Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field)

KNHK / NHK

Patuxent River, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 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
Recent 1 hour ago
22:52Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
33°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 26°C
3 kt
130°
10 SM
Visibility
25,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1012 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNHK 042252Z 13003KT 10SM FEW050 SCT150 BKN250 33/26 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP117 TCU DSNT SW-NW T03330256 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 39 ft
FEW 5,000 ft AGL
SCT 15,000 ft AGL
BKN 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,039 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
15,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
15,039 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,039 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 25,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 25000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 33°C (91°F) with a dewpoint of 26°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.

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. Expected weather includes: Heavy Thunderstorm Rain. Winds are forecast to reach up to 30 knots during the period. Expect variable wind speeds ranging from 6 to 30 knots. Temporary LIFR conditions are forecast with Heavy Thunderstorm Rain between 23:00Z and 04:00Z.

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
1012 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1011 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (39 ft)
Pressure Alt
77 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 2,246 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +18.1°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNHK 042300Z 0423/0523 VRB06KT 9999 VCTS SCT050CB QNH2987INS TEMPO 0423/0504 VRB30G50KT 1600 +TSRA BKN020CB BECMG 0507/0509 VRB06KT 9999 NSW SCT040 QHN2986INS BECMG 0513/0515 13008KT 9999 BKN050 BKN250 QNH2984INS TX36/0520Z TN26/0510Z FN00324
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
23:52Z BASE
+0h
MVFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
07:00Z BECMG
+8h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ 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
NHK
02
20
06
24
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
02/20 5,021 ft 75 ft ASP
1.6 kt 2.5 kt
122° angle
06/24 11,807 ft 200 ft PEM 49°
0.5 kt 3.0 kt
81° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
9,742 ft 200 ft PEM 126°
3.0 kt 0.5 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

11,720 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
75.5%
MVFR
11.7%
IFR
7.6%
LIFR
5.2%

Patuxent River Naval Air Station (Trapnell Field) typically experiences VFR conditions 75.5% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 12.8% 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 37°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are July, June, April.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: NW (315°)
Average Speed: 9.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 34 kt
Calm Winds: 8.2%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.9%
N
13.3%
S
11.2%
W
11.5%
NE
8.6%
NW
15.8%
SE
10.8%
SW
13.5%

Temperature Range

Average: 11°C
Range: -10°C to 37°C
-10°C 37°C

Visibility

Average: 9.2 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.3%
Fog Frequency: 2%

Best Months for VFR

July June April

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 02/20
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 06/24
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 6.3 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.1 kt

Statistics computed from 11,720 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.