Eielson Air Force Base (PAEI)

Medium airport · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Airport data

NameEielson Air Force Base
ICAOPAEI
IATAEIL
Elevation547 ft (167 m) above mean sea level
CoordinatesN 64°39'57" W 147°6'7"
64.66570, -147.10200
LocationFairbanks, Alaska, United States
Scheduled serviceNo

Runways

RunwayLengthWidthSurfaceLighted
14/3214,530 ft (4429 m)150 ftCONCNo

Eielson Air Force Base at a glance

Eielson Air Force Base is a medium airport in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, known to airline systems as EIL. The field elevation of 547 ft (167 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at PAEI are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.

The single runway, 14/32, offers 14,530 ft (4429 m) of conc surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 14 points roughly 140° magnetic.

For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for PAEI shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.

Nearest airports to Eielson Air Force Base

Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.

AirportCodeDistance
Ladd Army AirfieldPAFB31 km (17 NM)
Fairbanks International AirportPAFA39 km (21 NM)
Nenana Municipal AirportPANN95 km (51 NM)
Allen Army AirfieldPABI100 km (54 NM)
Clear AirportPACL105 km (57 NM)

Flight-planning notes for Eielson Air Force Base

Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 547 ft field elevation of Eielson Air Force Base can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.

This entry is one of 917 airports and airfields we list for United States — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.

Where this data comes from

The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.

Frequently asked questions about Eielson Air Force Base

What is the ICAO code of Eielson Air Force Base?

The ICAO identifier of Eielson Air Force Base is PAEI, and its IATA code is EIL. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.

How high is Eielson Air Force Base above sea level?

Eielson Air Force Base sits at an elevation of 547 feet (167 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.

Where exactly is Eielson Air Force Base located?

The airport lies at 64.6657, -147.1020 — in Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Ladd Army Airfield, about 31 km away.

Does PAEI publish METAR weather reports?

Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for PAEI appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.

How long is the runway at Eielson Air Force Base?

Eielson Air Force Base has one runway. The longest, 14/32, measures 14,530 ft (4429 m) with a CONC surface.

Current METAR & TAF for PAEI