Fairchild AFB Airport (KSKA), Washington
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Fairchild AFB (KSKA) is a private-use military airfield near Spokane, Washington, operated under towered control and situated close to Spokane International, a field pilots are cautioned not to confuse with Fairchild during arrival planning. The single 13,899-foot concrete runway supports large aircraft types, and access follows military prior-permission procedures rather than standard civilian scheduling. Business aviation activity recorded here in 2025 was light, per FAA TFMSC data, reflecting the field's restricted role supporting Air Mobility Command and Air National Guard operations alongside occasional air evacuation and transient traffic.
Runways
Fairchild AFB Airport has one paved runway, 05/23, 13,899 ft long and 150 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
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
Fairchild AFB Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Fairchild AFB Airport recorded 45 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in January, March and June. Business aviation traffic at Fairchild AFB (KSKA) is concentrated in a few months, with January, March, and June showing the highest recorded operations against lower counts in February, April, September, and October.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month January, 6 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Fairchild AFB Airport averages 8.8 days above 90°F in July, 27.9 freeze days in December and 5.3 snow days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83.4°F, and December the coldest, at 32.4°F.
Weather station is 4.1 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Fairchild AFB Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes and other notes.
Fluid service uses SP Presair. De-icing is available for C-5 and C-17 type aircraft. LOX is available upon request. Requires three duty days prior notice.
Restricted: Prior permission required, including scheduled AMC mission coordination, with 24-hour prior coordination required. All inbound passenger or cargo aircraft must contact the command post no later than 30 minutes prior to landing.
Restricted: AMC aircraft operations are restricted during Bird Watch Condition Moderate, when takeoff or landing is permitted only if departure or arrival routes avoid identified bird activity and there is no local IFR or VFR traffic pattern activity, and during Bird Watch Condition Severe, when takeoff and landing are prohibited without Operations Group or Command approval. Contact base operations or the command post for the current bird watch condition.
Caution: do not mistake Spokane International, 4.5 NM east of Fairchild AFB, for this airfield. Phase II, the high bird potential hazard time period of the BASH program, is in effect. Expect increased bird activity approximately April through May and November through December; review or check NOTAMs for the current BASH phase.
Air National Guard: Dagger Ops is open 24/7. Prior permission is required for the ANG ramp.
Aircraft requiring single-frequency approach must notify Seattle Center or Approach 20 minutes out on any published frequency.
Runway 05/23 has a weight limit of 175,000 pounds for ST-classified traffic.
Pad 5 drop zone is located 5,000 feet south of the runway, effective 1630-2130Z, Monday through Friday.
Caution: flare rocket firing and demolition explosives training occur Wednesdays from 1530-1630Z and 2000-2100Z, located 5,000 feet south of Runway 05/23 abeam Taxiway F, with a maximum altitude of 1,300 feet.
Runway condition codes are unavailable.
Oil grade O-148-156, JOAP program applies.
Caution: uncontrolled vehicles operate on taxiways and ramps. Helicopter operations occur in the vicinity of Fairchild AFB.
Transient alert service is available 1400-0600Z, closed on weekends. Contact base operations no later than 15 minutes out for service requests. Fleet service is available.
Air evacuation and transient aircraft should contact the command post no later than 15 minutes prior to arrival.
For customs, agriculture, and immigration matters, contact the base customs office.
Aircraft rescue and firefighting service is available upon request.
Air Mobility Operations can store classified material up to Secret, with limited storage capacity.
Primary weather service is out of service; contact the weather flight for information. Weather flight service is available 24 hours. An AN/FMQ-19 automated observing system is in use, augmented by human observation when necessary.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Fairchild AFB Airport has four airfields within 36 NM. The closest is Spokane International (KGEG), 4.89 NM east.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KSKA
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 KSKA.
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 KSKA / Fairchild AFB open to civilian business aviation?
Fairchild AFB (KSKA) is a private-use military airfield near Spokane, Washington, and access is restricted rather than open to general civilian traffic. Operators need prior permission, including scheduled AMC mission coordination and notification at least 24 hours ahead. Inbound passenger or cargo aircraft must also contact the command post no later than 30 minutes before landing. Business aviation volumes recorded at the field remain low, consistent with its restricted status.
What runway is available at Fairchild AFB (KSKA)?
Fairchild AFB (KSKA) has a single runway, 05/23, a 13,899-foot concrete surface that is 150 feet wide. This length places it among the longer military runways in the region and supports large aircraft types. The airport also notes a runway weight limit of 175,000 pounds for ST-classified traffic on this runway. Runway condition codes are listed as unavailable for this surface.
Does Fairchild AFB have customs processing for arriving aircraft?
Fairchild AFB (KSKA) is listed with CBP inspection services available according to FAA registry data. Aircraft handling customs, agriculture, or immigration matters should coordinate with the base customs office in advance. Given the field's restricted military status, arriving crews should still confirm prior permission requirements separately from any customs arrangement. This combination of controlled access and onsite inspection capability is typical of joint-use military fields near a border-adjacent region.
When is bird activity a concern for operations at Fairchild AFB (KSKA)?
Fairchild AFB (KSKA) runs a seasonal Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program, with Phase II, the high bird potential hazard period, expected roughly in April-May and again in November-December. During moderate bird watch conditions, takeoffs and landings are permitted only when departure and arrival routes avoid identified bird activity, with no local IFR or VFR traffic pattern activity. Severe conditions prohibit takeoffs and landings without operations group or command approval. Crews should check current NOTAMs or contact the command post for the active bird watch condition.