Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field

KNQX / NQX

Key West, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:53Z

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 18 min ago
11:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
23°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 15°C
12 kt
90°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1020 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNQX 221153Z 09012KT 10SM SCT035 23/15 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP201 T02330150 10233 20222 53011 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 6 ft
SCT 3,500 ft AGL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
3,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,506 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 3,500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (90°) at 12 knots. Runway 07/25 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: scattered at 3,500 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 23°C (73°F) with a dewpoint of 15°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions.

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.

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
1020 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1020 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (6 ft)
Pressure Alt
-197 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 764 ft
ISA Deviation: +8.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNQX 220600Z 2207/2307 07011G20KT 9999 FEW035 OVC050 540005 QNH3007INS BECMG 2209/2210 08014G20KT 9999 SCT250 SCT120 540005 QNH3005INS FM221400 10017G24KT 9999 SCT035 SCT250 510005 QNH3001INS AUTOMATED SENSOR METWATCH 2207 TIL 2210 TX28/2219Z TN22/2209Z FN00284
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:10Z BASE
+0h
VFR 70° 11 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 5,000 ft
14:00Z FM221400
+2h
IFR 100° 17 kt
Visibility: 2.21 km

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
NQX
03
21
07 ✈️
25
13
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
03/21 7,000 ft 150 ft PEM 32°
6.4 kt 10.2 kt
58° angle
✈️ 07/25
Active: 07
10,000 ft 200 ft PEM 73°
11.3 kt 4.1 kt
20° angle
13/31 7,000 ft 150 ft PEM 131°
9.1 kt 7.9 kt
41° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNQX

7,951 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
90.6%
MVFR
7.5%
IFR
0.9%
LIFR
1%

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 90.6% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the NE averaging 9.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 113 knots. Temperatures typically range between 8°C and 32°C with an average of 23.6°C. The best months for VFR flying are February, November, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NE (45°)
Average Speed: 9.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 113 kt
Calm Winds: 3.7%
Direction Distribution:
N
19.3%
NE
29.3%
E
27.1%
SE
7.6%
S
3.9%
SW
1.9%
W
2.1%
NW
5%

Temperature Range

Average: 23.6°C
Range: 8°C to 32°C
8°C 32°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.6%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

February November April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.4 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.6 kt

Statistics computed from 7,951 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNQX
IATA Code: NQX
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 6 ft MSL

Location

City: Key West
Country: US
Latitude: 24.575800°
Longitude: -81.688904°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 7,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 07/25
Length: 10,000 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 13/31
Length: 7,000 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica 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

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field is a medium airport located in Key West, Florida, serving military aviation operations. Situated at a low elevation of 6 ft MSL, the airport provides strategic aviation capabilities in the southernmost point of the continental United States. Its three runways offer significant operational flexibility for naval aviation training and mission support.

Flying Conditions

The airport experiences predominantly VFR conditions 92.1% of the time, with excellent visibility averaging 9.8 statute miles. Wind patterns are consistently from the northeast at an average of 8.5 knots, with November, December, and September presenting the most favorable flying conditions. Temperature variations are moderate, ranging from 12°C to 32°C with an average of 24.4°C, supporting stable flight operations throughout the year.

Notable Features

Located in the Florida Keys, the airport is characterized by its maritime environment and proximity to coastal terrain. The three parallel runways (03/21, 07/25, and 13/31) provide comprehensive wind coverage, with each runway offering 100% favorable wind alignment. The longest runway (07/25) extends 10,000 feet, accommodating a wide range of military aircraft operations.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect minimal crosswind challenges, with average crosswind components ranging from 4.6 to 6.4 knots across the runways. The consistent northeast wind and excellent visibility create predictable approach conditions. With extremely low IFR occurrence (0.8%) and minimal fog presence (0.1%), instrument approaches are generally straightforward and reliable.

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.