Ferndale Airfield
53U · Bigfork, MT · Non-towered · Print kneeboard
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Weather
METAR observed
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TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night2026-08-04 · night begins 09:44 PM
| Event | Local (MDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 05:40 AM | 11:40Z |
| Sunrise | 06:16 AM | 12:16Z |
| Sunset | 09:08 PM | 03:08Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 09:44 PM | 03:44Z |
Plan a flight from 53U
Winds aloft NOAA forecast · 3,000 to 53,000 ft
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Advisories
NOTAMs
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Pilot reports
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Airspace hazards
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Runways
RWY 15LEFT traffic
- Heading
- 153° mag · 171° true
- Dimensions
- 3,500 × 95 ft
- TPA
- 4,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
- Surface
- Turf
- CTAF
- 122.9
Enter the left downwind (heading 333°) on the 45° at 4,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).
More details — RWY 15
- Threshold elev
- 3,046 ft
- Approach obstacle
- Trees, 100 ft, 477 ft from threshold, 400 ft R of centerline — 4:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 15/33 | 3,500 ft |
Prefer one flat page? Full runway details for 53U → · New to pattern entries? The 45° entry, explained → · Teaching here? Print the 53U kneeboard →
Comms & NavAids
Communication frequencies
Taxi & takeoff
Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).
Nearby navigation aids
FCA 113.20
| NavAid | Type | Freq · ch | Range | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCA · Kalispell | VOR/DME | 113.20 · 79X | High | r125° / 11.5 NM |
Prefer one flat list? All 53U frequencies →
Charts & procedures
Airport info
Airport information
- FAA LID
- 53U
- Coordinates
- 48.0611, -114.0014
- Elevation
- 3,072 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 18E
- Sectional chart
- GREAT FALLS
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- No
- ARTCC
- SALT LAKE CITY (ZLC)
- Flight service (FSS)
- GREAT FALLS · 122.3 · 1-800-WX-BRIEF
- NOTAM facility
- GTF
- Attendance
- UNATNDD
- Segmented circle
- No
- Wind indicator
- yes
- Activated
- 1976/06
- Distance from city
- 3 NE
Night operations
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- Usually keyed on CTAF 122.9 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are under Sun & FAA night in the Weather section.
Services fuel · repairs · oxygen · attendance
- Bottled oxygen
- NONE
- Bulk oxygen
- NONE
- Airframe service
- MAJOR
- Powerplant service
- MAJOR
- Parking
- tiedowns
Ownership & management 2 contacts
Remarks FAA · 7 notes
General
- 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.
Runways
- 15/33 NSTD MARKINGS - WHITE CONES MARK FULL RY LENGTH. RED TRAFFIC CONES MARK EACH RY THRESHOLD WITH 100 FOOT DISPLACED THRESHOLD
Nearby airports
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Also nearby: 93MT Masonry Field (private) (4 NM) · 17MT Abel Ranch Airport (private) (8 NM) · 22MT Wounded Buck Ranch Airport (private) (8 NM) · MT95 Sky Ranch Airport (private) (8 NM) · MT26 Danford Field (private) (9 NM) · MT03 Lakeside Airport (private) (10 NM)
About 53U
Ferndale Airfield (53U) is an airport in Bigfork, MT, at 3,072 ft MSL. It has 1 runway, the longest 3,500 ft, with no control tower (pilot-controlled). This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for 53U, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does 53U have a control tower?
No. Ferndale Airfield is a non-towered (pilot-controlled) airport; use the published CTAF/UNICOM in the Comms & NavAids section.
What is the longest runway at 53U?
Ferndale Airfield has 1 runway; the longest is 3,500 ft. See the Runways section for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is 53U?
Ferndale Airfield is in Bigfork, MT, at an elevation of 3,072 ft MSL. Coordinates: 48.0611, -114.0014.
Fly out of 53U often?
Save 53U 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.
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 53U 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.