Airports / North Dakota / RDR
Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Grand Forks, North Dakota · 913 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
KRDR
IATA RDR
0
Operators based
913
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
9 nm
To the nearest alternate
Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Grand Forks Air Force Base (KRDR / RDR) sits in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 913 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into RDR for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Grand Forks International Airport (GFK, 9 nm), Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF, 49 nm), and Devils Lake Regional Airport (DVL, 61 nm). With a single 12,350-foot paved runway, RDR can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from RDR depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Grand Forks.
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Field capability
ICAO
KRDR
IATA
RDR
FAA / Local
RDR
Elevation
913 ft
Coordinates
47.9611° N · 97.4012° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs ND fields
state range 795–2,982 ft
At 913 ft, RDR sits lower than 79% of the 19 North Dakota fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 12,350 ft
- 17/3512,350 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,350 ft
RDR's 12,350 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 9nmGFKGrand Forks International AirportGrand Forks
- 49nmTVFThief River Falls Regional AirportThief River Falls
- 61nmDVLDevils Lake Regional AirportDevils Lake
- 67nmFARHector International AirportFargo
- 81nmJMSJamestown Regional AirportJamestown
- 103nmBJIBemidji Regional AirportBemidji
Location
Open the full mapKRDR · Grand Forks Air Force Base · Grand Forks, ND
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from RDR on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) | 539 nm | 1h 39m |
| Denver (DEN) | 579 nm | 1h 45m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 615 nm | 1h 50m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 647 nm | 1h 54m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 666 nm | 1h 57m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 758 nm | 2h 10m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 855 nm | 2h 23m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 908 nm | 2h 31m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use RDR?
- Grand Forks Air Force Base's longest paved runway is 12,350 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at RDR?
- Grand Forks Air Force Base has one runway; the longest measures 12,350 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to RDR?
- The closest alternate is Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), about 9 nm away, followed by Thief River Falls Regional Airport (TVF) at 49 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from RDR to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Chicago about 1h 39m (539 nm), Denver about 1h 45m (579 nm), Jackson Hole about 1h 50m (615 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.