PAFA

VFR

FAIRBANKS INTL

FAIRBANKS · ALASKA

Elev
439'
Longest RWY
11,800'02L/20R
Tower
24
Status
Towered
Now--Z· METAR19:53Z
Airport diagram · tap to openMore charts →
Before you fly into PAFA
Conditions
VFR
Good for visual flying
Airport
Towered
24 local · CTAF after hrs
Pattern alt
1,439'
MSL · field 439' + 1,000 AGL
Favored RWY
Calm
No wind component

METAR & TAF PAFA

Current METAR

Observed 19:53Z

PAFA 271953Z 00000KT 10SM SCT080 SCT140 BKN200 21/14 A2972
Wind
000° @ 0 kt
Visibility
10 SM
Temp / Dew
21°C / 14°C
Altimeter
29.72 inHg
Clouds
BKN
Density alt
1,512 ft
Ceiling
20,000 ft AGL
Rules
VFR

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 SW
VFR sectional
FAIRBANKS
ARTCC
ZAN · ANCHORAGE
NOTAM facility
FAI (NOTAM-D)

Airport manager

Name
ANGIE SPEAR
Address
6450 AIRPORT WAY - SUITE 1, FAIRBANKS AK 99709

Flight service · Hours

FSS FAI
FAIRBANKS907-474-07881-866-248-6516
Attendance
  • ALL

Frequencies

Tap any row to copy the frequency to your clipboard.

Advisory / CTAF
ATIS / D-ATIS
Clearance / Ground
Tower / Local
Approach / Departure
Other

Runways & pattern

Full page

Runway & wind

tap a runway
Calm
RWY 02L
023°M
Head/Tail
+0 kt
Crosswind
0 kt L

Pattern entry · RWY 02L

LEFT TRAFFIC
CrosswindCrosswindDownwindDownwindBaseBaseFinalFinal45° entry45° entryRWY 02L · 023° · LEFT TRAFFICPattern 1,439 ft MSL
RunwayHeading (°M)LengthSurfaceTraffic
02L/20R23° / 203°11,800 ftASPHStandard L
02W/20W23° / 203°5,400 ftWATERStandard L
02R/20L23° / 203°4,510 ftASPH02R R
02/2023° / 203°2,900 ftGRVLStandard L

Runway end performance

EndTORATODAASDALDAVGSIApproach lightsObstruction
02L11,800'12,800'11,800'11,050'PAPI 4-box left(3°)ALSF272', tree, 2711' from thr, 652' R of cntrln, slope 34
20R11,800'12,800'11,800'11,050'PAPI 4-box left(3°)MALSR86', tree, 3096' from thr, 430' R of cntrln, slope 33
02W14', fence, 553' from thr, 170' R of cntrln, slope 39
20W11', fence, 505' from thr, 0' R of cntrln, slope 45
02RPAPI 4-box left(3°)79', trees, 2175' from thr, 350' R of cntrln, slope 25
20LPAPI 4-box left(3°)

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 PAFA FAIRBANKS INTL in FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, showing runways 02L/20R, 02W/20W, 02R/20L, 02/20 drawn to scale over Esri World Imagery

Approaches & charts

ILS · 2

RWY 02L
LD · CAT IIIB
CNA
109.1
RWY 20R
LD · CAT I
FAI
110.3
HI-ILS Y OR LOC Y RWY 20R
PAFA · IAP
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Services on the field

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

Fuel & services

Fuel
100LLA1
Oxygen (bulk)
HIGH/LOW
Airframe repair
Major
Power plant repair
Major
Other services
CARGO

Ramp & ground

Transient storage
  • Hangar
Landing fee
Yes
Customs
Not available
Beacon schedule
SS-SR
Beacon
White / Green (civil land)(WG)
Wind indicator
Lighted
Segmented circle
No

Fuel & FBOs

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

Airport notes

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

General notes

  • ATCT 538 MS ATCT 64 48 39.438 N 147 50 55.722 W.
  • BIRDS INVOF SPRING - FALL.
  • CTN: SN REMOVAL EQUIP 1 OCT 1 - MAY 15.
  • MIL CONTR FUEL AVBL.
  • OPS IN MOAS E OF FAIRBANKS - EIELSON RANGE CTL 125.3/126.3 OR 1-800-758-8723.
  • NOISE ABATEMENT PROC IN EFCT 2200-0800; LRG, TURBINE & HVY ARR RWY 02L; DEP RWY 20R BASED ON WIND. ENG RUNUP LCT - ARPT OPS.
  • CTN: AVOID LNDG ON TWY; N/S TWY PARL TO RWY 02L/20R W SIDE.
  • WX CAMERA AVBL ON INTERNET AT HTTPS://WEATHERCAMS.FAA.GOV.
  • TSNT PRKG WINGSPAN LESS THAN 79 FT E RAMP. TSNT PRKG W RAMP NA. LTD TSNT FLOAT PLANE PRKG - 907-455-4571. MEDIVAC & TSNT HEL PRKG OR INFO - 907-451-2300.
  • COLD TEMPERATURE AIRPORT. ALTITUDE CORRECTION REQUIRED AT OR BELOW -29C.
  • SEE ADDITIONAL PAGES UNDER NOTICES FOR TRSA AND FAIRBANKS AREA INFORMATION.
  • NWS WEATHER BALLOON LAUNCH SITE 2000 FEET WEST OF MIDFIELD RUNWAY 02L/20R. LAUNCHES ARE TWICE DAILY AT 1100 AND 2300 HOURS UTC.
  • RWY 02R/20L IS LIMITED FOR USE BY ACFT DESIGN GROUP B II, ACFT OR SMALLER.
  • TWY B SCTY GATE - ACTVT 121.75 OR 907-451-2300.
  • COMPASS ROSE CLBR NA.
  • PPR MIL OPS HVY CARGO OR TRML APN - APRT OPS.

