Airports / Texas / DYS
Dyess Air Force Base.
Abilene, Texas · 1,789 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
KDYS
IATA DYS
0
Operators based
1,789
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
9 nm
To the nearest alternate
Abilene Regional Airport (ABI).
Overview
Dyess Air Force Base (KDYS / DYS) sits in Abilene, Texas, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 1,789 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 DYS for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Abilene Regional Airport (ABI, 9 nm), San Angelo Regional Mathis Field (SJT, 72 nm), and Curtis Field (BBD, 79 nm). With 3 runways, the longest 13,500-foot paved runway, DYS can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from DYS depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Abilene.
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Field capability
ICAO
KDYS
IATA
DYS
FAA / Local
DYS
Elevation
1,789 ft
Coordinates
32.4208° N · 99.8546° W
Airspace
C · CharlieClass C, CharlieRadar-controlled airspace around mid-size hubs. Aircraft must be in two-way radio contact and squawking a transponder while approach control sequences arrivals.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs TX fields
state range 6–4,849 ft
At 1,789 ft, DYS sits higher than 77% of the 159 Texas fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 13,500 ft
- 16/3413,500 ft × 300 ftAsphaltLighted
- 161/3413,500 ft × 60 ftTreatedUnlit
- 162/3423,500 ft × 60 ftAsphaltUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 13,500 ft
DYS's 13,500 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.
- 9nmABIAbilene Regional AirportAbilene
- 72nmSJTSan Angelo Regional Mathis FieldSan Angelo
- 79nmBBDCurtis FieldBrady
- 93nmMWLMineral Wells Regional AirportMineral Wells
- 115nmJCTKimble County AirportJunction
- 116nmSPSWichita Falls Municipal Airport / Sheppard Air Force BaseWichita Falls
Location
Open the full mapKDYS · Dyess Air Force Base · Abilene, TX
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from DYS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas (DAL) | 154 nm | 45m |
| Austin (AUS) | 175 nm | 48m |
| Houston (HOU) | 288 nm | 1h 4m |
| Denver (DEN) | 504 nm | 1h 34m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 532 nm | 1h 38m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 552 nm | 1h 41m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 611 nm | 1h 49m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 690 nm | 2h 0m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use DYS?
- Dyess Air Force Base's longest paved runway is 13,500 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 DYS?
- Dyess Air Force Base has 3 runways; the longest measures 13,500 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to DYS?
- The closest alternate is Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), about 9 nm away, followed by San Angelo Regional Mathis Field (SJT) at 72 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from DYS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Houston about 1h 4m (288 nm), Denver about 1h 34m (504 nm), Aspen about 1h 38m (532 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.