Airports / Washington / SKA
Fairchild Air Force Base.
Spokane, Washington · 2,461 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.1/5
Google rating
50 ratings
0
Operators based
2,461
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
5 nm
To the nearest alternate
Spokane International Airport (GEG), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA / SKA) is a mid-sized airport serving Spokane, Washington. The airport sits 2,461 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 SKA for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Spokane International Airport (GEG, 5 nm), Felts Field (SFF, 14 nm), and Coeur D'Alene Airport - Pappy Boyington Field (COE, 35 nm). With a single 13,899-foot paved runway, SKA can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from SKA depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Spokane.
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Field capability
ICAO
KSKA
IATA
SKA
FAA / Local
SKA
Elevation
2,461 ft
Coordinates
47.6151° N · 117.6560° W
Airspace
C · CharlieClass C, CharlieRadar-controlled airspace around mid-size hubs. Aircraft must be in two-way radio contact and squawking a transponder while approach control sequences arrivals.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs WA fields
state range 10–2,556 ft
At 2,461 ft, SKA sits higher than 96% of the 52 Washington fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 13,899 ft
- 05/2313,899 ft × 150 ftConcreteLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 13,899 ft
SKA's 13,899 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.
- 5nmGEGSpokane International AirportSpokane
- 14nmSFFFelts FieldSpokane
- 35nmCOECoeur D'Alene Airport - Pappy Boyington FieldCoeur d'Alene
- 57nmPUWPullman-Moscow Regional AirportPullman
- 72nmMWHGrant County International AirportMoses Lake
- 79nmLWSLewiston Nez Perce County AirportLewiston
Location
Open the full mapKSKA · Fairchild Air Force Base · Spokane, WA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SKA on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (SEA) | 189 nm | 50m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 377 nm | 1h 17m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 477 nm | 1h 31m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 635 nm | 1h 53m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 667 nm | 1h 57m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 688 nm | 2h 0m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 701 nm | 2h 2m |
| Denver (DEN) | 729 nm | 2h 6m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SKA?
- Fairchild Air Force Base's longest paved runway is 13,899 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 SKA?
- Fairchild Air Force Base has one runway; the longest measures 13,899 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SKA?
- The closest alternate is Spokane International Airport (GEG), about 5 nm away, followed by Felts Field (SFF) at 14 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SKA to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Jackson Hole about 1h 17m (377 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 31m (477 nm), San Francisco about 1h 53m (635 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.