Fairbanks International Airport
FAI · PAFA · Fairbanks, AK · 439 ft elevation · var 15E · Towered
Airport information
- ICAO / IATA
- PAFA / FAI
- Coordinates
- 64.8151, -147.8560
- Elevation
- 439 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 15E
- Sectional chart
- FAIRBANKS
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- Yes
- ARTCC
- ANCHORAGE (ZAN)
- Flight service (FSS)
- FAIRBANKS
- NOTAM facility
- FAI
- Attendance
- ALL ALL
- Beacon
- white-green (SS-SR)
- Segmented circle
- No
- Wind indicator
- lighted
- Activated
- 1951/06
- Distance from city
- 3 SW
Weather
METAR observed
Loading current weather…
TAF forecast
Loading forecast…
Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21
| Event | Local (AKDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | n/a | n/a |
| Sunrise | 02:59 AM | 10:59Z |
| Sunset | 12:48 AM | 08:48Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | n/a | n/a |
Plan a flight from PAFA
Night operations
- Rotating beacon
- white-green · SS-SR
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- Usually keyed on CTAF 122.95 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗
Runway lighting aids — 02L: 4-light PAPI (left) + ALSF2 · 20R: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR · 02R: 4-light PAPI (left) · 20L: 4-light PAPI (left).
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.
Traffic pattern
- Landing
- Rwy 02 · 023°
- Pattern
- left (turns left)
- TPA
- 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
- CTAF
- 122.95
Enter the left downwind for Rwy 02 at 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).
Runway 02/20
2,900 ft × 75 ft · Gravel- Heading
- 023° mag · 38° true
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Heading
- 203° mag · 218° true
- Traffic pattern
- Left
Runway 02L/20R
11,800 ft × 150 ft · Asphalt (Good)- Heading
- 023° mag · 38° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Approach lights
- ALSF2
- Instrument landing
- ILS/DME · CAT IIIB · LOC 109.1 (CNA) · GS 3.00°
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Approach obstacle
- Tree, 72 ft, 2,711 ft from threshold, 652 ft L of centerline — 34:1 slope to clear
- Displaced threshold
- 750 ft
- Heading
- 203° mag · 218° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Approach lights
- MALSR
- Instrument landing
- ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 110.3 (FAI) · GS 3.00°
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Approach obstacle
- Tree, 86 ft, 3,096 ft from threshold, 430 ft R of centerline — 33:1 slope to clear
- Displaced threshold
- 750 ft
Runway 02R/20L
4,510 ft × 75 ft · Asphalt (Good)- Heading
- 023° mag · 38° true
- Markings
- nonprecision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Traffic pattern
- Right
- Approach obstacle
- Trees, 79 ft, 2,175 ft from threshold, 350 ft B of centerline — 25:1 slope to clear
- Heading
- 203° mag · 218° true
- Markings
- nonprecision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Traffic pattern
- Left
Runway 02W/20W
5,400 ft × 100 ft · Water- Heading
- 023° mag · 38° true
- Markings
- BUOY
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Approach obstacle
- Fence, 14 ft, 553 ft from threshold, 170 ft L of centerline — 39:1 slope to clear
- Heading
- 203° mag · 218° true
- Markings
- BUOY
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Approach obstacle
- Fence, 11 ft, 505 ft from threshold — 45:1 slope to clear
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 02/20 | 2,900 ft | |
| 02L/20R | 11,800 ft | |
| 02R/20L | 4,510 ft | |
| 02W/20W | 5,400 ft |
Communication frequencies
| Service | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| APP | 118.6 | |
| ASOS | 119.025 | |
| ATIS | 124.4 | |
| AWOS | 108.2 | TWEB |
| CLD | 127.6 | CLNC DEL |
| DEP | 32.71 | |
| FSS | 122.6 | RDO |
| GND | 121.9 | |
| MISC | 125.3 | EIELSON RANGE CON |
| TWR | 118.3 | |
| UNIC | 122.95 | UNICOM |
Nearby navigation aids
| NavAid | Type | Freq | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAI · Fairbanks | VORTAC | 108.60 | r049° / 4.1 NM |
| EIL · Eielson | TACAN | 115.10 | r271° / 21.8 NM |
| ENN · Nenana | VORTAC | 115.80 | r039° / 34 NM |
Airport diagram
Open PDF ↗Preview diagram
Procedures at a glance
Approaches13
Departures
Arrivals
Minimums & Hot Spots
Chart Supplement FAA A/FD
Open PDF ↗Preview Chart Supplement
VFR sectional
Services
- Fuel available
- 100LL, Jet A-1
- Bulk oxygen
- HIGH/LOW
- Airframe service
- MAJOR
- Powerplant service
- MAJOR
- Parking
- hangars
- Other services
- Cargo
Ownership & management
Remarks FAA
- 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.
- TFC PAT ALT (SINGLE ENGINE RECIPROCATING ACFT) 1500 FT MSL. TFC PAT ALT (ALL MULTI-ENGINE, LARGE AND TURBINE-POWERED ACFT) 2000 FT MSL.
- ALASKA INTL SYS.
- PCR VALUE: 780/F/B/X/T
- PCR VALUE: 46/F/B/X/T
- NOT 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.
- NOT 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.
- NOT 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.
- UNUSBL BYD 8 DEGS RIGHT OF CNTRLN.
Nearby airports
Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open PAFA in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.
About PAFA
Fairbanks International Airport (FAI · PAFA) is an airport in Fairbanks, AK, at 439 ft MSL. It has 4 runways, the longest 11,800 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for PAFA, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does PAFA have a control tower?
Yes. Fairbanks International Airport has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.
What is the longest runway at PAFA?
Fairbanks International Airport has 4 runways; the longest is 11,800 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is PAFA?
Fairbanks International Airport is in Fairbanks, AK, at an elevation of 439 ft MSL. Coordinates: 64.8151, -147.8560.
Fly out of PAFA often?
Save PAFA as your home base in the SkyReady app for a one-tap Go/No-Go readiness brief, weather alerts, and automatic FAA currency — free to log.