Edwards AFB Airport (KEDW), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Edwards AFB (KEDW) is a private-use military airfield in Edwards, California, operating under prior-permission-required access. FAA TFMSC data shows cross-border-visible business aviation traffic concentrated on a small number of movements each month, reflecting the field's restricted, mission-driven use.
Runways
Edwards AFB Airport has three paved runways. The longest, 05R/23L, is 15,024 ft long and 300 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Edwards AFB Airport has 100LL and J8 available on the field. The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Edwards AFB Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Southern California Logistics (KVCV), 31 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Edwards AFB Airport recorded 356 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in March. Business aviation traffic at KEDW peaks in March and May through July, while October sees only a handful of operations.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month March, 48 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 14.4 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Edwards AFB Airport has published operating constraints in six categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, noise procedures and other notes.
Restriction: Official business only, prior permission required at all times. Contact Base Operations by phone or, preferably, submit a PPR request form by email to obtain a PPR number. A PPR and airspace briefing are required for all aircraft with no exceptions; the briefing is located on the Edwards AFB website under R-2515 airspace. Transit through the airspace must be coordinated in advance with the airspace manager.
Restriction: Transient aircraft should coordinate in advance with the airspace manager or sport reservation center. All PPR requests require a minimum 24-hour prior notice, and same-day PPR is not available. PPR will not be issued more than 5 days prior to arrival. All PPR times are valid plus or minus 30 minutes; PPR that fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the original ETA into Edwards will be considered cancelled unless prior coordination has been made. Phone coordination is required for PPR outside of block time.
Restriction: Practice approaches to the Edwards AFB main base runway, North Base runway, and lakebed runway are prohibited when the tower is closed. Contact NASA Flight Operations, except for PPR matters. Non-NASA registered aircraft must contact NASA to park on the NASA ramp. South Base runway 07-25 is closed from official sunset to sunrise.
Caution: the VFR initial is flown 1,500 feet north of the runway centerline due to steep straight-in simulated flame-out and shuttle approaches to the runway.
Caution: occasional weather balloon launches occur approximately 1.25 nautical miles northwest, around 290 degrees, from the ATCT.
Non-participating aircraft may experience significant delays while special use airspace is sanitized to allow for IFR transit. Non-participating aircraft should plan to arrive or depart during 0200-0600Z, 1400-1700Z, and 1900-2100Z. Advanced coordination and approval are required outside these times.
Restriction: South Base runway 07/25 is limited to light aircraft of 12,500 pounds gross weight or less, with no turbojets permitted.
The VGSI is unusable beyond 7 degrees right of the runway centerline.
Caution: use caution for UAS arrivals and departures from runway 05L/23R, South Base runway 07/25, North Base runway 06/24, the Rogers/Rosamond lakebed runway complex, and within R-2515. Contact ATC for UAS flight activity.
Caution: pay careful attention to aircraft alignment on final to prevent inadvertent landing on South Base runway 25. There are numerous unmarked and unlighted obstacles surrounding the airport.
Caution: observer visibility is restricted from southwest to north due to building obstructions to vision.
Restriction: runway 05L-23R is for daylight operations only.
Runway condition code (RWYCC) is not reported.
Caution: South Base runway 07/25 has potential for hydroplaning during and after rainfall events. Pilots should use caution when braking during wet runway conditions.
Caution: runways 05L/23R and 05R/23L have potential for hydroplaning during and after rainfall events. Pilots should use caution when braking during wet runway conditions.
The first 1,000 feet of runway 05L and the first 1,000 feet of runway 23R are concrete. The middle 10,000 feet of runway 05L/23R is a porous friction surface.
Arresting hook: BAK-12(B), 2,500 feet.
Arresting hook: BAK-12B(B), 1,518 feet.
Arresting hook: BAK-12B(B), 1,559 feet.
The BAK-12B(B) arresting gear is in the raised position on the departure end of the active runway. Engagement at the approach end requires 20 minutes' prior notice. When the airfield is closed, the BAK-12B(B) is in the raised position on the departure end of runway 23 and removed from the approach end of runway 23. All raised BAK-12B units have 8-point tie-downs.
Noise abatement procedures are in effect 0400-1300Z. 412th Operations Group approval is required for touch-and-go operations. On runway 23L/R, all aircraft maintain runway heading until abeam JIPOP (EDW226013), then climb on a heading between 226 and 360 degrees counterclockwise. No eastbound turns are permitted until passing the Edwards 245 radial.
100LL fuel is available only through prior arrangement with the Aero Club; contact the Aero Club directly.
JASU equipment available: A/M32C-10D, MA-3D, two A/M32A-86D units, MC-5 LO-PACK, SGNSC, PMU-29E, and two A/M32A-60A units.
A one-hour refuel delay can be expected.
Fluid services available: JOAP, SOAP, SP, PRESAIR, LHOX, and LOX.
Aircraft with distinguished visitors aboard should contact the command post 40 nautical miles out. No COMSEC is available, so aircrews are limited to their own resources on arrival or in case of extended delay. Aircraft with UHF equipment must use UHF, not VHF, in the pattern. There is no RVR capability.
Transient aircraft may experience IFR separation delays entering the R2508 complex, and may also experience extended release delays.
Cargo aircraft requiring support must arrive prior to 0200Z. No space-available passenger support is available.
Service note: the ILS and PAPI are not coincidental.
Transient alert service is available 1400-0600Z on weekdays but is unavailable for multiple aircraft turns or sorties. Transportation service is available 1400-2330Z on weekdays. Limited fleet service is available on a non-priority basis.
BASH Phase II is in effect from March 1 to April 30 and September 15 to November 15; see NOTAMs for specific dates.
Customs, agricultural, and immigration services are not available; this airfield is not to be used as an airport of entry, and no customs or agricultural inspection is available.
Restriction: unavailable as a primary or divert location after published field hours. Field hours are subject to change near federal holidays; updates are posted via NOTAM. Call Edwards AFB Base Operations for the most current field hours.
Restriction: aircrew requiring KEDW as an alternate location must pre-coordinate with airfield management prior to mission launch to ensure the airfield will be open.
Contact Base Operations for information; a fax line is also available.
Restriction: VTOL and STOVL operations are not authorized.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Edwards AFB Airport has five airfields within 20 NM. The closest is Edwards Af Aux North Base, 5.09 NM north.
Part of the Los Angeles area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KEDW
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$600.00 catering order at KEDW.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
The $75 minimum applies below $862.50.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is Edwards AFB (KEDW) available for civilian diversions?
KEDW is a private-use military airfield and is unavailable as a primary or divert location after published field hours. Aircrew planning to use Edwards as an alternate must pre-coordinate with airfield management before mission launch to confirm the field will be open.
What fuel is available at KEDW?
Edwards AFB offers 100LL and J8 fuel, though 100LL is only available through prior arrangement with the base aero club. A one-hour refuel delay can be expected, and there is no Jet A on the field.
Are there weight restrictions on any runway at Edwards AFB?
South Base runway 07/25 at Edwards AFB is limited to light aircraft of 12,500 pounds gross weight or less, and turbojets are not permitted. That runway is also closed outside official sunrise-to-sunset hours.