Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field

KNQX / NQX

Key West, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 19:53Z

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 14 min ago
19:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
8 kt
180°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1017 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNQX 041953Z 18008KT 10SM CLR 32/23 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP164 CB DSNT NE T2 SET T03220233 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica 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 8 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 7-knot headwind and 4-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 32°C (90°F) with a dewpoint of 23°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

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

QNH
1017 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1017 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (6 ft)
Pressure Alt
-107 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,934 ft
ISA Deviation: +17.0°C

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
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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
Active: 21
7,000 ft 150 ft PEM 32°
6.9 kt 4.0 kt
30° angle
07/25 10,000 ft 200 ft PEM 73°
2.3 kt 7.7 kt
107° angle
13/31 7,000 ft 150 ft PEM 131°
5.2 kt 6.0 kt
49° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNQX

10,596 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
91.4%
MVFR
7%
IFR
0.8%
LIFR
0.8%

Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 91.4% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the E averaging 9.4 knots, with gusts recorded up to 113 knots. Temperatures typically range between 8°C and 34°C with an average of 24.7°C. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: E (90°)
Average Speed: 9.4 kt
Maximum Recorded: 113 kt
Calm Winds: 3.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
27%
N
16.2%
S
6.1%
W
2.2%
NE
23.1%
NW
4.6%
SE
14.5%
SW
2.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 24.7°C
Range: 8°C to 34°C
8°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.5%
Fog Frequency: 0.1%

Best Months for VFR

July June February

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt
Runway 07/25
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.9 kt

Statistics computed from 10,596 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.