Nonstop flight route between Palmdale, California, United States and Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:
Departure Airport:
(34°37'45"N by 118°5'3"W)
Arrival Airport:
(28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E)
Distance from PMD to RCB:
10,643.79 miles (17,129.47 km)
Share this route:
Jump to:
- About this route
- PMD Airport Information
- RCB Airport Information
- Facts about PMD
- Facts about RCB
- Map of Nearest Airports to PMD
- List of Nearest Airports to PMD
- Map of Furthest Airports from PMD
- List of Furthest Airports from PMD
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCB
- List of Nearest Airports to RCB
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCB
- List of Furthest Airports from RCB
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD), Palmdale, California, United States and Richards Bay Airport (RCB), Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa would travel a Great Circle distance of 10,644 miles (or 17,129 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Palmdale Regional Airport and Richards Bay Airport, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Palmdale Regional Airport and Richards Bay Airport. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | PMD / KPMD |
| Airport Name: | Palmdale Regional Airport |
| Location: | Palmdale, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 34°37'45"N by 118°5'3"W |
| Area Served: | Palmdale, California |
| Airport Type: | Public/Military (Joint Use) |
| Elevation: | 2543 feet (775 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from PMD |
| More Information: | PMD Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RCB / FARB |
| Airport Name: | Richards Bay Airport |
| Location: | Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| GPS Coordinates: | 28°44'26"S by 32°5'30"E |
| Operator/Owner: | uMhlathuze Local Municipality |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 109 feet (33 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCB |
| More Information: | RCB Maps & Info |
Facts about Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD):
- In 1940, Palmdale Army Airfield was activated as a United States Army Air Corps airfield for use as an emergency landing strip and for B-25 Mitchell medium bomber support training during World War II.
- The closest airport to Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF), which is located only 11 miles (17 kilometers) NW of PMD.
- PMD and Plant 42 are separate facilities that share a common runway at the site.
- In January 2007 subsidies valued at $4.6 million, with $2 million slated to underwrite losses incurred from providing airline service, were raised to restore commercial service to the airport.
- On February 1, 1991, USAir Flight 1493, a Boeing 737 landing on Runway 24L at LAX, collided upon touchdown with a SkyWest Airlines Fairchild Metroliner, Flight 5569 departing to Palmdale Regional Airport, that had been holding in position on the same runway.
- The furthest airport from Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) is Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE), which is located 11,436 miles (18,405 kilometers) away in Saint-Pierre, Réunion.
- Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) has 3 runways.
Facts about Richards Bay Airport (RCB):
- The furthest airport from Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hana Airport (HNM), which is located 11,689 miles (18,812 kilometers) away in Hana, Hawaii, United States.
- Because of Richards Bay Airport's relatively low elevation of 109 feet, planes can take off or land at Richards Bay Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Richards Bay Airport (RCB) is Hluhluwe Airport (HLW), which is located 52 miles (83 kilometers) NNE of RCB.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.85 miles (17.46 km) NW | General Wm. J. Fox Airfield (WJF) | Lancaster, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 22.22 miles (35.77 km) NNE | Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) | Edwards, California, United States | |
| 3 | 29.95 miles (48.21 km) N | Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV) | Mojave, California, United States | |
| 4 | 31.71 miles (51.03 km) SW | Whiteman Airport (WHP) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| 5 | 33.50 miles (53.91 km) SSW | Bob Hope Airport (BUR) | Burbank, California, United States | |
| 6 | 37.09 miles (59.68 km) SW | Van Nuys Airport (VNY) | Van Nuys, California, United States | |
| 7 | 37.65 miles (60.59 km) S | San Gabriel Valley (El Monte) Airport (EMT) | El Monte, California, United States | |
| 8 | 39.94 miles (64.28 km) E | Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) | Victorville, California, United States | |
| 9 | 40.30 miles (64.86 km) NNW | Tehachapi Municipal Airport (TSP) | Tehachapi, California, United States | |
| 10 | 40.97 miles (65.94 km) SSE | Brackett Field (POC) | La Verne, California, United States | |
