Airports / California / NJK
El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field).
El Centro, California · -42 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.1/5
Google rating
55 ratings
0
Operators based
-42
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
5 nm
To the nearest alternate
Imperial County Airport (IPL), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) (KNJK / NJK) is a mid-sized airport serving El Centro, California. Field elevation is -42 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list NJK as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Imperial County Airport (IPL, 5 nm), General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (MXL, 25 nm), and Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM, 54 nm). The field has 2 runways, the longest 9,503-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from NJK are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. You may also see the field referenced as Naval Air Facility El Centro and MCAS El Centro. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from NJK to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
KNJK
IATA
NJK
FAA / Local
NJK
Elevation
-42 ft
Coordinates
32.8292° N · 115.6720° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At -42 ft, NJK sits lower than 96% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 9,503 ft
- 08/269,503 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
- 12/306,825 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 9,503 ft
NJK's 9,503 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 5nmIPLImperial County AirportImperial
- 25nmMXLGeneral Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International AirportMexicali
- 54nmTRMJacqueline Cochran Regional AirportPalm Springs
- 55nmYUMYuma International Airport / Marine Corps Air Station YumaYuma
- 67nmBLHBlythe AirportBlythe
- 68nmTIJGeneral Abelardo L. Rodriguez International AirportTijuana
Location
Open the full mapKNJK · El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) · El Centro, CA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from NJK on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 164 nm | 47m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 195 nm | 51m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 197 nm | 51m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 437 nm | 1h 25m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 510 nm | 1h 35m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 574 nm | 1h 44m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 589 nm | 1h 46m |
| Denver (DEN) | 678 nm | 1h 59m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use NJK?
- El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field)'s longest paved runway is 9,503 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at NJK?
- El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) has 2 runways; the longest measures 9,503 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to NJK?
- The closest alternate is Imperial County Airport (IPL), about 5 nm away, followed by General Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada International Airport (MXL) at 25 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from NJK to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: San Francisco about 1h 25m (437 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 35m (510 nm), Aspen about 1h 44m (574 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.