Grand Forks AFB Airport (KRDR), North Dakota
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Grand Forks AFB (KRDR) is a private-use, tower-controlled military airfield in Grand Forks, North Dakota, situated roughly 9 nautical miles from Grand Forks International, the nearest customs facility. The field handles a mix of military and limited transient traffic under restricted access conditions, with inbound aircraft required to coordinate with the command post ahead of landing. Business aviation activity here is modest, and operators should plan around the field's operating hours, restricted services, and seasonal wildlife hazard phases tied to waterfowl migration.
Runways
Grand Forks AFB Airport has one paved runway, 18/36, 12,351 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Grand Forks AFB Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Grand Forks International (KGFK), 9 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Grand Forks AFB Airport recorded 62 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July and August. Business aviation traffic at KRDR is concentrated in the summer months, with July and August each seeing the highest monthly totals.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 14 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Grand Forks AFB Airport averages 3.0 days above 90°F in July, 31.0 freeze days in December and 3.5 snow days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80.7°F, and January the coldest, at 15.8°F.
Weather station is 8.8 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Grand Forks AFB Airport has published operating constraints in three categories: access, runway notes and other notes.
After-hours requests require approval from the runway/command post duty officer.
Restricted: prior permission is required for all transient aircraft. Contact airfield management for coordination.
The first and last 1,100 feet of runway 18/36 are concrete, while the middle 10,150 feet is asphalt. Runway 18/36 is grooved.
Weather service is available 24 hours. An AN/FMQ-19 automated observing system is in use, augmented by human observation when necessary. Contact 15 OWS Scott AFB during weather flight closure or evacuation. Building obstructions may impact prevailing visibility between 010 and 220 degrees.
Runway condition code and field condition are not reported.
Caution: the runway surface is deteriorated. Grooves in the runway may not produce expected braking action when the runway is wet.
Caution: uncontrolled vehicle traffic operates on taxiways and ramps.
Restricted: all inbound passenger or cargo aircraft must contact the command post no later than 30 minutes prior to landing. Aircraft carrying dangerous materials must contact the PTD 30 minutes prior to ETA.
Oil is available in package product only and requires hand transfer. O-133-148.
Aircraft with VHF radio equipment only may contact airfield management operations through ATC. No hangar space is available. All aircraft with distinguished visitors on board must contact the command post 60 nautical miles prior to landing.
On-base lodging for transient aircrews is unavailable.
Caution: UAV operations occur within an 11 DME half circle from RDR R-180 through RDR R-360, west of Grand Forks AFB, from the surface to FL180. UAV operations occur throughout the entire Class D airspace.
Transient alert service operates 1300-0100Z++ Monday through Friday and 1400-2300Z++ Saturday and Sunday. There is no normal operation on federal holidays.
Restricted: limited classified storage is available for transient aircrews.
Restricted: BASH Phase I and II are determined by the beginning and end of waterfowl migration. A NOTAM will be published when Phase II is implemented.
Operating hours are 1200-0530Z++; closed on holidays.
Service fluid: SP Presair.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Grand Forks AFB Airport has three airfields within 50 NM. The closest is Grand Forks International (KGFK), 9.09 NM east.
Part of the North Dakota and Western Minnesota area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KRDR
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$1,200.00 catering order at KRDR.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is KRDR open to civilian business aviation traffic?
KRDR, Grand Forks AFB, is a private-use military airfield and is not a general civil access point. All inbound passenger or cargo aircraft must contact the command post no later than 30 minutes prior to landing, and aircraft carrying dangerous goods must contact the PTD 30 minutes prior to arrival. Transient aircraft require prior permission from airfield management. Customs processing is not available onsite; the nearest customs point is Grand Forks International, about 9 nautical miles away.
How long is the runway at Grand Forks AFB?
Grand Forks AFB (KRDR) has a single runway, 18/36, measuring 12,351 feet long and 150 feet wide with an asphalt surface. The first and last 1,100 feet of the runway are concrete, while the middle 10,150 feet is asphalt, and the runway is grooved. Operators should note that the runway surface is reported as deteriorated, and the grooves may not produce expected braking action when wet.
Is fuel service available at KRDR?
Grand Forks AFB (KRDR) offers oil only in package product form, requiring hand transfer, with no bulk oil service listed. Transient alert operations run 1300-0100Z++ Monday through Friday and 1400-2300Z++ on weekends, with no normal operations on federal holidays. No hangar space is available at the field. Aircraft equipped only with VHF radio may contact airfield management operations through ATC.
What kind of traffic does KRDR see, and does it vary by season?
KRDR, Grand Forks AFB, recorded 1,647 total annual operations and 62 business aviation operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data. Business aviation activity is concentrated in the summer months, peaking at 14 operations each in July and August, with several months seeing only one to three operations. The airfield is tower-controlled and located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 911 feet elevation.