Airports / South Africa / PHW
Hendrik Van Eck Airport.
Phalaborwa, South Africa · 1,432 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FAPH
IATA PHW
0
Operators based
1,432
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
26 nm
To the nearest alternate
Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Hendrik Van Eck Airport, listed as FAPH / PHW, is a mid-sized airport in Phalaborwa, South Africa. Field elevation is 1,432 feet above sea level. Scheduled carriers operate here, and the field also sees regular private and charter activity.
While no charter operators list PHW as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS, 26 nm), Tzaneen Airport (LTA, 46 nm), and Malamala Airport (AAM, 57 nm). The field has a single 4,491-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to light jets.
Trip costs from PHW 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 PHW to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
FAPH
IATA
PHW
FAA / Local
FAPH
Elevation
1,432 ft
Coordinates
23.9372° S · 31.1554° 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 1,432 ft, PHW sits lower than 65% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 4,491 ft
- 01/194,491 ft × 60 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 4,491 ft
PHW's 4,491 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. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 26nmHDSEastgate Airport / Air Force Base HoedspruitHoedspruit
- 46nmLTATzaneen AirportTzaneen
- 57nmAAMMalamala AirportMalamala
- 66nmSZKSkukuza AirportSkukuza
- 87nmMQPKruger Mpumalanga International AirportMbombela
- 92nmFAPIPietersburg Municipal AirportPolokwane
Location
Open the full mapFAPH · Hendrik Van Eck Airport · Phalaborwa, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from PHW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,892 nm | 16h 26m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,997 nm | 16h 40m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,116 nm | 16h 57m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,119 nm | 16h 57m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,133 nm | 16h 59m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,549 nm | 17h 57m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,623 nm | 18h 8m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,941 nm | 18h 52m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use PHW?
- Hendrik Van Eck Airport's longest paved runway is 4,491 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 PHW?
- Hendrik Van Eck Airport has one runway; the longest measures 4,491 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to PHW?
- The closest alternate is Eastgate Airport / Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS), about 26 nm away, followed by Tzaneen Airport (LTA) at 46 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from PHW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 26m (6,892 nm), New York about 16h 40m (6,997 nm), Miami about 16h 57m (7,116 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.