Fargo Hector International Airport is the busiest airport in North Dakota, serving commercial, cargo, and general aviation traffic. Located north of downtown Fargo, FAR proudly serves Allegiant air, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, United, and occasionally, Sun Country for charters. Fargo has a cargo presence as well with Fedex, UPS, as well as Alpine Air. FAR was one of the first airport to serve Fedex’s Cessna 408’s. The airport is also home to the Happy Hooligans, an Air National Guard wing that operates the MQ-9 Reaper drone. Fargo isn’t huge but it serves as a connection airport and serves the local communites for no long roadtrips to Minneapolis. Hector International is home to Fargo Jet Center, a top tier FBO located on the north east end of the field. KFAR was established in 1927 and continues to grow and make an easy flight or connection to hundreds of people a day! In 2024, Hector reached 1 million passengers, surpassing the previous records. As well in 2024 there is new construction adding 4 new gates expanding routes and total flights.

Written by Rylan Mills. Last Update: February 2025

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
09/27	1,921m/6,302ft – concrete
13/31	1,158m/3,801ft – concrete
18/36	2,743m/9,001ft – concrete
Terminals	Gates 1 and 2 (United) 3 (American/Allegiant) 4 (Delta/Frontier) and 5 (Delta/American)
Spotting Information
Ladder	Ladder is optional but not needed
Car/Public Transport	Car is how you get to almost every spot unless you walk from the air musuem to the viewing park. No public transportation
Drinks/Food	There are resteraunts, gas stations, and bathrooms all near the air musuem or Fargodome. Just a few minute drive to get there.
Hotels	Near the Air Musuem there is a Days Inn, Homewood Suites, and a Candlewood suites.
Season	Summers can bring alot of heat haze, and winters are usually cloudy. Although winter has more traffic as Fargo has many seasonal routes.
Security	Fargo is one of the only airports you can really feel safe at. There is not many people who spot here. Security has never been an issue outside. If it is late at night in the terminal, the employees get upset since the airport closes down at night.
Runway Usage
General Info	Runways 18 and 36 are the most used. Very rarely is 9 or 18 used (reverse operations). As well as 13 and 31, they are never used because of short length.
09/27	when winds are blowing from the east or west, and even then only CRJ’s and ERJ’s can use this runway. Used for both Arrivals/departures
13/31	Very rarely used and if so only for GA aircraft.
18/36	Most commonly used for both arrivals and departures when wind is anywhere from the North or South

	Spot #1 – Airport Viewing park – 36 Arrivals/Departures
WHERE	The official viewing park is located on the drive half way up to the terminal. Take Dakota Dr and you will see a yellow gate on the right hand side. The fence is low enough to get great shots without a ladder.
WHAT	36 Arrivals/Departures and rarely 31 departures/arrivals, Taxiway B
TIME	Late noon to Sunset, any time of year but mid summer has some haze.
MISC.	Bathrooms are in the terminal. Food is about a 5 minutes drive near the Air musuem as well as a Subway in the terminal right before TSA
FOCAL LENGTH	55mm-300mm CRJ = 230mm; 757 = 160mm; E170 = 120mm

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	Spot #2 – 19th Avenue – 18 departures/36 arrivals
WHERE	Spotting is possible from the sidewalk on the side of 19th avenue. From the terminal just drive south and turn left. Drive until the Air Museum where parking is available free of charge and from there walk to the sidewalk.
WHAT	18 departures although aircraft can have gained some altitude and 36 Arrivals.
TIME	Sunrise to sunset, for morning shots, walk a few hundred fet down the sidewalk to get perfect photos. Afternoon shots, walk down to the west side of 18/36
MISC.	Just respect rules and be careful as it is near a busy road.
FOCAL LENGTH	55mm-600m, depends if its departing 18 or arriving 36. 36 is shorter length, 18 longer. A21N = 220mm; A320 = 260mm

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	Spot #3 – 40th Avenue – 18 Arrivals/Departures
WHERE	North of the airport near the Jet Center at 40th Ave NW is a little pulloff to park at but space is very limited. (1 person Spot). Otherwise park at the Jet Center an walk to the location.
WHAT	18 arrivals and departures can best be seen here. Can see 36 Departures but not the greatest spot for that.
TIME	Sunrise to early noon
MISC.	Jet Center does not allow planespotting near their facilities for privacy reasons. As well as if you park there and walk, be careful for cars.
FOCAL LENGTH	75mm-300mm for larger traffic, longer length for departing GA CRJ/E170 = 170mm

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	Spot #4 – 25th Street North – 18 Arrivals/Departures
WHERE	Turn onto Dakota dr and take a left on the Old Highway 81. Once you get to the stop light, take a right onto 40th avenue. Once you see the North Dakota amory on the right (should see plenty of Army vehicles) the dirt road (39 1/2 ave) will be on the right. once you get to the turn on near the airport gates, park anywhere on the side but make sure to keep out of the way of passing vehicles. Traffic is rare so no need to worry. The fence is low enough to get great shots without a ladder.
WHAT	18 Arrivals and Departures
TIME	Late noon to sunset
MISC.	Make sure to park on the side of the road to let the very rare traffic go by. Not a huge worry.
FOCAL LENGTH	55mm-300mm (closest you can get to any aircraft) A20N = 130mm; A300 = 100mm

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	Spot #5 – Terminal – Ramp
WHERE	This anywhere in the gate area of the terminal. Only when you are flying out or in you can use this spot. Best spots are right after security in the big window as you can see every plane after pushback.
WHAT	You can see almost any aircraft when they pushback or are taxiing into the gates.
TIME	Any time of day.
MISC.	If it is past 9 PM the airport starts to close. The employees get upset since they are trying to clean.
FOCAL LENGTH	50mm-250mm

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