FAA cycle.

General notes

SNOW REMOVAL MAY BE DELAYED CALL FOR CONDITIONS 406-257-5994.
RWY 15 +100 FT TREES 1570 FT FM END OF RWY ON CNTRLN; RWY 33 +80 FT TREES 1500 FT FM END OF RWY; RWY 15 +15 FT ROAD 250 FT FM END OF RWY ON CNTRLN.
TREES IN TRANSITION SFC BOTH SIDES OF RY FULL LENGTH.
FREE BICYCLES FOR ARPT USE LCTD IN STORAGE SHED. TO ACCESS USE EMERG FREQ ON LOCK.
RWY 33 +50 FT TREE ON CNTRLN 500 FT FM END OF RWY AT 10:1.
FOR CD CTC SALT LAKE ARTCC AT 801-320-2568.

Approach & departure obstructions

1515/33 NSTD MARKINGS - WHITE CONES MARK FULL RY LENGTH. RED TRAFFIC CONES MARK EACH RY THRESHOLD WITH 100 FOOT DISPLACED THRESHOLD

Other notes

CALL FOR RPRS: 406-253-5688
PROVIDED COMPATIBLE INGRESS/EGRESS ARE ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO AVOID CONGESTED AREAS AND ASSUME SAFETY TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY ON THE SURFACE.
DEP PROC STRAIGHT OUT THRU TPA OF 4072 FT MSL (1000 FT AGL).

VFR map & nearby airports

VFR sectional. Tap any ICAO chip to open that airport.

Key facts · 53U

Answer card

ICAO: 53U
Name: FERNDALE AIRFIELD
Location: BIGFORK, MONTANA
Elevation: 3,072 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude: 4,072 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower: Non-towered (use CTAF)
Total runways: 1
Longest runway: 15/33 · 3,500 ft
Published ILS approaches: 0
Published frequencies: 1
Magnetic variation: 18°
Current flight rules: VFR
Current wind: 160° at 6 kt
Favored runway now: RWY 15

Ferndale Airfield (53U) sits near Bigfork, Montana. The field elevation is 3,072 ft MSL. It has one runway. Runway 15/33 is 3,500 ft of turf, with magnetic headings of 171° and 351°. There is no control tower. CTAF is 122.9. No ILS approaches are published here.

The published pattern altitude is 4,072 ft MSL. That is 1,000 ft AGL. The airport sits in terrain where trees matter. Published remarks call out trees in the transition surface on both sides of the runway for the full length. They also note trees and a road near the runway ends. Runway 15 has a displaced threshold. Runway 33 does too. Snow removal may be delayed, so call ahead for current conditions before you launch.

There are no on-field FBOs listed in the facts. If you need services, contact the airport operator or call the field directly before arrival. For departure planning, the published note says to go straight out through pattern altitude. Clearance delivery is handled through Salt Lake ARTCC when needed. The field also has free airport bicycles in a storage shed, with access through the emergency frequency on the lock.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pattern altitude at Ferndale Airfield (53U)?

The published pattern altitude is 4,072 ft MSL. That is 1,000 ft AGL.

Does 53U have a tower or published ILS approaches?

No tower is listed. No ILS approaches are published for Ferndale Airfield.

What is the longest runway at Ferndale Airfield?

Runway 15/33 is the only runway. It is 3,500 ft long and turf.

Are there displaced thresholds on Runway 15/33?

Yes. The published remarks say both Runway 15 and Runway 33 have a 100-foot displaced threshold marked with red traffic cones.

What should I know about obstacles at 53U?

Published remarks note trees in the transition surface on both sides of the runway for the full length. They also note trees near both runway ends. Plan for that on takeoff and landing.

Is snow removal reliable at Ferndale Airfield?

Snow removal may be delayed. Call 406-257-5994 for current conditions before you go.

Which FBOs are on the field at 53U?

No on-field FBOs are listed in the facts. Contact the airport operator directly before arrival, or call the field on CTAF for current FBO availability.

What is the CTAF at Ferndale Airfield?

CTAF is 122.9. Use that for local traffic calls at this non-towered field.

53U