Runway surface & condition

  • 02L/20RPCR VALUE: 780/F/B/X/T
  • 02R/20LPCR VALUE: 46/F/B/X/T
  • 02/20NOT AVBL FOR PART 121/PART 380 OPS WITH SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 9 PAX SEATS & NON-SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS. SUMMER & SKI STRIP WINTER USE; AVBL LCL NOTAM & ATCT BFR ARR OR DEP.
  • 02R/20LNOT AVBL FOR PART 121/PART 380 OPS WITH SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 9 PAX SEATS & NON-SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS.
  • 02W/20WNOT AVBL FOR PART 121/PART 380 OPS WITH SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 9 PAX SEATS & NON-SKED PAX CARRYING OPS MORE THAN 30 PAX SEATS. CTLD; APREQ - ATCT 118.3. CTC CD ASAP AFT ENG START. FROZEN IN WINTER; SFC UNMNT. THR BUOYS 500 FT FM N & S SHORE MARK WATERLANE. STEP TAX OUTSIDE OF WATERLANE NA. E OF WATERLANE UNCTLD; TAX AT PILOT DISCRETION.

Approach & departure obstructions

  • 20RUNUSBL BYD 8 DEGS RIGHT OF CNTRLN.

Other notes

  • TFC PAT ALT (SINGLE ENGINE RECIPROCATING ACFT) 1500 FT MSL. TFC PAT ALT (ALL MULTI-ENGINE, LARGE AND TURBINE-POWERED ACFT) 2000 FT MSL.
  • OWNERALASKA INTL SYS.

VFR map & nearby airports

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

Key facts · PAFA

Answer card
ICAO
PAFA
Name
FAIRBANKS INTL
Location
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Elevation
439 ft MSL
Traffic pattern altitude
1,439 ft MSL (1,000 AGL)
Control tower
Towered · 24
Total runways
4
Longest runway
02L/20R · 11,800 ft
Published ILS approaches
2
Published frequencies
17
Magnetic variation
15°
Current flight rules
VFR
Current wind
000° at 0 kt
Favored runway now

Fairbanks Intl sits in Fairbanks, Alaska. The field elevation is 439 ft MSL. It has four runways. The longest is 11,800 ft on 02L/20R. The tower is open 24 hours. Two ILS approaches are published. One serves runway 02L. One serves runway 20R.

Pattern altitude is not published in the facts block. The published remarks give 1,500 ft MSL for single-engine reciprocating aircraft. They give 2,000 ft MSL for multi-engine, large and turbine-powered aircraft. This is a cold temperature airport. Altitude correction is required at or below minus 29 degrees Celsius. That matters here in winter.

On-field fuel and services are available from Atlantic Aviation, Crowley Aviation Fuels, Clear Skies and FBO Fairbanks. They carry AVGAS 100LL and JET A. FBO Fairbanks also carries JET A PRIST. Runway 02R/20L is not available for certain Part 121 and Part 380 passenger operations. Runway 02/20 is a summer and ski strip winter use runway. Its availability depends on local NOTAMs and tower clearance before arrival or departure.

First-time visitors should pay attention to the noise abatement window from 2200 to 0800. Large, turbine and heavy aircraft arrive on runway 02L and depart runway 20R based on wind. Taxiway B security gate activation is on 121.75 or by phone. The airport also has a military operations area east of Fairbanks. Check current notices before flying the field.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pattern altitude at PAFA for light piston aircraft?
The published remarks give 1,500 ft MSL for single-engine reciprocating aircraft. That is the number to use for light piston traffic at Fairbanks.
What are the tower hours at Fairbanks Intl?
The tower is open 24 hours. Use the current ATIS and tower instructions for the active runway and local flow.
Which ILS approaches are available at PAFA?
Two ILS approaches are published. They serve runway 02L and runway 20R.
What is the longest runway at PAFA?
Runway 02L/20R is the longest runway. It is 11,800 ft long and has an asphalt surface.
Which FBOs are on the field at Fairbanks Intl?
Atlantic Aviation, Crowley Aviation Fuels, Clear Skies and FBO Fairbanks are on the field. They carry AVGAS 100LL and JET A. FBO Fairbanks also carries JET A PRIST.
Is there a noise abatement procedure at PAFA?
Yes. Noise abatement procedures are in effect from 2200 to 0800. Large, turbine and heavy aircraft arrive on runway 02L. They depart runway 20R based on wind.
Can you use runway 02/20 at PAFA for any operation?
Runway 02/20 is a summer and ski strip winter use runway. Its availability depends on local NOTAMs and tower clearance before arrival or departure.
Is Fairbanks Intl affected by cold weather operations?
Yes. This is a cold temperature airport. Altitude correction is required at or below minus 29 degrees Celsius.

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