Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport (KPMD)
Medium airport · Palmdale, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KPMD |
| IATA | PMD |
| Elevation | 2,543 ft (775 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 34°37'46" W 118°5'6" 34.62940, -118.08500 |
| Location | Palmdale, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22 | 12,001 ft (3658 m) | 150 ft | CON | Yes |
| 07/25 | 12,002 ft (3658 m) | 200 ft | CON | Yes |
| 072/252 | 6,000 ft (1829 m) | 75 ft | CONC-E | No |
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport at a glance
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport is a medium airport in Palmdale, California, United States, known to airline systems as PMD. The field elevation of 2,543 ft (775 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KPMD are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
Of its 3 runways, the longest — 07/25 — offers 12,002 ft (3658 m) of con surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 07 points roughly 70° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KPMD 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 Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| General William J Fox Airfield | KWJF | 17 km (9 NM) |
| Edwards Air Force Base | KEDW | 36 km (19 NM) |
| Mojave Air & Space Port | KMHV | 48 km (26 NM) |
| Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport | KBUR | 54 km (29 NM) |
| California City Municipal Airport | KL71 | 58 km (31 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 2,543 ft field elevation of Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 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 917 airports and airfields we list for United States — 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 Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport
What is the ICAO code of Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport is KPMD, and its IATA code is PMD. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport above sea level?
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport sits at an elevation of 2,543 feet (775 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport located?
The airport lies at 34.6294, -118.0850 — in Palmdale, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is General William J Fox Airfield, about 17 km away.
Does KPMD publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KPMD 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 Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport?
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport has 3 runways. The longest, 07/25, measures 12,002 ft (3658 m) with a CON surface.