A Historic Airfield Overview
Felts Field is one of the oldest continuously operating airfields in the United States, tracing its roots to a 1913 airstrip at Parkwater and earning municipal status in 1920. Renamed in 1927 to honor aviator James Buell Felts, the field was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Today it functions as Spokane's general aviation reliever, owned by the City of Spokane and managed alongside Spokane International by the Spokane Airport Board.
Runway Capability
The primary runway 4L/22R offers 4,499 feet of concrete, with a parallel 2,650-foot turf strip (4R/22L) and a Spokane River seaplane lane. This supports pistons, turboprops, and light jets up to about a Citation Excel, the limit the on-field FBO cites for its hangars. Operators of midsize and larger jets should plan on Spokane International (KGEG), nine nautical miles away, which has long air-carrier runways and customs.
Charter Considerations
Felts Field is well suited to light-jet and turboprop charter into the Spokane area, putting passengers five miles from downtown and close to the Spokane Valley business corridor. The Jet Finder sources FAA Part 135 aircraft sized to KSFF's 4,499-foot runway. For groups requiring midsize or heavy jets, we typically route through Spokane International and arrange ground transfer.
Safety & Planning
Instrument access is good for a reliever: an ILS/LOC serves Runway 22R, with RNAV (GPS) and VOR approaches to Runway 04L. A part-time tower operates daytime hours on 132.5, reverting to non-towered CTAF procedures overnight. The parallel runway alignment and seaplane operations on the river warrant attention during pattern work, and crews should confirm tower status and NOTAMs before arrival.
Seasonal & Operational Factors
The Inland Northwest delivers four distinct seasons. Winters bring snow, ice, and reduced daylight, making de-icing and contaminated-runway planning relevant from November through March; the field's 1,957-foot elevation keeps density altitude manageable in summer. Spring and fall produce variable ceilings and frontal passages, while summer typically offers the best VFR conditions with occasional afternoon convection.
Regional Context
Felts Field anchors general aviation in eastern Washington's Spokane metro, complementing Spokane International Airport (KGEG, 9 NM) for airline and large-jet service and Fairchild Air Force Base (KSKA, 14 NM) to the west. Smaller fields including Mead Flying Service (70S) and Deer Park lie nearby. The field handled roughly 55,000 operations annually and bases more than 170 aircraft, underscoring its role as the area's primary GA hub.