Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) Master Plan

Inventory Overview

July 19, 2022

Inventory Overview

The Inventory Chapter of the Master Plan documents the existing inventory at XWA, including various aviation factors, the local community, and an environmental overview.

To learn more about the Airport Master Plan project, please visit the project website .

Following completion of the inventory process, the Master Plan efforts will continue into activity forecasts, facility recommendations and alternatives, development of a capital improvement plan, and updating the Airport Layout Plan.

*More information on the Master Plan process, stakeholder engagement activities, and project progress can be found on the project website.*

From Sloulin Field to Williston Basin International Airport

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Williston Basin International Airport (XWA)

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and North Dakota Aeronautics Commission have identified the airport's role in the federal and state aviation systems.

Users

The airport serves a diverse group of operators, tenants, businesses, and passengers. Key uses and users include:

AIRLINES & DESTINATIONS

Year-Round: Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP) on Delta and Denver International Airport (DEN) on United

Seasonal: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas on Sun Country

ANNUAL ENPLANEMENTS

Enplanements are the number of passengers that board a commercial aircraft and depart from the airport (such as those flown by Delta, United, and Sun Country).

Historic and forecasted enplanement levels help inform airport planning decisions.

Enplanements decreased during COVID-19 (shown in the 2020 and 2021 numbers below) but have begun to recover and are moving towards pre-pandemic levels.

In 2019 (pre-pandemic), XWA ranked 263rd in the nation for enplanements (out of 478 commercial service airports).

CARGO

Scheduled air cargo flights at XWA support shipping of FedEx and UPS packages.

***Corporate Air***, a Federal Express (FedEx) carrier, provides cargo operations between Williston, Fargo, and Minot; and flies a Cessna 208 Caravan (left). Encore Air Cargo contracts with UPS to provide frequent cargo operations between Williston and Fargo, and flies a Fairchild Dornier (SA-227DC Metro) (right).

GENERAL AVIATION

General aviation activity at XWA includes corporate and charter, agricultural, medical, flight training, recreational and other users.

The airport has approximately 35 based aircraft. These include 29 single engine, 3 multi-engine, and 3 helicopters.

Critical Aircraft/Runway Design Code (RDC)

A critical aircraft is defined as the most demanding airplane, or family of airplanes, that have a minimum of 500 annual operations forecasted to use an airport.

The critical aircraft decides the size and design standards of the airport infrastructure.

Runway 14/32, the primary runway, is 7,503 feet long and 150 feet wide, constructed of grooved concrete and designed to D-III standards.

The crosswind runway, Runway 4/22, is 4,502 feet long and 75 feet wide. Because the primary runway (Runway 14/32) provides adequate wind coverage for larger aircraft using XWA, the crosswind was designed to serve smaller aircraft.

The airport can serve an aircraft up to a RDC of D-III.

Airside Facilities

Scroll through to learn more or move the map to explore the airfield on your own.

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Navigational Aids (NAVAIDs)

^{Click on each NAVAID to learn more.}

Beacon

Segmented Circle

Wind Cones

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

Medium-Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR)

Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME)

Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs)

Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPIs)

Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)

Beacon

An airport beacon allows aircraft to visually identify the airport at night and in low visibility conditions. The beacon is comprised of green and white lights, indicating a civilian land airport, and is visible within 30 miles in clear nighttime skies. The airport beacon was installed in 2018 and is in good condition.

Segmented Circle

A 100-foot diameter segmented circle with red-white marker panels provides traffic pattern information at airports without control towers. A wind cone is located in the center of the segmented circle. XWA has standard traffic patterns; therefore, no leg markings are required.

Wind Cones

Wind cones help pilots visually identify the wind direction and strength of the wind. Generally, pilots take off into the wind due to better performance of aircraft. The primary wind cone is located inside the segmented circle on the west side of Runway 14/32 and the north side of Runway 4/22. Secondary wind cones are located at the approach ends of Runway 14, Runway 32, Runway 4, and Runway 22. The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission has a windsock program which allows airport sponsors to request one free windsock each year to replace the ones on the airfield which have torn or are faded.

Instrument Landing System (ILS)

Runway 32 is equipped with an FAA maintained Category I ILS. The system was installed in 2019 and includes the following elements, all owned and maintained by the FAA:

Glide slope antenna and shelter (located on the Runway 32 end)

Localizer antenna and shelter (located beyond the Runway 14 end)

Localizer Check Points

Medium-Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR)

Runway 32 has a Medium-Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR) system that is owned and maintained by the FAA. MALSRs consist of a combination of steady burning light bars and flashers which provide pilots visual information on runway alignment, height perception, roll guidance, and horizontal references during the approach to the runway end.

Due to the terrain off the Runway 32 end, the MALSR light poles needed to be constructed on tall steel structures to meet the FAA requirements. The steel structures that support the MALSR light poles are owned by the airport.

Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME)

A VOR/DME antenna provides radio navigation for aircraft using XWA. The VOR/DME is part of the national airspace navigation system and is also used by pilots traversing the airspace. VOR/DMEs can provide a reliable signal to pilots for up to 200 miles.

VORs nationally, are beginning to be phased in favor of Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation; however, there are currently no plans to deactivate the VOR at XWA.

Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs)

Runway 14 is equipped with Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs). Runway 4/22 (the smaller, crosswind runway) is also equipped with REILs on both ends of the runway. REILs are synchronized flashing lights that identify the beginning of the useable runway. The REILs are owned and maintained by the airport.

Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPIs)

PAPIs provide color-coded descent guidance to a runway. Runway 14 and Runway 32 have a 4-Box PAPI installed. The airport owns and maintains both the Runway 14 and Runway 32 PAPIs. 2-Box PAPIs are installed for approaches to each end of Runway 4/22, both are owned by the airport.

Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)

An ASOS is designed to support weather reporting and aviation operations, as well as the meteorological, hydrological and climatological research communities. An ASOS can report the following weather elements:

Sky Condition: Cloud height and amount up to 12,000 feet (clear, scattered, broken, overcast)

Visibility (up to at least 10 statute miles)

Current Weather Information: Type and intensity for rain, snow, and freezing rain

Obstructions to Vision: Fog and haze

Pressure: Sea-level and altimeter setting

Temperature: Ambient and dew point

Wind: Direction, speed, and character (gusts, squalls)

Precipitation Accumulation

Selected significant remarks including variable cloud height, variable visibility, precipitation beginning/ending times, rapid pressure changes and tendency, wind shift, and peak wind.

The ASOS at XWA was commissioned in 2019. The ASOS is collocated with the Runway 32 glideslope and is owned by the FAA and maintained by the National Weather Service (NWS).

Commercial Terminal Building

The commercial terminal building was constructed in 2019, is approximately 103,000 sq. ft., and includes:

Four passenger gates (three with passenger boarding bridges)
Twelve airline ticket counters
Two baggage claims
Security offices
Four rental counters (located on the first level)

AMENITIES

Snow Removal Equipment (SRE) & Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF)

Next Steps

Following completion of the airport inventory documentation, the next steps in the Master Plan process focus on developing the activity forecasts.

The activity forecasts will include commercial, cargo, and general aviation activity levels. These forecasts will assist in informing the facility recommendations and alternatives analysis.

To learn more about the Airport Master Plan project, please visit the project website .