Airports / South Africa / BIY
Bisho Airport.
Bisho, South Africa · 1,950 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.4/5
Google rating
8 ratings
0
Operators based
1,950
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
29 nm
To the nearest alternate
King Phalo Airport (ELS).
Overview
Located in Bisho, South Africa, Bisho Airport (FABE / BIY) operates as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 1,950 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list BIY as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are King Phalo Airport (ELS, 29 nm), Queenstown Airport (UTW, 62 nm), and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ, 106 nm). The field has a single 8,202-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from BIY are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from BIY to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
FABE
IATA
BIY
FAA / Local
FABE
Elevation
1,950 ft
Coordinates
32.8971° S · 27.2791° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs South Africa fields
state range 20–5,700 ft
At 1,950 ft, BIY sits lower than 58% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 8,202 ft
- 08/268,202 ft × 197 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 8,202 ft
BIY's 8,202 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 29nmELSKing Phalo AirportEast London
- 62nmUTWQueenstown AirportQueenstown
- 106nmPLZChief Dawid Stuurman International AirportGqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- 108nmUTTK. D. Matanzima AirportMthatha
- 138nmJOHPort St Johns AirportPort St Johns
- 198nmMGHMargate AirportMargate
Location
Open the full mapFABE · Bisho Airport · Bisho, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from BIY on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 7,044 nm | 16h 47m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,066 nm | 16h 50m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,079 nm | 16h 52m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,126 nm | 16h 58m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,235 nm | 17h 14m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,598 nm | 18h 4m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,743 nm | 18h 24m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,889 nm | 18h 45m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use BIY?
- Bisho Airport's longest paved runway is 8,202 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at BIY?
- Bisho Airport has one runway; the longest measures 8,202 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to BIY?
- The closest alternate is King Phalo Airport (ELS), about 29 nm away, followed by Queenstown Airport (UTW) at 62 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from BIY to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 47m (7,044 nm), Miami about 16h 50m (7,066 nm), Palm Beach about 16h 52m (7,079 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.