Fairchild Air Force Base

Branch: U.S. Air Force
Location: Airway Heights, Washington
Installation Type: Air Force Base
Status: Active

Overview

Fairchild Air Force Base is located approximately 12 miles west of Spokane, Washington, in the community of Airway Heights. Home of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and its KC-135 Stratotanker fleet, Fairchild is one of the Air Force’s premier air refueling installations. The base also houses the Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) School, where all U.S. military pilots and high-risk-of-capture personnel receive survival training. Established in 1942, Fairchild takes its name from General Muir S. Fairchild, a distinguished pioneer in air power strategy.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide global air refueling capability to extend the range and endurance of combat and strategic aircraft worldwide; train all military personnel in SERE skills.
Major Units: 92nd Air Refueling Wing (host wing); 92nd Operations Group (KC-135 Stratotanker operations); 92nd Maintenance Group; 336th Training Group (SERE School – sole Air Force SERE training location); 141st Air Refueling Wing (Air National Guard associate)
Tenant Units: Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) bomber rotational elements; various Air Mobility Command support units

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Spokane, WA – approximately 12 miles east; Coeur d’Alene, ID – approximately 30 miles east
Nearest Commercial Airport: Spokane International Airport (GEG) – approximately 8 miles south
Gate Access: Main gate on Rambo Road; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; 24-hour access for military ID holders

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 6,000
Family Members: Approximately 7,500
Civilian Employees: Approximately 2,000
Total Installation Population: Approximately 15,500

Key Facilities

Medical: 92nd Medical Group; full primary care, dental, behavioral health, and preventive medicine clinic; specialty referrals to civilian Spokane hospitals (Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, MultiCare Deaconess Hospital); Level III trauma center accessible in Spokane
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – AAFES main exchange and food court
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; indoor pool; golf course; auto skills center; outdoor recreation (skiing at local mountains); bowling; Spokane area offers excellent year-round outdoor recreation
Schools: West Valley, Central Valley, and Spokane school districts serve military families; no DoDEA schools; Washington public schools generally well-regarded
Childcare: Child Development Center (CDC) on base; waitlists possible; contact Child and Youth Services at (509) 247-5161
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care; call for appointments
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based; (509) 247-2233

Housing

On-Post Housing: Privatized housing managed by Balfour Beatty Communities; approximately 1,100 units; single-family homes and townhomes; condition generally good
Average Wait Time: Typically 30-60 days; Spokane area off-post housing readily available
Off-Post Housing: Airway Heights, Medical Lake, and Spokane suburbs are popular; average rent approximately $1,200-$1,800/month for 3-bedroom; Spokane is an affordable mid-size city; Four Seasons recreation (skiing, hiking, lakes)
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; 92nd ARW sponsorship program available
In-Processing: 92nd Wing in-processing center; typically 2-3 days
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Airman and Family Readiness Center; enrollment required; Spokane has solid specialist medical options

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Semi-arid continental; warm dry summers (average high 84F/29C in July); cold winters with snow (average low 23F/-5C in January); four distinct seasons; Inland Northwest is known for outdoor recreation year-round
Cost of Living: Low to moderate; Spokane is one of the more affordable mid-size cities in the Pacific Northwest; no state income tax in Washington; housing well below Seattle prices
Nearby Attractions: Spokane Falls and downtown Spokane revitalized waterfront; Lake Coeur d’Alene (30 miles, world-class lake resort); Mt. Spokane State Park (skiing, 30 miles); Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge; Palouse wine country; Glacier National Park (3 hours)
Spouse Employment: Spokane metro offers employment in healthcare, education (Washington State University Spokane, Gonzaga University), government, agriculture-related industries, and growing tech sector; A&FRC assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.fairchild.af.mil
Main Installation Phone: (509) 247-1212
MWR Website: https://fairchildfun.com
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Airman and Family Readiness Center (A&FRC), Fairchild AFB; (509) 247-5276; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.fairchild.af.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/fairchild-air-force-base; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FairchildAirForce_Base