Airports / South Africa / PZB
Pietermaritzburg Airport.
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa · 2,423 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FAPM
IATA PZB
0
Operators based
2,423
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
35 nm
To the nearest alternate
Virginia Airport (VIR), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Pietermaritzburg Airport (FAPM / PZB) is a mid-sized airport serving Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The airport sits 2,423 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into PZB for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Virginia Airport (VIR, 35 nm), King Shaka International Airport (DUR, 38 nm), and Ladysmith Airport (LAY, 73 nm). With a single 5,043-foot paved runway, PZB can typically accommodate aircraft as large as super-midsize jets.
Charter pricing from PZB depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Pietermaritzburg.
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Field capability
ICAO
FAPM
IATA
PZB
FAA / Local
FAPM
Elevation
2,423 ft
Coordinates
29.6490° S · 30.3987° 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 2,423 ft, PZB sits lower than 53% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 5,043 ft
- 16/345,043 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 5,043 ft
PZB's 5,043 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize 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.
- 35nmVIRVirginia AirportDurban
- 38nmDURKing Shaka International AirportDurban
- 73nmLAYLadysmith AirportLadysmith
- 73nmMGHMargate AirportMargate
- 96nmULDPrince Mangosuthu Buthelezi AirportUlundi
- 104nmRCBRichards Bay AirportRichards Bay
Location
Open the full mapFAPM · Pietermaritzburg Airport · Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from PZB on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 7,063 nm | 16h 50m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,156 nm | 17h 3m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,172 nm | 17h 5m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,181 nm | 17h 6m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,278 nm | 17h 20m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,666 nm | 18h 14m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,780 nm | 18h 30m |
| Houston (HOU) | 8,000 nm | 19h 0m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use PZB?
- Pietermaritzburg Airport's longest paved runway is 5,043 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to super-midsize 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 PZB?
- Pietermaritzburg Airport has one runway; the longest measures 5,043 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to PZB?
- The closest alternate is Virginia Airport (VIR), about 35 nm away, followed by King Shaka International Airport (DUR) at 38 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from PZB to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 50m (7,063 nm), New York about 17h 3m (7,156 nm), Miami about 17h 5m (7,172 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.