Drake Field (Fayetteville Executive Airport): What Homeowners Should Know

Mason Capital Group Real Estate Investment & Trust

4 min read

TL;DR: Drake Field, also known as Fayetteville Executive Airport (FAA identifier FYV, ICAO KFYV), sits about three miles south of downtown Fayetteville and now serves general-aviation, flight-training, and business traffic rather than commercial airline flights.

Drake Field and Fayetteville Executive Airport

Drake Field is a general-aviation airport located about three miles south of downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas, in Washington County, with FAA/IATA identifier FYV and ICAO identifier KFYV (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). The airport is also known as Fayetteville Executive Airport, a name that reflects its current role as a general-aviation and business-aviation facility rather than a commercial passenger hub (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). For homeowners considering a property in south Fayetteville, that distinction matters: this is not a large commercial airport with frequent jet traffic, but a smaller field used mainly by private aircraft, flight schools, and business charters.

Anyone evaluating a home within a few miles of the airfield should factor in typical general-aviation noise and traffic patterns, which are generally lighter and more predictable than what you'd find near a commercial terminal, but still a real consideration for properties directly under common flight paths. Some buyers actively seek out proximity to Drake Field -- pilots, aviation businesses, and buyers who want quick access to private or charter flights -- while others prefer more distance. Either way, it's a factor worth discussing directly with a local agent who knows the specific flight patterns around the field.

From Fayetteville Municipal Airport to a General-Aviation Field

The airport was formerly known as Fayetteville Municipal Airport and served as the region's commercial airline hub before Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) opened in 1998 and assumed commercial airline service for the region (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). That transition marked the end of Drake Field's era as the area's primary passenger gateway. Since XNA's 1998 opening, Drake Field has functioned primarily as a general-aviation, flight-training, and business/charter airport rather than a commercial passenger airport (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026).

That history is useful context for homeowners: the airfield has been operating in its current, smaller-scale general-aviation role for over two decades, so today's noise and traffic patterns reflect a long-settled use rather than a recent or growing commercial expansion. Buyers researching south Fayetteville can reasonably expect the airport's footprint and activity level to remain in that same general-aviation category going forward, barring any future zoning or airport-authority changes.

What a Listing Agent Actually Does Near a Feature Like an Airport

Properties near any distinctive landmark -- an airport, a lake, a busy road -- benefit from being marketed by someone who understands exactly how that feature affects buyer interest, not just listed generically. A good listing agent's core job is straightforward: price the home accurately using comparable local sales, market it to the specific buyer pool most likely to want that feature (in this case, aviation enthusiasts and business travelers as well as buyers simply looking for an affordable south Fayetteville location), manage showings and paperwork, and negotiate the final terms on the seller's behalf.

It's worth knowing that commission structures in real estate are negotiable and vary by brokerage and by agreement -- sellers should always ask directly what services are included and how compensation is structured before signing a listing agreement, rather than assuming one standard rate applies everywhere. Understanding what you're actually paying for, and what tasks a given fee covers, is one of the most useful things a seller can do before listing a home near any distinctive property feature, including Drake Field.

Fayetteville Population and School District Tax Rate

Fayetteville's population was estimated at 106,623 as of July 2025 (fact pack, checked Aug 2026), giving south Fayetteville a solid base of local demand for housing regardless of proximity to the airfield. The Fayetteville School District (District 11) millage rate for 2025 is 57.1 mills (fact pack, corrected value, checked Aug 2026), a figure that applies uniformly across the district and should be factored into any holding-cost estimate for a home near Drake Field.

Working With Mason Capital Group in Fayetteville

Mason Capital Group has worked in Northwest Arkansas real estate for 30+ years, with $2.4B+ in cumulative transaction activity across the region. We operate from 609 SW 8th Street, 6th Floor, Bentonville, AR 72712, and can be reached at 479-925-3333.

If you're evaluating a property near Drake Field or elsewhere in south Fayetteville, our team can walk you through current inventory and help you weigh the tradeoffs of airport proximity for your specific situation. Current listings are on our featured listings page, and homeowners considering a sale can list your home with us to get started. You can also Discover Fayetteville, Arkansas for a broader look at the city.

What is Drake Field in Fayetteville?

Drake Field is a general-aviation airport located about three miles south of downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas, in Washington County, with FAA/IATA identifier FYV and ICAO identifier KFYV (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026). It is also known as Fayetteville Executive Airport (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026).

Did Drake Field ever have commercial flights?

Yes. Drake Field, formerly known as Fayetteville Municipal Airport, served as the region's commercial airline hub before Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) opened in 1998 and assumed commercial airline service for the region (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026).

What kind of air traffic uses Drake Field today?

Since XNA's 1998 opening, Drake Field has functioned primarily as a general-aviation, flight-training, and business/charter airport rather than a commercial passenger airport (Wikipedia, checked Aug 2026).

How many people live in Fayetteville?

Fayetteville's population was estimated at 106,623 as of July 2025 (fact pack, checked Aug 2026).

What is the Fayetteville School District millage rate?

The Fayetteville School District's 2025 (District 11) millage rate is 57.1 mills (fact pack, corrected value, checked Aug 2026).