Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) (KNUW)
Medium airport · Oak Harbor, Washington, United States
Airport data
| Name | Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KNUW |
| IATA | NUW |
| Elevation | 47 ft (14 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 48°21'6" W 122°39'22" 48.35180, -122.65600 |
| Location | Oak Harbor, Washington, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/25 | 7,999 ft (2438 m) | 200 ft | CON | Yes |
| 14/32 | 8,001 ft (2439 m) | 200 ft | CONC | No |
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) at a glance
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is a medium airport in Oak Harbor, Washington, United States, known to airline systems as NUW. The field elevation of 47 ft (14 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KNUW 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 — 14/32 — offers 8,001 ft (2439 m) of conc surface, without recorded lighting. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 14 points roughly 140° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KNUW 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 Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Friday Harbor Airport | KFHR | 33 km (18 NM) |
| Arlington Municipal Airport | KAWO | 42 km (23 NM) |
| Orcas Island Airport | KORS | 44 km (24 NM) |
| Bellingham International Airport | KBLI | 50 km (27 NM) |
| Seattle Paine Field International Airport | KPAE | 57 km (31 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 47 ft field elevation of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault 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 Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)
What is the ICAO code of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)?
The ICAO identifier of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) is KNUW, and its IATA code is NUW. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) above sea level?
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) sits at an elevation of 47 feet (14 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) located?
The airport lies at 48.3518, -122.6560 — in Oak Harbor, Washington, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Friday Harbor Airport, about 33 km away.
Does KNUW publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KNUW 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 Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field)?
Whidbey Island Naval Air Station (Ault Field) has 2 runways. The longest, 14/32, measures 8,001 ft (2439 m) with a CONC surface.