Richards Bay Airport (FARB)
Medium airport · Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Airport data
| Name | Richards Bay Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | FARB |
| IATA | RCB |
| Elevation | 109 ft (33 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 28°44'28" E 32°5'32" -28.74100, 32.09210 |
| Location | Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23 | 4,265 ft (1300 m) | 69 ft | ASP | Yes |
Richards Bay Airport at a glance
Richards Bay Airport is a medium airport in Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, known to airline systems as RCB. The field elevation of 109 ft (33 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at FARB are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 05/23, offers 4,265 ft (1300 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 05 points roughly 50° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for FARB shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Richards Bay Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport | FAUL | 81 km (44 NM) |
| Mkuze Airport | FAMU | 124 km (67 NM) |
| King Shaka International Airport | FALE | 135 km (73 NM) |
| Virginia Airport | FAVG | 152 km (82 NM) |
| Pietermaritzburg Airport | FAPM | 193 km (104 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Richards Bay Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 109 ft field elevation of Richards Bay Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 62 airports and airfields we list for South Africa — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Richards Bay Airport
What is the ICAO code of Richards Bay Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Richards Bay Airport is FARB, and its IATA code is RCB. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Richards Bay Airport above sea level?
Richards Bay Airport sits at an elevation of 109 feet (33 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Richards Bay Airport located?
The airport lies at -28.7410, 32.0921 — in Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Airport, about 81 km away.
Does FARB publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for FARB appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Richards Bay Airport?
Richards Bay Airport has one runway. The longest, 05/23, measures 4,265 ft (1300 m) with a ASP surface.