Porter County Regional (KVPZ), Indiana
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Porter County Regional Airport, KVPZ, serves the Valparaiso, Indiana area with a 7,001-foot primary runway capable of handling a wide range of business aircraft. Located roughly 43.81 nautical miles from its nearest metro area, the airport recorded 3,136 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with business aviation accounting for 2,201 of those movements. The field is non-towered, offers both 100LL and Jet A fuel, and operates on a published attendance schedule rather than continuous staffing.
Runways
Porter County Regional has two paved runways. The longest, 09/27, is 7,001 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Porter County Regional has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Porter County Regional does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Gary / Chicago International (KGYY), 21 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Porter County Regional recorded 2,201 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May. Business aviation traffic at KVPZ is concentrated more heavily in the spring and summer months, with May, July, and August showing the highest monthly volumes according to 2025 traffic data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month May, 237 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Porter County Regional averages 5.4 days above 90°F in July and 27.7 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85.0°F, and January the coldest, at 33.9°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Porter County Regional has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Runway 09/27 is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 operations involving scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 30 passenger seats. Unscheduled air carrier operations with more than 30 passenger seats require a 90-day prior permission request; contact the airport manager.
Runway 18/36 is not available for Part 121 or Part 380 operations involving scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying flights with more than 30 passenger seats. Unscheduled air carrier operations with more than 30 passenger seats require a 90-day prior permission request; contact the airport manager.
For clearance delivery, contact South Bend Approach. When South Bend Approach is closed, contact Chicago ARTCC for clearance delivery.
MALSR is activated on runway 27. REIL is installed on runways 9, 18, and 36. PAPI is installed on runways 9, 18, 27, and 36. HIRL serves runway 09/27 and MIRL serves runway 18/36, both controlled via CTAF. HIRL on runway 09/27 and MIRL on runway 18/36 are preset to low intensity from dusk until 2300, with increased intensity available via CTAF.
A marked power line at 96 feet above ground is located 5,601 feet from the runway end, perpendicular to the centerline, on a 56:1 slope.
Birds and deer are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 405/F/C/X/T
PCR VALUE: 140/F/C/X/T
The visual glide slope indicator is unusable beyond 8 degrees right of centerline.
The visual glide slope indicator is unusable beyond 7 degrees right of centerline.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Porter County Regional has five airfields within 21 NM. The closest is La Porte Municipal (KPPO), 14.17 NM northeast.
Part of the Chicago area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KVPZ
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.
$2,400.00 catering order at KVPZ.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Does KVPZ have customs on site?
Porter County Regional does not have customs on site. The nearest customs facility is Gary / Chicago International, located approximately 20.77 nautical miles away. Flight crews arriving from international points need to plan their customs clearance through that airport rather than at KVPZ directly. This distance should factor into routing and ground transportation planning for any international arrival. Dispatchers should confirm current customs procedures at Gary / Chicago International before filing an itinerary through KVPZ.
What runways are available at Porter County Regional Airport?
Porter County Regional Airport, identifier KVPZ, has two paved asphalt runways. Runway 09/27 is the longer of the two at 7,001 feet by 150 feet, making it the primary runway for business aviation traffic. Runway 18/36 measures 4,001 feet by 75 feet. Both runways carry PCR values, listed as 405/F / C/X / T and 140/F / C/X / T respectively, for load planning purposes. Neither runway is towered, so operations are conducted via CTAF.
Are there restrictions on scheduled passenger operations at KVPZ?
Yes, both runways at KVPZ carry the same restriction on certain passenger operations. Runway 09/27 and runway 18/36 are not available for Part 121 or Part 380 scheduled passenger-carrying operations exceeding 9 passenger seats, or non-scheduled passenger-carrying operations exceeding 30 passenger seats. Unscheduled air carrier operations greater than 30 passenger seats require a 90-day prior permission request submitted to the airport manager. This restriction applies uniformly across both runways at Porter County Regional. Operators planning larger charter movements should build this lead time into their scheduling.
Is fuel available at Porter County Regional Airport?
Porter County Regional Airport, ICAO code KVPZ, stocks both 100LL and Jet A fuel. The field is attended Monday through Friday from 0600 to 2200 local, and Saturday through Sunday from 0700 to 1900 local, based on the published attendance schedule. Operators should plan fuel stops around these attendance hours since the airport is not towered and does not offer continuous staffing. Jet A availability supports turbine business aircraft, which make up the bulk of the field's annual operations. Confirming hours ahead of arrival is advisable for flights operating near the edges of the attended window.
What wildlife or obstacle hazards are noted at KVPZ?
Porter County Regional Airport reports birds and deer both on the airport and in the vicinity, a standing hazard noted in the field remarks. Separately, an obstruction remark describes a marked power line at 96 feet above ground, located 5,601 feet from a runway end, perpendicular to the runway centerline, with a 56:1 slope. Crews should account for both hazards during approach and departure planning, particularly during low-visibility or nighttime operations when wildlife activity and obstacle clearance margins matter most. These conditions are part of the airport's standard remarks and should be briefed accordingly.