Airports / South Africa / HDS
Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit.
Hoedspruit, South Africa · 1,801 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FAHS
IATA HDS
0
Operators based
1,801
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
26 nm
To the nearest alternate
Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit, listed as FAHS / HDS, is a mid-sized airport in Hoedspruit, South Africa. The field lies at an elevation of 1,801 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
HDS has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW, 26 nm), Malamala Airport (AAM, 38 nm), and Skukuza Airport (SZK, 46 nm). HDS offers 2 runways, the longest 13,094-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of HDS vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Hoedspruit Airport and Hoedspruit Air Force Base. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from HDS, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
FAHS
IATA
HDS
FAA / Local
—
Elevation
1,801 ft
Coordinates
24.3619° S · 31.0529° 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
Yes
Elevation vs South Africa fields
state range 20–5,700 ft
At 1,801 ft, HDS sits lower than 61% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 13,094 ft
- 18/3613,094 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 09/276,939 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 13,094 ft
HDS's 13,094 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.
- 26nmPHWHendrik Van Eck AirportPhalaborwa
- 38nmAAMMalamala AirportMalamala
- 46nmSZKSkukuza AirportSkukuza
- 51nmLTATzaneen AirportTzaneen
- 61nmMQPKruger Mpumalanga International AirportMbombela
- 81nmFABRBarberton AirportUmjindi (Barberton)
Location
Open the full mapFAHT · Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit · Hoedspruit, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from HDS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,903 nm | 16h 27m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,007 nm | 16h 42m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,118 nm | 16h 57m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,122 nm | 16h 58m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,142 nm | 17h 1m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,556 nm | 17h 58m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,634 nm | 18h 9m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,944 nm | 18h 52m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use HDS?
- Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit's longest paved runway is 13,094 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 HDS?
- Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit has 2 runways; the longest measures 13,094 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to HDS?
- The closest alternate is Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW), about 26 nm away, followed by Malamala Airport (AAM) at 38 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from HDS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 27m (6,903 nm), New York about 16h 42m (7,007 nm), Miami about 16h 57m (7,118 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.