Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)

KNHK / NHK

Patuxent River, US

Last Updated
Jun 10, 22:52Z

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
22:52Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
27°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
11 kt
240°
10 SM
Visibility
15,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNHK 102252Z 24011KT 10SM FEW020 SCT050 BKN150 27/23 A2983 RMK AO2 RAE12 TSE26 SLP101 CB DSNT NE MOV NE T2 SET P0002 T02670228 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 39 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
SCT 5,000 ft AGL
BKN 15,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,039 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,039 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,039 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 15,000 feet and 10 SM visibility. Note: This observation is 1.1 hours old and conditions may have changed.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west-southwest (240°) at 11 knots. Runway 24 is favored with a 11-knot headwind and 0-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 15000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 27°C (81°F) with a dewpoint of 23°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.

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
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1009 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (39 ft)
Pressure Alt
137 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,586 ft
ISA Deviation: +12.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNHK 102300Z 1023/1123 VRB06KT 9999 VCSH FEW015 SCT040 BKN100 QNH2980INS BECMG 1100/1102 22006KT 9999 NSW FEW030 SCT100 QNH2980INS BECMG 1105/1106 24006KT 9999 FEW030 SCT150 QNH2982INS FM111100 26007KT 9999 SCT050 BKN250 QNH2974INS AUTOMATED SENSOR METWATCH 1103 TIL 1108 TX32/1120Z TN24/1110Z FN20117
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:54Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
00:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 220° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
05:00Z BECMG
+6h
VFR 240° 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
11:00Z FM111100
+12h
LIFR 260° 7 kt
Visibility: 1.108 km
Ceiling: 25,000 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
6.8 kt 8.7 kt
128° angle
✈️ 06/24
Active: 24
11,807 ft 200 ft PEM 49°
11.0 kt 0.0 kt
0° angle
14/32 9,742 ft 200 ft PEM 126°
4.5 kt 10.0 kt
114° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNHK

10,911 observations | Sep 2025 - Jun 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
74.4%
MVFR
12%
IFR
8%
LIFR
5.6%

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 74.4% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.6% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the NW averaging 9.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 34 knots. Temperature extremes range from -10°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are June, April, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 8.4%
Direction Distribution:
N
14%
NE
8.8%
E
7.1%
SE
10.4%
S
10.9%
SW
12.8%
W
11.6%
NW
16%

Temperature Range

Average: 9.9°C
Range: -10°C to 34°C
-10°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 9.1 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.5%
Fog Frequency: 2.1%

Best Months for VFR

June April November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.7 kt
Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.4 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 10,911 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jun 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.