El Centro Naf (vraciu Fld) Airport (KNJK), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
KNJK, El Centro NAF (Vraciu Field), is a military airfield in California's Imperial Valley operating under restricted civil access with a control tower and non-radar environment. The field supports two paved runways, 08/26 at 9,503 feet and 12/30 at 6,825 feet, and shares airspace with dense carrier landing practice traffic conducted at all hours. Civil operators face a PPR requirement and should expect coordination with the airfield manager well before arrival, given the field's military mission and adjacent restricted airspace tied to air-to-ground weapons operations nearby.
Runways
El Centro Naf (vraciu Fld) Airport has two paved runways. The longest, 08/26, is 9,503 ft long and 200 ft wide, with a bituminous surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
El Centro Naf (vraciu Fld) Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Calexico International (KCXL), 12 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
El Centro Naf (vraciu Fld) Airport recorded 58 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in June. Business aviation traffic at KNJK is concentrated in June, with additional activity in July, August, and October, while several months show little to no recorded business aviation operations.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month June, 16 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
El Centro Naf (vraciu Fld) Airport averages 30.9 days above 90°F in July and 1.7 freeze days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 107.3°F, and December the coldest, at 68.6°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
El Centro Naf (vraciu Fld) Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental and other notes.
Restricted: all civil aircraft, and all aircraft intending to remain overnight, require prior permission 72 hours in advance, arranged during scheduled field hours through the airfield manager.
For clearance delivery when the tower is closed, contact Yuma Center Radar Approach Control.
Service: carrier deck lighting is available on runways 08-26 and 30.
Traffic pattern: dense field carrier landing practice traffic occurs at all hours. Reduced runway separation standards are in effect for Navy and Marine Corps aircraft.
Miscellaneous: inbound aircraft should make initial contact with the tower 15 nautical miles out or sooner. The tower operates in a non-radar environment with a high volume of air traffic. An improved Fresnel lens optical landing system is available for runways 08 and 26.
Noise abatement: avoid overflight of housing located southwest of the tower, and of the fuel farm located immediately southwest of the runway 30 approach end. Avoid overflight of the town of El Centro, approximately 5 nautical miles east, below 5,000 feet AGL. Numerous cattle feed lots are located throughout the area; avoid overflight at low altitude.
Caution: bird activity occurs from mid-December to mid-March, from sunrise to sunset, within the adjacent fields located east and west of the airport. Parachute jump exercises are conducted on a regular basis off the NJK TACAN 170 radial at 10 nautical miles, or the IPL VORTAC 240 radial at 12 nautical miles.
Available only during hours of operation.
JASU: one RCPT-105 unit and one NC8 unit (Wells air start system).
Fuel: transient pilots without prior arrangement may experience delays of up to two hours. Hot refueling is available for most aircraft from 1630-0430Z++ Monday through Thursday, 1600-0200Z++ Friday, and 1630-2300Z++ Saturday; closed Sunday and holidays. Hot refuel hours are subject to short-notice changes; refer to NOTAM.
Fluid: HPOX and LOX available.
Transient alert: no transient service from 0700-1500Z++. Transient maintenance is extremely limited. Transient aircraft inbound with ordnance should advise the tower on initial contact. Transient aircraft inbound with ordnance for hot refueling must safe their aircraft prior to hot-pitting, as the flight line cannot safety or pin transient aircraft. Limited service is available for large passenger aircraft, requiring advance notice.
Caution: inbound aircraft should use extreme caution to avoid restricted area R2510, located 5 nautical miles northwest, due to air-to-ground weapons operations and parachute drops. There is extreme mid-air collision potential due to high-density VFR general aviation traffic and crop dusters in the vicinity. Avoid Imperial County Airport, an uncontrolled field 4.5 nautical miles east, below 3,000 feet AGL.
Fuel: JAA/F24 available.
Contact the airfield manager or civil aircraft landing permit manager for permit information.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
El Centro Naf (vraciu Fld) Airport has five airfields within 42 NM. The closest is Imperial County (KIPL), 4.55 NM east.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KNJK
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$1,200.00 catering order at KNJK.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is customs available on-site at KNJK?
KNJK does not offer on-site customs processing. The nearest customs facility is Calexico International, located about 12.23 nautical miles away. Operators planning international arrivals into El Centro NAF should coordinate clearance through that nearby facility rather than expecting service at the field itself.
What is the PPR requirement for civil aircraft at KNJK?
All civilian aircraft and any aircraft intending to remain overnight at El Centro NAF (KNJK) require prior permission 72 hours in advance, arranged during scheduled field hours. Requests are coordinated through the airfield manager or civil aircraft landing permit manager. This applies regardless of aircraft type or mission.
What fuel is available at El Centro NAF?
El Centro NAF (KNJK) lists JAA / F24 fuel as available, along with HPOX and LOX fluid services. Hot refueling is available for most aircraft during scheduled hours Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays and holidays. Transient pilots without prior arrangement may experience delays, and hot refuel hours are subject to short-notice changes published by NOTAM.
What airspace hazards should pilots be aware of near KNJK?
Inbound aircraft to KNJK must use extreme caution to avoid restricted area R2510, located five nautical miles northwest, due to air-to-ground weapons operations and parachute drops. The vicinity also sees high-density VFR general aviation traffic and crop dusters, raising mid-air collision risk. Pilots should also avoid uncontrolled Imperial County Airport, 4.5 nautical miles east, below 3,000 feet AGL.