Airports / South Africa / HRS
Harrismith Airport.
Harrismith, South Africa · 5,585 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.3/5
Google rating
4 ratings
0
Operators based
5,585
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
40 nm
To the nearest alternate
Ladysmith Airport (LAY).
Overview
Harrismith Airport (FAHR / HRS) sits in Harrismith, South Africa, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 5,585 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into HRS for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Ladysmith Airport (LAY, 40 nm), Newcastle Airport (NCS, 54 nm), and Ficksburg Sentraoes Airport (FCB, 72 nm). With a single 3,937-foot paved runway, HRS can typically accommodate aircraft as large as light jets.
Charter pricing from HRS depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Harrismith.
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Field capability
ICAO
FAHR
IATA
HRS
FAA / Local
FAHR
Elevation
5,585 ft
Coordinates
28.2351° S · 29.1062° 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 5,585 ft, HRS sits higher than 97% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register, a high-elevation field where density altitude can trim aircraft performance on warm days.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,937 ft
- 15/333,937 ft × 49 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,937 ft
HRS's 3,937 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets.
- 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, and at 5,585 ft this field's density altitude can extend the runway a jet actually needs on warm days. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 40nmLAYLadysmith AirportLadysmith
- 54nmNCSNewcastle AirportNewcastle
- 72nmFCBFicksburg Sentraoes AirportFicksburg
- 103nmZECSecunda AirportSecunda
- 109nmPZBPietermaritzburg AirportPietermaritzburg
- 110nmMSUMoshoeshoe I International AirportMaseru(Mazenod)
Location
Open the full mapFAHR · Harrismith Airport · Harrismith, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from HRS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,958 nm | 16h 35m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,053 nm | 16h 48m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,084 nm | 16h 52m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,092 nm | 16h 54m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,176 nm | 17h 5m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,568 nm | 18h 0m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,677 nm | 18h 15m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,913 nm | 18h 48m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use HRS?
- Harrismith Airport's longest paved runway is 3,937 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets. 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 HRS?
- Harrismith Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,937 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to HRS?
- The closest alternate is Ladysmith Airport (LAY), about 40 nm away, followed by Newcastle Airport (NCS) at 54 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from HRS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 35m (6,958 nm), New York about 16h 48m (7,053 nm), Miami about 16h 52m (7,084 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.