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Fairbanks International Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Fairbanks International Airport (FAI · PAFA) is 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 02R is charted right traffic.

All of Fairbanks International Airport — runways, frequencies, charts and live weather

Pattern diagram

Drawn to scale from the FAA NASR runway alignments and the per end right traffic flags — pick a runway to see its pattern. Live wind picks the favored runway when PAFA reports it.

5,000 ftNMNxw 113°downwind 023°base 293°final 203°45° entry200202L20R02R20L02W20W

RWY 20LEFT traffic

Heading
203° mag · 218° true
Dimensions
2,900 × 75 ft
TPA
1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface
Gravel
CTAF
122.95
More details — RWY 20
Threshold elev
434 ft
TDZ elevation
435 ft

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates

Pattern direction by runway

RunwayPatternHeadingPattern altitude
02 Left traffic 023° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
20 Left traffic 203° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
02L Left traffic 023° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
20R Left traffic 203° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
02R Right traffic 023° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
20L Left traffic 203° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
02W Left traffic 023° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
20W Left traffic 203° mag 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for PAFA; the figure above is the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention for propeller aircraft, rounded to the field. Turbine aircraft normally fly 1,500 ft AGL. Headings are the runway alignment; downwind is the reciprocal.

Flying the pattern at PAFA

Fairbanks International Airport is towered, working 118.3. Contact the tower before entering the surface area and fly the pattern you are assigned — the directions below are the charted default when no instruction is given.

Watch the right traffic ends here: 02R. A right pattern at a field where the other end is left is the single most common place to end up pointing at opposing traffic. The full entry procedure is here →

Frequently asked

What is the traffic pattern altitude at PAFA?

Fairbanks International Airport has no traffic pattern altitude published in the FAA NASR data. The AC 90-66B convention for propeller aircraft is 1,000 ft AGL, which works out to roughly 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) here — but confirm it against the Chart Supplement before you fly, since a field can have a non standard pattern altitude that NASR does not carry.

Does PAFA have right traffic?

Yes, on one runway end: 02R. Every other end at Fairbanks International Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at PAFA?

Fairbanks International Airport is towered (118.3), so the pattern shown here is the charted default — but the controller's instruction overrides it. Expect straight in approaches, base entries and midfield crossings as traffic dictates.

More about PAFA

Pattern direction and alignment are drawn from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle); the diagram is generated, not an FAA chart. Pattern altitude is shown as published where NASR carries one, otherwise as the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention. For planning and education only; always verify against the Chart Supplement.