Naval Air Station Key West

Naval Air Station Key West
Boca Chica Field
Near Key West, Florida in the United States
A US Navy F-5N Tiger II of VFC-111 takes off from its home at NAS Key West during November 2020
NAS Key West is located in the United States
NAS Key West
NAS Key West
Location in the United States
Coordinates24°34′33″N 081°41′20″W / 24.57583°N 81.68889°W / 24.57583; -81.68889
TypeNaval Air Station
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defense
OperatorUS Navy
Controlled byNavy Region Southeast
ConditionOperational
WebsiteOfficial website
Site history
Built1917 (1917)
In use1917 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Captain Elizabeth Regoli
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: NQX, ICAO: KNQX, FAA LID: NQX, WMO: 722015
Elevation1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
08/26 3,048.3 metres (10,001 ft) Porous European Mix (PEM)
04/22 2,134.21 metres (7,002 ft) PEM
14/32 2,133.9 metres (7,001 ft) PEM
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]
Marker for the Truman Annex, Key West Naval Station

Naval Air Station Key West (IATA: NQX[2], ICAO: KNQX, FAA LID: NQX), is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles (6 km) east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States.[3]

NAS Key West is an air-to-air combat training facility for fighter aircraft of all military services, with favorable flying conditions year round and nearby aerial ranges. The station and its associated offshore air combat maneuvering ranges are equipped with the P5 Combat Training System/Tactical Combat Training System (P5CTS/TCTS)[4] which tracks and records aerial maneuvers.

On a broader scale, NAS Key West's national security mission supports operational and readiness requirements for the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security (e.g., U.S. Coast Guard), Air National Guard and Army National Guard units, other federal agencies, and allied military forces.[5]

The air station is also host to several tenant commands, including Fighter Squadron Composite 111 (VFC-111), Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106) Detachment Key West, the U.S. Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School and Headquarters, Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South).

  1. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for NQX PDF
  2. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Key West NAS, FL profile - Aviation Safety Network". aviation-safety.net.
  3. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for NQX PDF, effective 2007-10-25
  4. ^ "Cubic's Next Generation Air Combat Training System Now Operational at NAS Key West, Luke AFB > Cubic Corporation". www.cubic.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19.
  5. ^ "Naval Air Station Key West". cnic.navy.mil.