Airports / California / PMD
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport.
Palmdale, California · 2,543 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.2/5
Google rating
81 ratings
0
Operators based
2,543
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
9 nm
To the nearest alternate
General William J Fox Airfield (WJF), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport (KPMD / PMD) is a mid-sized airport serving Palmdale, California. The airport sits 2,543 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 PMD for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are General William J Fox Airfield (WJF, 9 nm), Edwards Air Force Base (EDW, 20 nm), and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR, 29 nm). With 3 runways, the longest 12,002-foot paved runway, PMD can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from PMD depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Palmdale.
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Field capability
ICAO
KPMD
IATA
PMD
FAA / Local
PMD
Elevation
2,543 ft
Coordinates
34.6294° N · 118.0850° 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 CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At 2,543 ft, PMD sits higher than 88% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 12,002 ft
- 07/2512,002 ft × 200 ftConcreteLighted
- 04/2212,001 ft × 150 ftConcreteLighted
- 072/2526,000 ft × 75 ftConcreteUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,002 ft
PMD's 12,002 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.
- 9nmWJFGeneral William J Fox AirfieldLancaster
- 20nmEDWEdwards Air Force BaseEdwards
- 29nmBURHollywood Burbank AirportBurbank
- 32nmVNYVan Nuys AirportVan Nuys
- 41nmSMOSanta Monica Municipal AirportSanta Monica
- 42nmONTOntario International AirportOntario
Location
Open the full mapKPMD · Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport · Palmdale, CA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from PMD on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 168 nm | 47m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 275 nm | 1h 2m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 313 nm | 1h 8m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 470 nm | 1h 30m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 604 nm | 1h 48m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 613 nm | 1h 50m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 638 nm | 1h 53m |
| Denver (DEN) | 713 nm | 2h 3m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use PMD?
- Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport's longest paved runway is 12,002 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 PMD?
- Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 12,002 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to PMD?
- The closest alternate is General William J Fox Airfield (WJF), about 9 nm away, followed by Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) at 20 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from PMD to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: San Francisco about 1h 2m (275 nm), Scottsdale about 1h 8m (313 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 30m (470 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.