Airports / South Africa / WKF
Waterkloof Air Force Base.
Pretoria, South Africa · 4,940 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FAWK
IATA WKF
0
Operators based
4,940
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
3 nm
To the nearest alternate
Swartkop Air Force Base (FASK), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Waterkloof Air Force Base (FAWK / WKF) sits in Pretoria, South Africa, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 4,940 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 WKF for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Swartkop Air Force Base (FASK, 3 nm), Grand Central Airport (GCJ, 10 nm), and Wonderboom Airport (PRY, 11 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 11,001-foot paved runway, WKF can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from WKF depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under AFB. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Pretoria.
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Field capability
ICAO
FAWK
IATA
WKF
FAA / Local
FAWK
Elevation
4,940 ft
Coordinates
25.8300° S · 28.2225° 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 4,940 ft, WKF sits higher than 87% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 11,001 ft
- 01/1911,001 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
- 06/246,299 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 11,001 ft
WKF's 11,001 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, and at 4,940 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.
- 3nmFASKSwartkop Air Force BasePretoria
- 10nmGCJGrand Central AirportMidrand
- 11nmPRYWonderboom AirportPretoria
- 17nmHLALanseria International AirportJohannesburg
- 19nmJNBO.R. Tambo International AirportJohannesburg
- 25nmQRARand AirportJohannesburg
Location
Open the full mapFAWK · Waterkloof Air Force Base · Pretoria, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from WKF on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 6,834 nm | 16h 18m |
| New York (TEB) | 6,932 nm | 16h 31m |
| Miami (MIA) | 6,997 nm | 16h 40m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,003 nm | 16h 41m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,060 nm | 16h 49m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,461 nm | 17h 45m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,558 nm | 17h 59m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,825 nm | 18h 36m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use WKF?
- Waterkloof Air Force Base's longest paved runway is 11,001 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 WKF?
- Waterkloof Air Force Base has 2 runways; the longest measures 11,001 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to WKF?
- The closest alternate is Swartkop Air Force Base (FASK), about 3 nm away, followed by Grand Central Airport (GCJ) at 10 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from WKF to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 18m (6,834 nm), New York about 16h 31m (6,932 nm), Miami about 16h 40m (6,997 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.