Runway 17 at KFFM
Runway 17/35 at Fergus Falls Municipal Airport - Einar Mickelson Field (KFFM) in Fergus Falls is a 3,299 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 179°/359°. The runway is 75 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 16 landings and 7 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.8°, a typical touchdown ground speed of 109 kt, a 4.3 kt average crosswind component, a 4.7 kt average headwind.
Runway 17/35 at Fergus Falls Municipal Airport - Einar Mickelson Field (KFFM) in Fergus Falls is a 3,299 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 179°/359°. The runway is 75 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 16 landings and 7 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.8°, a typical touchdown ground speed of 109 kt, a 4.3 kt average crosswind component, a 4.7 kt average headwind.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
16 landings observed on Runway 17 in the last 30 days, alongside 7 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 19:00 with 14 arrivals on the recent sample.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KFFM have prevailed from the east-southeast (120°), accounting for roughly 18% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 9.9 kt with peak gusts to 49 kt. Strong winds (≥20 kt) occur on about 8% of observations — pilots flying into runway 17 should plan for occasional gusty conditions.
Light Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 4.3 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 17 alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 2.8° on Runway 17, consistent with the standard 3° glide path.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 17 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.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 17 grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Approach Types and Categories
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.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 17 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.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.