<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-05-010329
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050215
<FILING-DATE>20050216
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050216
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/
<CIK>0001086844
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4813
<IRS-NUMBER>582422929
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>233 PEACHTREE ST NE
<STREET2>SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
<PHONE>4045257272
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>233 PEACHTREE ST
<STREET2>SUITE 1700
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30303
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FERCHAT ROBERT A
<CIK>0001188122
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27455
<FILM-NUMBER>05622063
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4089 SUMMIT COURT
<STREET2>MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO
<CITY>CANADA
<STATE>A6
<ZIP>L5L3C2
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c92299_02raf.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086844</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCSA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188122</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FERCHAT ROBERT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AIRGATE PCS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>233 PEACHTREE STREET, NE, SUITE 1700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30303</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>44.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>628</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>628</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement between issuer, Alamosa Holdings, Inc. and A-Co. Merger Sub, Inc. in exchange for $36.62 per share of AirGate common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted on February 26, 2002 pursuant to the AirGate PCS, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Long Term Incentive Plan (the &quot;2002 LTIP) and the AirGate PCS, Inc. 2001 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These options provided for vesting in the amount of 100% of the total grant on the first anniversary of the grant date. The options were cancelled in the merger between the issuer and A-Co. Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alamosa Holdings, Inc., for no consideration.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These Non-Qualified Stock Options were granted on March 4, 2003 pursuant to the 2002 LTIP and the AirGate PCS, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These options provided for vesting in the amount of 100% of the total grant on the first anniversary of the grant date.  The options were cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $52,980.00, representing the number of shares subject to the option times the difference between the exercise price of the option and the average closing price of Alamosa common stock for the ten trading days prior to the merger multiplied by 2.87 ($36.62 per share).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Convertible into the issuer's common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">These Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) were scheduled to vest on April 8, 2005, subject certain conditions as detailed in the AirGate PCS, Inc. Director Compensation Plan.  On February 7, 2005, the Company's board of directors approved the full acceleration of vesting of these RSUs, effective immediately prior to the closing of the merger on February 15, 2005.  The RSUs were cancelled in the merger in exchange for a cash payment of $22,997.36, representing the number of RSUs times the average closing price of Alamosa common stock for the ten trading days prior to the merger multiplied by 2.87 ($36.62 per share).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">None.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert A. Ferchat</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
