Moffett Federal Airfield (KNUQ), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Moffett Federal Airfield sits on the southern edge of San Francisco Bay in Mountain View, California, roughly 13 nautical miles from the metro core and within a cluster of general aviation fields that includes Palo Alto, San Carlos, and Reid-Hillview. The field pairs a NASA-affiliated federal operating structure with dual long paved runways exceeding 8,000 feet, and it functions as a towered, private-use airport with restricted access rather than a public-use civilian field. Business aviation accounts for the large majority of its recorded operations, and customs, immigration, and agriculture inspection services operate strictly by prior notice.
Runways
Moffett Federal Airfield has two paved runways. The longest, 14L/32R, is 9,197 ft long and 200 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Moffett Federal Airfield has Jet A available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Moffett Federal Airfield has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Moffett Federal Airfield recorded 6,391 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in October. Business aviation traffic at KNUQ is concentrated in October and January-April, with a noticeable dip in September, according to 2025 FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month October, 614 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Moffett Federal Airfield averages 2.9 days above 90°F in September and 1.2 freeze days in January. September is the warmest month, with average highs of 77.7°F, and December the coldest, at 58.9°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Moffett Federal Airfield has published operating constraints in six categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Restricted - prior permission required. Airfield operations run 24 hours, transient alert service runs 24 hours; contact Airport Operations. Recommend filing an SID and expect delay for radar vectors.
Customs, agriculture, and immigration services are available only by prior notice, Monday through Friday 1700-0100Z, excluding holidays.
For clearance delivery when the ATCT is closed, contact NorCal Approach.
Military remarks - Air National Guard operating hours are determined by ANG mission requirements, Monday through Thursday and every other Friday. Closed Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Contact the command post. Parking on the ANG ramp requires prior permission for official business and pre-coordination with 129 OSF/OSA. Limited maintenance and fuel support are available for C-130 and H-60 aircraft, with no passenger handling and no transient alert service. Ramp space is limited. Transient aircraft may be diverted to the NASA FBO. The airfield manager does not store COMSEC.
Bearing strength for runway 14L: S64, T110, ST144, SBTT410, TDT528, TRT390.
When the tower is closed, activate REIL for runway 14L, MALSR for runway 32R, PAPI for runways 14L and 32R, and HIRL for runways 14L/32R and 14R/32L, using CTAF.
Bearing strength for runway 32R: S82, T142, ST175, TT300, DDT609, TDT814.
Caution: airport signage is unavailable, including runway, taxiway, instructional, location, directional, destination, and information signs.
Noise abatement - no jet departures from runway 14L/R between the hours of 0700-1300Z.
Caution - possible strong updraft in the vicinity of the NASA/Ames wind tunnel, located on the west side of the airfield. Bird hazard also present.
Military remarks - caution, bird hazard. Bird hazard is likely highest between 0130-0330Z daily.
PCR VALUE: 355/R/C/W/T
PCR VALUE: 868/R/B/W/T
Jet A is available 24 hours.
Fluid - special LOX has limited availability.
Jet A fuel is available. JP-8 is not available.
Restricted - taxiway D is closed during non-daylight hours.
Miscellaneous - update ETA within 15 minutes at least two hours prior to arrival. Tower frequency is monitored by NASA fire and security.
Military services - fuel is available Monday through Friday, 1700-0200Z.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Moffett Federal Airfield has five airfields within 15 NM. The closest is Palo Alto (KPAO), 4.14 NM northwest.
Part of the San Francisco Bay Area area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KNUQ
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.
$2,400.00 catering order at KNUQ.
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 clearance available at KNUQ?
Moffett Federal Airfield offers CBP inspection services onsite along with a USDA compliance agreement, but access runs by prior notice only. Customs, agriculture, and immigration services are available Monday through Friday, 1700-0100Z, excluding holidays. Crews must arrange clearance in advance through the required prior permission process rather than expecting walk-up service. This restricted schedule reflects the field's federal status rather than a standard civilian customs operation. Dispatchers should build the notice window into trip planning well ahead of any international arrival at KNUQ.
What fuel is available at Moffett Federal Airfield?
Moffett Federal Airfield stocks Jet A, listed as available 24 hours per the airport remarks. A separate note confirms Jet A availability while specifying that JP-8 is not available on the field. Military fuel support carries its own schedule, limited to Monday through Friday, 1700-0200Z. Special fluids such as LOX are noted as limited availability rather than guaranteed. No avgas is listed among the fuel types at KNUQ, so operators of piston aircraft should plan accordingly.
Are there operating restrictions for jet departures at KNUQ?
Yes, Moffett Federal Airfield enforces a noise abatement restriction prohibiting jet departures from runway 14L / R between 0700 and 1300Z. This is a scheduled curfew tied specifically to that runway pairing rather than a field-wide jet ban. Operators planning early departures should route around this window or coordinate alternate runway use where feasible. The restriction is listed under general remarks as an abatement measure, distinct from the separate military and prior-permission access rules that also apply at KNUQ.
What access limitations apply to Air National Guard operations at Moffett Federal Airfield?
Air National Guard operations at Moffett Federal Airfield run on a schedule set by ANG mission requirements, typically Monday through Thursday and every other Friday, with the field closed Saturday, Sunday, and holidays for that unit. Ramp parking on the ANG ramp requires prior permission for official business only, along with pre-coordination. Maintenance and fuel support on that ramp are limited to C-130 and H-60 aircraft, with no passenger handling and no transient alert service offered. Ramp space is limited, and transient aircraft may be diverted to the NASA FBO facility.
What wildlife and wind hazards are noted near KNUQ?
Moffett Federal Airfield carries a caution for possible strong updrafts near the NASA / Ames wind tunnel, located on the west side of the airfield. The same remark flags a bird hazard in that area. A separate military remark adds that bird hazard risk is likely highest between 0130 and 0330Z daily. Crews operating in and out of KNUQ during that overnight window should factor both the wind tunnel updraft effect and elevated bird activity into approach and departure planning.