El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) (KNJK)
Medium airport · El Centro, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KNJK |
| IATA | NJK |
| Elevation | -42 ft (-13 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 32°49'45" W 115°40'19" 32.82920, -115.67200 |
| Location | El Centro, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26 | 9,503 ft (2897 m) | 200 ft | PEM | Yes |
| 12/30 | 6,825 ft (2080 m) | 200 ft | PEM | Yes |
El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) at a glance
El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) is a medium airport in El Centro, California, United States, known to airline systems as NJK. The field elevation of -42 ft (-13 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KNJK are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
Of its 2 runways, the longest — 08/26 — offers 9,503 ft (2897 m) of pem surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 08 points roughly 80° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KNJK shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field)
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial County Airport | KIPL | 9 km (5 NM) |
| General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport | MMML | 46 km (25 NM) |
| Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport | KTRM | 100 km (54 NM) |
| Yuma International Airport / Marine Corps Air Station Yuma | KNYL | 101 km (55 NM) |
| Blythe Airport | KBLH | 125 km (68 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field)
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the -42 ft field elevation of El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 917 airports and airfields we list for United States — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field)
What is the ICAO code of El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field)?
The ICAO identifier of El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) is KNJK, and its IATA code is NJK. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) above sea level?
El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) sits at an elevation of -42 feet (-13 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) located?
The airport lies at 32.8292, -115.6720 — in El Centro, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Imperial County Airport, about 9 km away.
Does KNJK publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KNJK appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field)?
El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) has 2 runways. The longest, 08/26, measures 9,503 ft (2897 m) with a PEM surface.