Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport
PMD · KPMD · Palmdale, CA · 2,543 ft elevation · var 12E · Towered
Airport information
- ICAO / IATA
- KPMD / PMD
- Coordinates
- 34.6294, -118.0850
- Elevation
- 2,543 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 12E
- Sectional chart
- LOS ANGELES
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- Yes
- ARTCC
- LOS ANGELES (ZLA)
- Flight service (FSS)
- RIVERSIDE
- NOTAM facility
- PMD
- Attendance
- ALL 1330-0600Z++
- Beacon
- white-green (SS-SR)
- Segmented circle
- Yes
- Wind indicator
- yes
- Distance from city
- 3 NE
Weather
METAR observed
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TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21
| Event | Local (PDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 05:10 AM | 12:10Z |
| Sunrise | 05:40 AM | 12:40Z |
| Sunset | 08:08 PM | 03:08Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 08:38 PM | 03:38Z |
Plan a flight from KPMD
Night operations
- Airport lighting
- SEE RMK
- Rotating beacon
- white-green · SS-SR
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- Usually keyed on CTAF 123.7 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗
Runway lighting aids — 04: 4-light PAPI (left) · 22: 4-light PAPI (left) · 07: 4-light PAPI (left) · 25: 4-light PAPI (left).
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.
Traffic pattern
- Landing
- Rwy 04 · 040°
- Pattern
- right (turns right)
- TPA
- 3,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
- CTAF
- 123.7
Enter the right downwind for Rwy 04 at 3,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).
Runway 04/22
12,001 ft × 150 ft · Concrete (Good)- Heading
- 040° mag · 52° true
- Markings
- basic
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Traffic pattern
- Right
- Approach obstacle
- Hill — 35:1 slope to clear
- Heading
- 220° mag · 232° true
- Markings
- basic
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Traffic pattern
- Left
Runway 07/25
12,002 ft × 200 ft · Concrete (Good)- Heading
- 074° mag · 86° true
- Markings
- nonprecision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Heading
- 254° mag · 266° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Instrument landing
- ILS · CAT I · LOC 110.7 (PMD) · GS 3.00°
- Traffic pattern
- Right
Runway 072/252
6,000 ft × 75 ft · Concrete (Excellent)- Heading
- n/a
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- Heading
- n/a
- Traffic pattern
- Left
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 04/22 | 12,001 ft | |
| 07/25 | 12,002 ft | |
| 072/252 | 6,000 ft |
Communication frequencies
| Service | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A/D | 124.55 | JOSHUA APP/DEP |
| ASOS | 118.275 | |
| CTAF | 123.7 | |
| GND | 121.9 | |
| TWR | 123.7 |
Nearby navigation aids
| NavAid | Type | Freq | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMD · Palmdale | VORTAC | 114.50 | r248° / 1 NM |
| LHS · Lake Hughes | VORTAC | 108.40 | r082° / 24.5 NM |
| EDW · Edwards | VORTAC | 116.40 | r204° / 27.4 NM |
| VNY · Van Nuys | VOR-DME | 113.10 | r024° / 31.6 NM |
| VCV · Victorville | VOR-DME | 109.40 | r260° / 34.4 NM |
| POM · Pomona | VORTAC | 110.40 | r321° / 36.2 NM |
| GMN · Gorman | VORTAC | 116.10 | r089° / 39.7 NM |
Airport diagram
Open PDF ↗Preview diagram
Procedures at a glance
Approaches7
Minimums & Hot Spots
Chart Supplement FAA A/FD
Open PDF ↗Preview Chart Supplement
VFR sectional
Ownership & management
Remarks FAA
- THIS AIRPORT HAS BEEN SURVEYED BY THE NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY.
- ESTABD PRIOR TO 5/15/59.
- OFFICAL BUSINESS ONLY. MILITARY ARPT. CIVIL USE REQUIRES USAF APPROVAL AND DD FORM 2400/01/02.
- MISC: INDUS INSTLN - NO TRNSPN, LODGING OR NML SVC AVBL ON SITE.
- PRKG RAMP LCTD S OF RWY 22 & TWY V NOT VSB FM ATCT.
- UNLGT OBSTN SURROUND AFLD.
- DRAINAGE DITCHES PARL RWY 22 FM TWY S TO TWY U.
- BIRD HAZ POTENTIAL EXISTS. MIGRATORY SEASON PHASE II 1 OCT - 31 MAR. DURG BWC MODERATE, TKOF AND LNDG PERMITTED. DURG BWC SEVERE, TKOF AND LNDG PROHIBITED.
- MILITARY USE: ASSAULT LDG ZONE LCTD 1ST 6,000 EAST END OF TWY B. RWY 252 MRK ONLY FOR C-130 ASSAULT OPR; ONE-WAY LDG ONLY.
