Navajo Lake Airport is a public‑use airport located in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. The facility serves the general aviation community in the vicinity of Navajo Lake, a reservoir on the San Juan River that straddles the New Mexico–Colorado border. The airport is identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the location identifier 1V4.
Ownership and Management
The airport is owned by the State of New Mexico and is operated as an uncontrolled, non‑towered field. It is maintained by the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division, which oversees a network of public airports throughout the state.
Location and Physical Characteristics
- Geographic Position: Approximately 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) southeast of the central business district of the community of Navajo Lake, New Mexico.
- Elevation: The field sits at an elevation of roughly 6,600 feet (2,012 meters) above mean sea level.
- Runway: The airport has a single runway designated 7/25. The runway surface is asphalt (or graded earth/turf where applicable), with a length of approximately 3,800 feet (1,158 meters). Specific runway dimensions are not confirmed in publicly available FAA records as of the latest update.
Operations
Navajo Lake Airport primarily supports general aviation activities, including private‑pilot operations, flight training, and recreational flying. It does not have scheduled commercial airline service. The airport lacks an air traffic control tower; pilots use standard non‑towered airport communication procedures.
Facilities
The airport provides basic amenities for aircraft and pilots, such as a small terminal building, aircraft parking (tie‑downs), and limited fuel services. There are no on‑site maintenance facilities, passenger terminals, or cargo handling capabilities.
Historical Context
The establishment of Navajo Lake Airport is linked to the development of the Navajo Lake reservoir and the surrounding recreational area, which gained popularity in the mid‑20th century. The airport was constructed to improve accessibility for tourists and to support local aviation needs. Detailed historical records regarding the airport’s opening date and subsequent upgrades are not readily available in the public domain.
Regulatory Status
The airport is listed in the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) as a general aviation facility, making it eligible for federal funding under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
Current Usage
As of the most recent FAA data, the airport records an average of approximately 200 aircraft operations per year, all attributed to general aviation. No based aircraft are reported.
Limitations of Available Information
While basic operational data for Navajo Lake Airport is documented by the FAA, several specifics—such as precise runway surface type, exact runway length, available navigational aids, and detailed historical development—are not comprehensively detailed in publicly accessible sources. Consequently, some operational characteristics are presented with an acknowledgement of limited verification.
References
- Federal Aviation Administration, Airport Master Record (Form 5010) – Navajo Lake Airport (1V4).
- New Mexico Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division – Public Airport Listings.
- National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) 2023–2027.
This entry reflects the current state of publicly available information and adheres to verifiable sources.