3/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Parking was free and super easy to navigate, with plenty of staff directing traffic and helping people find their way.”
Thor Johnson5★ on Google
Airports / South Carolina / KNBC
Medium airport · KNBC
Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field.
Beaufort, South Carolina · 37 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.8/5
Google rating
93 ratings
0
Operators based
37
Elevation ft
Beaufort, South CarolinaELEV 37 FTMedium airport
3.8
Google rating
93
Google reviews
ratings on Google
37
Field elevation
feet above sea level
15
Nearest alternate
nm to HHH
Field standing
15 nm
To the nearest alternate
Hilton Head Airport (HHH), 4 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field (KNBC) is a mid-sized airport serving Beaufort, South Carolina. The airport sits 37 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 KNBC for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Hilton Head Airport (HHH, 15 nm), Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV, 32 nm), and Hunter Army Air Field (SVN, 35 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 12,202-foot paved runway, KNBC can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from KNBC depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under BFT. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Beaufort.
Run an FBO at KNBC? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Parking was free and super easy to navigate, with plenty of staff directing traffic and helping people find their way.”
Thor Johnson5★ on Google
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Parking was free and super easy to navigate, with plenty of staff directing traffic and helping people find their way.”
Thor Johnson5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KNBC
IATA
n/a
FAA / Local
NBC
Elevation
37 ft
Coordinates
32.4774° N · 80.7232° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs SC fields
state range 10–1,048 ft
At 37 ft, KNBC sits lower than 79% of the 43 South Carolina fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 12,202 ft
- 05/2312,202 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
- 14/328,001 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,202 ft
KNBC's 12,202 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.
- 15nmHHHHilton Head AirportHilton Head Island
- 32nmSAVSavannah Hilton Head International AirportSavannah
- 35nmSVNHunter Army Air FieldSavannah
- 43nmCHSCharleston International AirportCharleston
- 59nmOGBOrangeburg Municipal AirportOrangeburg
- 82nmAGSAugusta Regional At Bush FieldAugusta
Location
Open the full mapKNBC · Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field · Beaufort, SC
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from KNBC on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 349 nm | 1h 13m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 368 nm | 1h 15m |
| Miami (MIA) | 402 nm | 1h 20m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 420 nm | 1h 23m |
| New York (TEB) | 596 nm | 1h 47m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 665 nm | 1h 57m |
| Boston (BED) | 749 nm | 2h 9m |
| Houston (HOU) | 767 nm | 2h 11m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use KNBC?
- Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field's longest paved runway is 12,202 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 KNBC?
- Beaufort MCAS - Merritt Field has 2 runways; the longest measures 12,202 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to KNBC?
- The closest alternate is Hilton Head Airport (HHH), about 15 nm away, followed by Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) at 32 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from KNBC to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Palm Beach about 1h 13m (349 nm), Nashville about 1h 15m (368 nm), Miami about 1h 20m (402 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.