China Lake Naws (Armitage Field) Airport

KNID

China Lake, US

Last Updated
Apr 21, 15:56Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 32 min ago
15:56Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -13°C
17 kt
200° G28 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1013 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNID 211556Z 20017G28KT 10SM FEW080 18/M13 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 19034/1537 SLP120 T01831128 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 2,283 ft
FEW 8,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
8,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
10,283 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

China Lake Naws (Armitage Field) Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 8,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southwest (200°) at 17 knots with gusts to 28 knots. Runway 21 is favored with a 17-knot headwind and 3-knot crosswind component (gusting to 5 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 8,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of -13°C, indicating very dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Winds are forecast to reach up to 28 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 10 to 28 knots. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 18:00Z and 23:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 03:00Z and 09:00Z.

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
1013 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
937 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (2,283 ft)
Pressure Alt
2,291 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 3,199 ft
ISA Deviation: +7.6°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNID 211500Z 2115/2215 21015G25KT 9999 FEW250 520009 530906 QNH2989INS FM211800 21020G30KT 9999 FEW100 SCT250 530009 530906 QNH2985INS TEMPO 2118/2123 21028G38KT BKN100 BKN250 BECMG 2201/2203 26010G20KT 9999 SCT250 520009 520905 QNH2990INS TEMPO 2203/2209 23015G25KT TX26/2122Z TN08/2213Z FS30237
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
16:27Z BASE
+0h
VFR 210° 15 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
18:00Z FM211800
+2h
VFR 210° 20 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
18:00Z TEMPO
+2h
VFR 210° 28 kt
Ceiling: 10,000 ft
01:00Z BECMG
+9h
VFR 260° 10 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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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
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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
NID
03
21 ✈️
08
26
14
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 03/21
Active: 21
9,991 ft 200 ft PEM 42°
16.7 kt 3.0 kt
10° angle
08/26 7,701 ft 200 ft PEM 90°
5.8 kt 16.0 kt
110° angle
14/32 9,011 ft 200 ft PEM 154°
11.8 kt 12.2 kt
46° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNID

7,237 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
95.5%
MVFR
2.7%
IFR
0.8%
LIFR
1%

China Lake Naws (Armitage Field) Airport enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 95.5% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the SW averaging 7.6 knots. Calm conditions occur 26.3% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -4°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are October, March, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: SW (225°)
Average Speed: 7.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 28 kt
Calm Winds: 26.3%
Direction Distribution:
N
3.7%
NE
3.5%
E
3.7%
SE
5.6%
S
14.8%
SW
29.1%
W
10%
NW
3.3%

Temperature Range

Average: 14.3°C
Range: -4°C to 38°C
-4°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.3%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

October March April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 03/21
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 3.2 kt
Runway 08/26
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.9 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.1 kt

Statistics computed from 7,237 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

China Lake Naws (Armitage Field) Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNID
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 2,283 ft MSL

Location

City: China Lake
Country: US
Latitude: 35.685398°
Longitude: -117.692001°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+8

Runway Information

Runway 03/21
Length: 9,991 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 08/26
Length: 7,701 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 9,011 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: PEM
ILS: No

About China Lake Naws (Armitage Field) Airport

Overview

China Lake Naws (Armitage Field) Airport serves the Naval Air Weapons Station located in the high desert region of California. Situated at 2283 ft MSL, this medium airport supports military aviation operations with three substantial runways ranging from 7,701 to 9,991 feet in length. The airport is strategically positioned near the western edge of the China Lake basin.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNID are predominantly VFR, with 93.4% of observations reporting visual flight rules. Prevailing winds from the southwest (225°) average 6.9 knots, with occasional gusts up to 23 knots. Temperature ranges from -4°C to 38°C, creating diverse atmospheric conditions that pilots must consider during flight planning. September through November offer the most consistent VFR weather patterns.

Notable Features

The airport features three parallel-oriented runways with precision equipment marking (PEM), providing multiple landing options. All three runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind components ranging from 2.9 to 5.4 knots. The high desert environment and elevation of 2283 ft MSL contribute to unique aeronautical characteristics that demand careful preflight preparation.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect excellent runway performance with long runway lengths allowing operations for various aircraft types. Visibility averages 9.7 statute miles, with only 0.6% of observations showing conditions below 3SM. Runway 03/21, the longest at 9,991 feet, provides the most extensive operational flexibility. Wind conditions consistently favor all runway configurations, offering predictable approach and landing scenarios.

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.