Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)

KNHK / NHK

Patuxent River, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 19:52Z

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
Aging 1 hour ago
19:52Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
13°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 0°C
15 kt
130° G20 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1025 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNHK 211952Z 13015G20KT 10SM FEW200 13/00 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP248 T01280000 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 39 ft
FEW 20,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
20,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
20,039 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 20,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.7 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots. Runway 14/32 is favored with a 15-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component. Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 20,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 13°C (55°F) with a dewpoint of 0°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period.

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
1025 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1024 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (39 ft)
Pressure Alt
-314 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: -545 ft
ISA Deviation: -1.9°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNHK 211500Z 2115/2215 10007KT 9999 SKC QNH3033INS BECMG 2117/2118 13010KT 9999 FEW120 FEW250 QNH3017INS BECMG 2205/2206 20012KT 9999 BKN150 QNH3001INS TX14/2120Z TN10/2210Z FN20065
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
21:31Z BASE
+0h
VFR 100° 7 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
05:00Z BECMG
+8h
VFR 200° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 15,000 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 5,021 ft 75 ft ASP
7.9 kt 12.7 kt
122° angle
06/24 11,807 ft 200 ft PEM 49°
2.3 kt 14.8 kt
81° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
9,742 ft 200 ft PEM 126°
14.8 kt 2.6 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNHK

9,171 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
73.3%
MVFR
12.4%
IFR
8.5%
LIFR
5.8%

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 73.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 14.3% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -10°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are April, November, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 9.1%
Direction Distribution:
N
13.8%
NE
8.8%
E
7.1%
SE
9.7%
S
10.3%
SW
12.5%
W
11.9%
NW
16.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.3°C
Range: -10°C to 31°C
-10°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.1%
Fog Frequency: 2.5%

Best Months for VFR

April November October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.8 kt
Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.5 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 9,171 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.