Runway 02W/20W at Fairbanks International Airport (PAFA) in Fairbanks is a 5,400 ft, unlit, water runway oriented 038°/218°. The runway is 100 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 29 landings and 2 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 3.3% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (1 events). Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.5°, touchdowns averaging 746 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 63 kt, a 4.2 kt average crosswind component, a 1.8 kt average headwind.
Runway 02W/20W at Fairbanks International Airport (PAFA) in Fairbanks is a 5,400 ft, unlit, water runway oriented 038°/218°. The runway is 100 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 29 landings and 2 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 3.3% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (1 events). Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.5°, touchdowns averaging 746 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 63 kt, a 4.2 kt average crosswind component, a 1.8 kt average headwind.
29 landings observed on Runway 02W in the last 30 days, alongside 2 departures.
3.3% of arrivals at Runway 02W result in a go-around (1 in the last 30 days).
Busiest landing window observed at 19:00 with 4 arrivals on the recent sample.
Aircraft touch down on average 746 ft from the threshold on Runway 02W.
Over the past 365 days, winds at PAFA have prevailed from the north-northeast (30°), accounting for roughly 20% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 3.3 kt with peak gusts to 35 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Average crosswind on landing is 4.2 kt at touchdown — measured against runway 02W alignment.
Final-approach slope averages 2.5° on Runway 02W — shallower than the standard 3°.
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 02W over the last 30 days. Each value is shown only when at least 10 valid samples were available; sparse cells are hidden rather than estimated.
Recent observed landings on Runway 02W grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
A go-around occurs when a pilot aborts a landing attempt and initiates a climb to return for another approach. While go-arounds are a normal safety procedure, their frequency and causes provide insight into operational challenges at specific runways. Runway 02W experienced go-arounds in 3.3% of arrivals over the last 30 days (1 events of 30 attempts).
These events represent normal safety procedures and do not indicate operational deficiencies.
Environmental factors dominate go-around causes, indicating that operational procedures remain sound.
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 02W benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.