Patuxent River NAS (trapnell Fld) Airport (KNHK), Maryland
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Patuxent River NAS, known by its ICAO code KNHK and located at Trapnell Field in Patuxent River, Maryland, is a towered military airfield operated for naval aviation test and evaluation. The field offers three paved runways, including an 11,799-foot main runway, and sits roughly 52 nautical miles from the nearest metro area. Access is restricted to aircraft on official business, with prior permission required for every arrival and CBP inspection services available onsite under a USDA compliance agreement.
Runways
Patuxent River NAS (trapnell Fld) Airport has three paved runways. The longest, 06/24, is 11,799 ft long and 200 ft wide, with an asphalt 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
Patuxent River NAS (trapnell Fld) Airport 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
Patuxent River NAS (trapnell Fld) Airport recorded 544 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July and August. Business aviation traffic at KNHK concentrates in the summer months, peaking in July and August according to FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 64 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Patuxent River NAS (trapnell Fld) Airport averages 10.5 days above 90°F in July, 20.4 freeze days in January and 1.3 snow days in February. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87.3°F, and January the coldest, at 45.4°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Patuxent River NAS (trapnell Fld) Airport has published operating constraints in five categories: access, weight restrictions, runway notes, noise procedures and other notes.
Caution: stopping in the restricted area on Taxiway A, west taxiway, is prohibited. Portions of the runway, taxiway, and aircraft ramps are not visible from the tower for the first 1,630 feet. Runway 32 may be closed during daylight hours Monday through Saturday during VFR conditions. Buildings and equipment are located near the approach end of Runway 32. Deer and bird hazards are present.
Customs, agriculture, and immigration processing is limited to aircraft on official business at Pax River with 72-hour prior notice required. Contact the Airport Operations Duty Officer.
When the KNHK tower and approach control are closed, contact Potomac Approach for clearance delivery.
Restricted: prior permission required, with no NOTAM terminal facility available. PPR requests should be emailed to the designated Navy address to confirm receipt. Aircraft must make prior arrangements and receive PPR from the host squadron or NAS Air Operations. Ramp space is limited and transient service is limited, so delays should be expected. All taxiways experience delays due to aircraft weight limitations.
Traffic pattern: VFR initial at 4 DME (Runway 32 at 3 DME) at 2,000 feet, break at 1,500 feet, downwind at 1,000 feet. Reduced runway separation standards are in effect for locally based Navy/Marine Corps aircraft.
Noise abatement: military aircraft maintain at least 1,500 feet between 3 NM and 10 NM from 210 degrees clockwise to 240 degrees. No practice approaches from 0300Z++ to 1200Z++ Monday through Friday, before 1500Z++ Saturday, or before 1700Z++ Sunday. Transient aircraft practice approaches are conducted on a not-to-interfere basis.
JASU: (GTC-85) (NCPP-105) (NC-8) (NC-10).
Lighting is available only during hours of operation.
Fluid: SP LHOX LOX.
Oil: O-128-133-148-156 (MIL).
Transient alert service is available 1200 to 2300Z++ Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
The airfield operates 1200 to 0400Z++ Monday through Friday and 1300 to 2300Z++ Saturday through Sunday, and is closed on holidays. See FLIP AP/1 Supplementary Airport Remarks for further detail.
Weather forecast service is available 0900 to 0100Z++ Monday through Friday. For forecast service at all other times, contact the designated weather facility. Weather observation and PMSV metering are available 1100 to 0400Z++ Monday through Friday and 1200 to 2300Z++ Saturday through Sunday.
For information regarding Civil Air Landing Permits (CALPs), contact AFM or the designated email address.
No base transportation is available.
NAS Norfolk, Chambers Field, coordinates all flight planning services. Flight plans should be emailed to the designated Navy address or sent by fax. Contact the NAS Norfolk, Chambers Field flight planning supervisor to confirm receipt of flight plans.
Class D airspace is available, excluding the airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4007 when active. See FLIP AP/1 Supplementary Airport Remarks for further detail.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Patuxent River NAS (trapnell Fld) Airport has five airfields within 30 NM. The closest is Saint Mary's County Regional, 6.93 NM west.
Part of the Washington, D.C. area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KNHK
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 KNHK.
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 KNHK open to civilian business aviation?
Patuxent River NAS, also known as KNHK, is a military airfield with private use status, meaning civil access is not routine. Aircraft must operate on official business at Pax River and require a Civil Air Landing Permit (CALP) coordinated through the Air Operations office. Prior permission is required (PPR) for every arrival, with no NOTAM terminal facility available. Ramp space is limited and transient services are restricted, so delays should be expected. Aircraft weight limitations also cause taxiway delays across the field.
What customs services are available at Patuxent River NAS?
Patuxent River NAS (KNHK) has onsite CBP inspection services along with a USDA compliance agreement. Access is restricted to aircraft on official business at Pax River, and a 72-hour prior notice is required for customs, agriculture, or immigration processing. Coordination runs through the Airport Operations Duty Officer. This is not a general-access customs port, and civilian operators without an official mission tie should not expect to clear through KNHK. The restriction applies regardless of the runway length available for larger aircraft.
What are the runway options at KNHK?
KNHK, Patuxent River NAS at Trapnell Field, offers three paved asphalt runways. Runway 06/24 is the longest at 11,799 feet with a width of 200 feet, and Runway 14/32 measures 9,732 feet, also 200 feet wide. A shorter Runway 02/20 is available at 5,021 feet with a narrower 75-foot width. Runway 32 may be closed during daylight hours Monday through Saturday during VFR conditions. Buildings and equipment are located near the approach end of Runway 32, and deer and bird hazards are noted for the field.
When is the operating schedule at Patuxent River NAS?
Patuxent River NAS operates Monday through Friday from 1200 to 0400Z++, and Saturday through Sunday from 1300 to 2300Z++, with closure on holidays. Airfield lighting is available only during these hours of operation. Transient alert service runs 1200 to 2300Z++ Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. When the KNHK tower and approach control are closed, clearance delivery is handled through Potomac Approach. Weather forecast and observation services follow separate, more limited hours on weekdays and weekends.
How does business aviation traffic vary by season at KNHK?
Business aviation traffic at Patuxent River NAS (KNHK) shows a seasonal pattern, with activity concentrated in the summer months according to FAA TFMSC data. July and August recorded the highest monthly totals at 63 and 64 operations respectively, compared to lows of 27 and 28 in November and April. Annual business aviation operations totaled 544 out of 3,830 total operations in 2025. Operators planning summer missions to KNHK should account for this higher traffic volume. The tower and approach control coordinate this traffic under Class D airspace procedures, excluding restricted areas R-4005 and R-4007 when active.