Airports / Alaska / EIL
Eielson Air Force Base.
Fairbanks, Alaska · 547 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
PAEI
IATA EIL
0
Operators based
547
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
17 nm
To the nearest alternate
Ladd Army Airfield (FBK), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Eielson Air Force Base, listed as PAEI / EIL, is a mid-sized airport in Fairbanks, Alaska. Field elevation is 547 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list EIL as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Ladd Army Airfield (FBK, 17 nm), Fairbanks International Airport (FAI, 21 nm), and Nenana Municipal Airport (ENN, 51 nm). The field has a single 14,530-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from EIL are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from EIL to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
PAEI
IATA
EIL
FAA / Local
EIL
Elevation
547 ft
Coordinates
64.6657° N · 147.1020° 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 AK fields
state range 2–3,318 ft
At 547 ft, EIL sits higher than 81% of the 285 Alaska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 14,530 ft
- 14/3214,530 ft × 150 ftConcreteUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 14,530 ft
EIL's 14,530 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.
- 17nmFBKLadd Army AirfieldFairbanks
- 21nmFAIFairbanks International AirportFairbanks
- 51nmENNNenana Municipal AirportNenana
- 54nmBIGAllen Army AirfieldDelta Junction Ft Greely
- 57nmPACLClear AirportClear
- 65nmMNTMinto Al Wright AirportMinto
Location
Open the full mapPAEI · Eielson Air Force Base · Fairbanks, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from EIL on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 224 nm | 55m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,309 nm | 3h 27m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 1,753 nm | 4h 29m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 1,845 nm | 4h 41m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 1,873 nm | 4h 45m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 2,045 nm | 5h 9m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,062 nm | 5h 12m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 2,069 nm | 5h 13m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use EIL?
- Eielson Air Force Base's longest paved runway is 14,530 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 EIL?
- Eielson Air Force Base has one runway; the longest measures 14,530 ft on a paved surface.
- What is the nearest major airport to EIL?
- The closest alternate is Ladd Army Airfield (FBK), about 17 nm away, followed by Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) at 21 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from EIL to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Anchorage about 55m (224 nm), Seattle about 3h 27m (1,309 nm), Jackson Hole about 4h 29m (1,753 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.