Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)

KNHK / NHK

Patuxent River, US

Last Updated
Jul 27, 05:52Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 4 min ago
05:52Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 19°C
3 kt
180°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1011 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNHK 270552Z AUTO 18003KT 10SM CLR 23/19 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP107 T02280194 10250 20228 58009 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 19°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist, Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 02:00Z and 08:00Z. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 21:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1011 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1010 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (39 ft)
Pressure Alt
107 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,076 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNHK 2623/2723 16008G13KT 9999 FEW050 SCT120 QNH2980INS BECMG 2700/2702 18008KT 9999 VCTS SCT035 BKN060CB BKN120 QNH2983INS TEMPO 2702/2708 VRB15G25KT 1600 TSRA BR BKN030CB OVC060 FM270800 VRB06KT 9999 SCT040 BKN120 QNH2980INS BECMG 2716/2717 14008KT 9999 VCTS BKN010CB BKN080 BKN130 QNH2980INS TEMPO 2718/2721 VRB15G25KT 1600 TSRA BKN010CB OVC080 AUTOMATED SENSOR METWATCH 2623 TIL 2707 TX27/2718Z TN22/2709Z FN00319
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
05:56Z BASE
+0h
VFR 160° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
08:00Z FM270800
+3h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 12,000 ft
16:00Z BECMG
+11h
MVFR 140° 8 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 1,000 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
NHK
02
20 ✈️
06
24
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 02/20
Active: 20
5,021 ft 75 ft ASP
2.8 kt 1.0 kt
20° angle
06/24 11,807 ft 200 ft PEM 49°
2.0 kt 2.3 kt
131° angle
14/32 9,742 ft 200 ft PEM 126°
1.8 kt 2.4 kt
54° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNHK

12,479 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.8%
MVFR
11.8%
IFR
7.5%
LIFR
5%

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 75.8% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -10°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, April, July.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 8%
Direction Distribution:
E
7.7%
N
12.9%
S
11.3%
W
11.4%
NE
8.7%
NW
15.1%
SE
10.8%
SW
14.1%

Temperature Range

Average: 12°C
Range: -10°C to 38°C
-10°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.3%
Fog Frequency: 1.9%

Best Months for VFR

June April July

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.2 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 12,479 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNHK
IATA Code: NHK
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 39 ft MSL

Location

City: Patuxent River
Country: US
Latitude: 38.285999°
Longitude: -76.411797°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 02/20
Length: 5,021 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 06/24
Length: 11,807 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 9,742 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) serves as a critical naval aviation research and development facility located in southern Maryland. The airport supports military flight operations and aerospace testing, situated near the Chesapeake Bay at a low elevation of 39 feet MSL. Its strategic location and substantial runway infrastructure make it a key naval aviation center.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNHK are predominantly VFR, with 75% of observations showing clear flying conditions. Temperature ranges from -8°C to 29°C, providing relatively moderate operational environments throughout the year. Wind patterns are consistently westerly at an average of 8.8 knots, with occasional gusts up to 32 knots, and calm conditions occurring 9.7% of the time.

Notable Features

The airfield features three substantial runways, with the longest being Runway 06/24 at 11,807 feet of paved surface. All runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, indicating excellent wind compatibility for most aircraft operations. The airport's coastal Maryland location suggests potential for rapid weather transitions typical of maritime environments.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistent crosswind conditions averaging 5.3-5.9 knots across runways. October, November, and January statistically offer the most favorable VFR conditions for arrivals and departures. With an average visibility of 9.2 statute miles and minimal fog occurrence (0.9%), approaches are generally straightforward, though standard naval air station procedures should be anticipated.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.