Airports / California / NKX
Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field.
San Diego, California · 477 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.4/5
Google rating
52 ratings
0
Operators based
477
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
8 nm
To the nearest alternate
San Diego International Airport (SAN), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field (KNKX / NKX) is a mid-sized airport serving San Diego, California. The airport sits 477 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into NKX for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are San Diego International Airport (SAN, 8 nm), North Island Naval Air Station-Halsey Field (NZY, 11 nm), and McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD, 17 nm). With 6 runways, the longest 12,000-foot paved runway, NKX can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from NKX depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under Miramar MCAS. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from San Diego.
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Field capability
ICAO
KNKX
IATA
NKX
FAA / Local
NKX
Elevation
477 ft
Coordinates
32.8684° N · 117.1430° W
Airspace
B · BravoClass B, BravoThe FAA's busiest airspace tier, major hubs like LAX or JFK. Every flight needs an explicit ATC clearance to enter, and charter jets are sequenced alongside airline traffic.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At 477 ft, NKX sits higher than 59% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
6 runways
longest 12,000 ft
- 06L/24R12,000 ft × 200 ftConcreteLighted
- 06R/24L8,001 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
- 06H/24H1,000 ft × 100 ftConcreteLighted
- H1100 ft × 100 ftConcreteUnlit
- H2100 ft × 100 ftConcreteUnlit
- H3100 ft × 100 ftConcreteUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 12,000 ft
NKX's 12,000 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.
- 8nmSANSan Diego International AirportSan Diego
- 11nmNZYNorth Island Naval Air Station-Halsey FieldSan Diego
- 17nmCLDMcClellan-Palomar AirportCarlsbad
- 20nmSDMBrown Field Municipal AirportSan Diego
- 22nmTIJGeneral Abelardo L. Rodriguez International AirportTijuana
- 28nmKNFGCamp Pendleton MCAS (Munn Field) AirportOceanside
Location
Open the full mapKNKX · Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field · San Diego, CA
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from NKX on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 217 nm | 54m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 267 nm | 1h 1m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 384 nm | 1h 18m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 536 nm | 1h 39m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 627 nm | 1h 51m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 640 nm | 1h 53m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 711 nm | 2h 3m |
| Denver (DEN) | 733 nm | 2h 6m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use NKX?
- Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field's longest paved runway is 12,000 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 NKX?
- Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field has 6 runways; the longest measures 12,000 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to NKX?
- The closest alternate is San Diego International Airport (SAN), about 8 nm away, followed by North Island Naval Air Station-Halsey Field (NZY) at 11 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from NKX to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Las Vegas about 54m (217 nm), Scottsdale about 1h 1m (267 nm), San Francisco about 1h 18m (384 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.