Nikolai, Alaska · field elev 447 ft
Density Altitude at Nikolai (PAFS)
Nikolai sits at 447 ft, and even a typical July afternoon (70 °F) only lifts density altitude to about 1,250 ft — heat still trims performance, but the field rarely turns high-and-hot.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | −5.8 | −4,043 ft | 2.6 | −3,401 ft |
| February | 4.5 | −3,257 ft | 14.7 | −2,500 ft |
| March | 11.9 | −2,706 ft | 24.5 | −1,791 ft |
| April | 32.2 | −1,247 ft | 42.9 | −507 ft |
| May | 48.4 | −134 ft | 58.9 | 563 ft |
| June | 58.7 | 550 ft | 68.8 | 1,206 ft |
| July | 60.8 | 688 ft | 69.5 | 1,250 ft |
| August | 55.9 | 366 ft | 64.0 | 896 ft |
| September | 46.0 | −296 ft | 53.9 | 233 ft |
| October | 28.4 | −1,514 ft | 34.5 | −1,086 ft |
| November | 8.0 | −2,995 ft | 14.9 | −2,485 ft |
| December | −2.3 | −3,774 ft | 5.5 | −3,182 ft |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for PAFS
DENSITY ALTITUDE
Field elevation 447 ft — the air behaves like 1,282 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 448 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby Alaska fields
- PAMC — Mc Grath
Mc Grath · elev 343 ft
- PAFL — Tin Creek
Farewell Lake · elev 1,185 ft
- 2K5 — Telida
Telida · elev 650 ft
- PPCT — Takotna
Takotna · elev 423 ft
- 8KA — Tatitna
Tatitna · elev 1,490 ft
- A77 — Yankee Creek 2
Yankee Creek · elev 1,120 ft
- 01A — Purkeypile
Purkeypile · elev 2,041 ft
- Z48 — Bear Creek 3
Bear Creek · elev 740 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at PAFS in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 70 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Nikolai reaches roughly 1,250 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at PAFS on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly −4,043 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 688 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 447 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Nikolai?
447 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is PAFS (ICAO) / FSP (FAA), in Nikolai, Alaska.