PAFA

VFR

FAIRBANKS INTL

FAIRBANKS · ALASKA

Elev
439'
Longest RWY
11,800'02L/20R
Tower
24
Status
Towered
Now--Z· METAR18:53Z
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 18:53Z

PAFA 131853Z 00000KT 10SM FEW120 SCT240 14/M01 A2955
Wind
000° @ 0 kt
Visibility
10 SM
Temp / Dew
14°C / -1°C
Altimeter
29.55 inHg
Clouds
SCT
Density alt
883 ft
Ceiling
Unlimited
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 live satellite imagery. Not for navigation.

© Esri

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
Can’t preview this PDF inline. Open it →

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

  • This is a cold temperature airport. Altitude correction is required at or below minus 29 degrees Celsius.Show FAA
  • Prior permission required for military operations involving heavy cargo or terminal apron use; contact airport operations.Show FAA
  • Military contract fuel is available.Show FAA
  • The air traffic control tower is located 538 meters from the airport at coordinates 64 degrees 48 minutes 39.438 seconds North, 147 degrees 50 minutes 55.722 seconds West.Show FAA
  • Runway hold lines are obscured from October 1 through April 1.Show FAA
  • Caution: Snow removal equipment is present from October 1 through May 15.Show FAA
  • Runway 02R/20L is limited for use by aircraft design group B II aircraft or smaller.Show FAA
  • Birds are in the vicinity from spring through fall.Show FAA
  • Weather camera available on the internet at https://weathercams.faa.gov.Show FAA
  • Compass rose calibration is not available.Show FAA
  • Taxiway B security gate activation is on frequency 121.75 or by phone at 907-451-2300.Show FAA
  • Caution: Avoid landing on taxiways; the north-south taxiway parallel to runway 02L/20R is on the west side.Show FAA
  • The National Weather Service weather balloon launch site is 2000 feet west of midfield on runway 02L/20R. Launches occur twice daily at 1100 and 2300 hours Coordinated Universal Time.Show FAA
  • See additional pages under notices for terminal radar service area and Fairbanks area information.Show FAA
  • Transient parking for wingspan less than 79 feet is available on the east ramp. Transient parking on the west ramp is not available. Limited transient float plane parking is available at 907-455-4571. Medivac and transient helicopter parking or information is available at 907-451-2300.Show FAA
  • Noise abatement procedures are in effect from 2200 to 0800; large, turbine, and heavy aircraft arrive on runway 02L and depart runway 20R based on wind. Engine runup location is controlled by airport operations.Show FAA
  • Operations occur in the military operations area east of Fairbanks; contact Eielson Range Control on 125.3 or 126.3 or 1-800-758-8723.Show FAA

Runway surface & condition

  • 02R/20LThe pavement classification number value for runway 02R/20L is 46/F/B/X/T.Show FAA
  • 02L/20RThe pavement classification rating value is 780/F/B/X/T.Show FAA
  • 02R/20LRunway 02R/20L is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 operations with scheduled passenger-carrying operations of more than 9 passenger seats and non-scheduled passenger-carrying operations of more than 30 passenger seats.Show FAA
  • 02/20Runway 02/20 is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 operations with scheduled passenger-carrying operations of more than 9 passenger seats and non-scheduled passenger-carrying operations of more than 30 passenger seats. It is a summer and ski strip winter use runway; availability is subject to local NOTAM and air traffic control tower clearance before arrival or departure.Show FAA
  • 02W/20WRunway 02W/20W is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 operations with scheduled passenger carrying operations of more than 9 passenger seats and non-scheduled passenger carrying operations of more than 30 passenger seats. It is controlled; prior approval required from the tower on frequency 118.3. Contact clearance delivery as soon as possible after engine start. The runway is frozen in winter and the surface is unmaintained. Threshold buoys are 500 feet from the north and south shores and mark the waterlane. Step taxi outside of the waterlane is not authorized. East of the waterlane is uncontrolled; taxi at pilot discretion.Show FAA

Approach & departure obstructions

  • 20RRunway 20R visual glide slope indicator is unusable beyond 8 degrees right of centerline.Show FAA

Other notes

  • Traffic pattern altitude for single-engine reciprocating aircraft is 1500 feet mean sea level. Traffic pattern altitude for all multi-engine, large, and turbine-powered aircraft is 2000 feet mean sea level.Show FAA
  • OWNERThe owner is Alaska International System.Show FAA

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.

Get PilotGPT

Fly into PAFA with confidence

Live ATC transcription, AI flight planning, POH search and georeferenced charts — offline-ready on iOS.

Download · 7-day free trial