Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field)

KNIP / NIP

Jacksonville, US

Last Updated
Jul 4, 21:53Z

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
Recent 39 min ago
21:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
32°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 23°C
15 kt
160°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KNIP 042153Z 16015KT 10SM FEW050 SCT120 SCT250 32/23 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP150 T2 SET T03170228 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 21 ft
FEW 5,000 ft AGL
SCT 12,000 ft AGL
SCT 25,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
5,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
5,021 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
12,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
12,021 ft AMSL
SCT
Scattered (3/8-4/8 sky coverage)
25,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
25,021 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with scattered clouds at 12,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (160°) at 15 knots. Runway 14/32 is favored with a 14-knot headwind and 5-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 5,000 ft, scattered at 12,000 ft, scattered at 25,000 ft.

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.

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: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 18:00Z and 22:00Z.

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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1015 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (21 ft)
Pressure Alt
-62 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,983 ft
ISA Deviation: +17.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KNIP 0415/0515 VRB06KT 9999 BKN040 QNH2993INS BECMG 0416/0418 11008KT 9999 VCTS BKN040CB QNH2992INS TEMPO 0418/0422 VRB15G30KT 3200 -TSRA BECMG 0422/0500 17010KT 9999 VCTS BKN030CB QNH2992INS BECMG 0502/0504 VRB06KT 9999 NSW OVC070 QNH2991INS TX34/0419Z TN24/0510Z FN00321
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
22:31Z BASE
+0h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
02:00Z BECMG
+4h
VFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 7,000 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
NIP
10 ✈️
28
14 ✈️
32

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 10/28
Active: 10
8,002 ft 200 ft ASPH 101°
7.5 kt 13.0 kt
60° angle
✈️ 14/32
Active: 14
5,984 ft 200 ft ASP 135°
14.1 kt 5.1 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KNIP

12,330 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
80.2%
MVFR
10.6%
IFR
5.1%
LIFR
4.2%

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 80.2% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 8.2 knots, with gusts recorded up to 33 knots. Temperature extremes range from -5°C to 36°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are November, July, June.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 8.2 kt
Maximum Recorded: 33 kt
Calm Winds: 7.8%
Direction Distribution:
E
9.6%
N
18.2%
S
10.8%
W
14.2%
NE
14%
NW
9.2%
SE
7.9%
SW
8.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.8°C
Range: -5°C to 36°C
-5°C 36°C

Visibility

Average: 9.5 SM
Below 3 SM: 1.4%
Fog Frequency: 1.2%

Best Months for VFR

November July June

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 10/28
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt
Runway 14/32
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.5 kt

Statistics computed from 12,330 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KNIP
IATA Code: NIP
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 21 ft MSL

Location

City: Jacksonville
Country: US
Latitude: 30.235800°
Longitude: -81.680603°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+5

Runway Information

Runway 10/28
Length: 8,002 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASPH
ILS: No
Runway 14/32
Length: 5,984 ft
Width: 200 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field)

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers 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

Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) serves as a critical naval aviation facility located in Jacksonville, Florida. Situated at 21 feet above mean sea level, the base supports military aviation operations with two substantial runways capable of accommodating various aircraft types. Its strategic coastal location provides significant operational flexibility for naval aviation training and support missions.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KNIP demonstrate highly favorable VFR flying environments, with 80.4% of observations reporting visual flight rules. Temperatures range from -1°C to 34°C, creating relatively stable aviation conditions throughout the year. Wind patterns predominantly originate from the north at an average of 7.8 knots, with calm conditions occurring 11.6% of the time and maximum gusts reaching 23 knots.

Notable Features

The airport features two paved runways: a longer 8,002-foot runway (10/28) and a 5,984-foot runway (14/32). Both runways demonstrate 100% favorable wind alignment, with minimal average crosswind conditions (5.7kt and 5.1kt respectively). The low elevation and coastal positioning suggest minimal terrain-related operational challenges for approaching aircraft.

Approach Considerations

Pilots should note September, October, and November represent the most consistently favorable VFR months for operations. Visibility averages 9.4 statute miles, with only 1.9% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. Fog occurs in just 1.5% of observations, indicating generally clear approach conditions throughout the year.

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.