| 11 | 42.34 miles (68.13 km) SSE | Cable Airport (CCB) | Upland, California, United States | |
| 12 | 47.29 miles (76.10 km) SSW | Santa Monica Airport (SMO) | Santa Monica, California, United States | |
| 13 | 48.26 miles (77.67 km) SE | LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) | Ontario (near Los Angeles), California, United States | |
| 14 | 50.88 miles (81.89 km) SSW | Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) | Hawthorne, California, United States | |
| 15 | 50.93 miles (81.97 km) SSW | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) | Los Angeles, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,436.33 miles (18,404.95 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 2 | 11,422.33 miles (18,382.41 km) SSE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,410.70 miles (18,363.70 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,405.45 miles (18,355.25 km) S | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,324.03 miles (18,224.22 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,200.81 miles (18,025.92 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 11,196.09 miles (18,018.32 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,157.09 miles (17,955.55 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,059.82 miles (17,799.01 km) SE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,031.77 miles (17,753.87 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 11,029.40 miles (17,750.05 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 11,015.26 miles (17,727.30 km) ESE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 11,013.45 miles (17,724.39 km) SE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 11,003.76 miles (17,708.79 km) ESE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,988.60 miles (17,684.40 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 51.82 miles (83.40 km) NNE | Hluhluwe Airport (HLW) | Hluhluwe, South Africa | |
| 2 | 84.75 miles (136.40 km) SW | King Shaka International (DUR) | Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 3 | 119.80 miles (192.80 km) WSW | Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
| 4 | 142.22 miles (228.88 km) W | Ladysmith Airport (LAY) | Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 5 | 160.19 miles (257.81 km) NNW | Matsapha Airport (MTS) | Manzini, Swaziland | |
| 6 | 180.06 miles (289.77 km) SW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 7 | 186.21 miles (299.68 km) WSW | Mokhotlong Airport (MKH) | Mokhotlong, Lesotho | |
| 8 | 197.06 miles (317.14 km) N | Maputo International Airport (MPM) | Maputo, Mozambique | |
| 9 | 221.74 miles (356.85 km) WSW | Lebakeng Airport (LEF) | Lebakeng, Lesotho | |
| 10 | 235.81 miles (379.50 km) WSW | Lesobeng Airport (LES) | Lesobeng, Lesotho | |
| 11 | 239.78 miles (385.89 km) NNW | Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) | Nelspruit, South Africa | |
| 12 | 244.68 miles (393.77 km) W | Leribe Airport (LRB) | Leribe, Lesotho | |
| 13 | 254.51 miles (409.59 km) WSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| 14 | 273.13 miles (439.56 km) N | Mala Mala Airport (AAM) | Mala Mala, South Africa | |
| 15 | 274.02 miles (441.00 km) WNW | Heidelberg Airport (HDB) | Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,688.97 miles (18,811.52 km) NE | Hana Airport (HNM) | Hana, Hawaii, United States | |
| 2 | 11,676.26 miles (18,791.08 km) NE | Kahului Airport (OGG) | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | |
| 3 | 11,668.75 miles (18,778.99 km) NE | Kapalua Airport (JHM) | Lahaina, Hawaii, United States | |
| 4 | 11,668.60 miles (18,778.74 km) NE | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | |
| 5 | 11,667.34 miles (18,776.72 km) NE | Upolu Airport (UPP) | Hawi, Hawaii, United States | |
| 6 | 11,667.27 miles (18,776.61 km) NE | Kalaupapa Airport (LUP) | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 7 | 11,660.70 miles (18,766.03 km) NE | Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE) | Kamuela, Hawaii, United States | |
| 8 | 11,658.80 miles (18,762.97 km) NE | Molokai Airport (MKK) | Kaunakakai, Hawaii, United States | |
| 9 | 11,649.90 miles (18,748.65 km) NE | Pōhakuloa Training Area (BSF) | Camp Pohakuloa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 10 | 11,647.45 miles (18,744.70 km) NE | Lanai Airport (LNY) | Lanai City, Hawaii, United States | |
| 11 | 11,631.35 miles (18,718.80 km) NE | Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Kailua / Kona, Hawaii, United States | |
| 12 | 11,629.30 miles (18,715.50 km) NE | Wheeler AAF (HHI) | Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States | |
| 13 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 14 | 11,627.50 miles (18,712.60 km) NE | Hickam Field (HIK) | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| 15 | 11,625.76 miles (18,709.81 km) NE | Dillingham Airfield (HDH) | Mokuleia, Hawaii, United States | |