- MISC: WINDS ARE EST DUE TO FMQ-13 WIND SENSORS BEING ACCURATE TO WITHIN ONLY +/- 2 KT. ATC/WX WILL NOT INCL/RELAY WIND CORR INTO FCST/PHRASEOLOGY. THEREFORE, AIRCREWS WILL INCORPORATE A +/- 2 KT ACCURACY INTO THEIR DECISION MAKING PROCESS FOR FLYING OPR.
- TRAN ALERT (1 OF 2): NO FLEET SVC AVBL. NO FLW ME SVC AVBL. EXP PROGRESSIVE TAXI TO PRK. AIRCREW RESPONSIBLE FOR ACFT PINNING/SAFING.
- MISC: COMSEC STORAGE UNAVBL.
- CAUTION: USE EXTREME CAUTION FOR UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) OPS IN VCNTY.
- FUEL: A++ AVBL. NO TRANS ACFT FUEL SVC AVBL. LTD FUELING AVBL; GOVT ACFT ONLY 1600-2300Z++ MON-FRI. 24 HR PN WITH AFLD MGR RQR; NO SAME DAY REQ; GAS AND GO UNAVBL. EXPECT 2+ HR DELAY FOR FUEL.
- RSTD - OFFL BUS ONLY. MIL ARPT. CIVIL USE RQR USAF APVL AND DD FORM 2400/01/02. PPR RQR FOR FULL STOP LDG ONLY. CALL C661-275-9342.
- TRAN ALERT (2 OF 2): UNABLE TO SVC ACFT WITH ORDNANCE. LTD GRD SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AVBL. NO POTABLE WATER SVC. NO TRAN MAINT AVBL. GND SVC UNAVBL WHEN LIGHTNING WITHIN 5 NM.
- MISC: FLT PLANS MUST BE FILED AND ACTIVATED WITH P42 AFLD MGMT. USE FLT SVC WHEN P42 AFLD MGMT CLSD.
- CAUTION: VARIOUS ACFT TEST OPS MARKINGS PAINTED IN WHITE ON TAXIWAY UNIFORM.
- CAUTION: RWY 25 NSTD MRK: SPOT LDG ZONE MRK LCTD AT 6000 FT REMAINING MRK. RWY 07-25 DECEPTIVE SFC MRK EXCEED STANDARD BY APPROX 50 FT.
- RSTD: OVERNIGHT PRK UNAUTHD ON C-RAMP.
- RSTD: TWY L BTN RWY 04/22 AND PAX TRML UNLGTD AND USABLE FOR DAYLT VFR ONLY.
- ALL DEPT ACFT MUST FILE FPL WITH P42 AFLD MGMT OPS.
- SERVICE-JASU: POWER CARS UNAVBL.
- MISC: BASE OPS OPR 1330-0600Z++, CLSD FEDERAL HOL.
- CAUTION: CONTRACTOR LEASED SITES ARE INTENDED FOR ACFT BASED THEREIN; ENTRY GATES AND APRONS MAY NOT MEET AF OBST STDS.
- CAUTION: CIV ACFT MAY NOT BE GRANTED ACCESS TO KPMD CLASS D FOR PRACTICE APCH OR TRSN OVER ARPT BDRYS.
- PAPI RWY 04, 07, 22, & 25 OPR CONSLY.
- PRIMLY TRMG 747-707-727.
- TPA OHD 1957 FT. RECTANGULAR 1457 FT. EXP RIGHT TFC RWY 04, 25.
- CLSD FED HOL.
- OTHER TIMES CLSD TO ALL TFC WITHOUT WRITTEN APVL.
- CIVILIAN AIRPORT CONTACT AT 39516 NORTH 25TH STREET E, PALMDALE, CA 93550, CURRENTLY CLOSED.
- CHIEF OF USAF AIRFIELD OPERATIONS.
- KEN NEITZEL, FLIGHT DIRECTOR, PHONE 661-275-9341.
- RY USED AS A MILITARY ASSAULT STRIP.
- 1000 FT ASPH OVRN EACH END; OVRN POOR COND EMERG USE ONLY.
- UNUSBL BYD 5.0 NM.
- UNUSBL BYD 5.0 NM DUE TO TRRN.
- 23000' FM THR.
Nearby airports
Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open KPMD in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.
About KPMD
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport (PMD · KPMD) is an airport in Palmdale, CA, at 2,543 ft MSL. It has 3 runways, the longest 12,002 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KPMD, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does KPMD have a control tower?
Yes. Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.
What is the longest runway at KPMD?
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport has 3 runways; the longest is 12,002 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is KPMD?
Palmdale Regional Airport / USAF Plant 42 Airport is in Palmdale, CA, at an elevation of 2,543 ft MSL. Coordinates: 34.6294, -118.0850.
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