Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

KFCS / FCS

Fort Carson, US

Last Updated
May 14, 17:55Z

Military Airport

Restricted

This is a U.S. military installation. Civil aircraft operations are generally prohibited without prior authorization.

Access Notes:

Most military airfields closed to civil traffic; some joint-use exceptions exist

Consult official AIP (FAA AIP GEN 3.3) for current access procedures and restrictions.

Current Weather

Display Units
Recent 32 min ago
17:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
25°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -2°C
9 kt
180°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KFCS 141755Z AUTO 18009KT 10SM CLR 25/M02 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP080 T02531023 10259 20202 50000 $

Weather Briefing

VFR

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south (180°) at 9 knots. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 7-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 25°C (77°F) with a dewpoint of -2°C, indicating very dry conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 30 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 12:00Z and 14:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 22:00Z and 01:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
820 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,838 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,786 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 8,387 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +21.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF COR KFCS 141345Z 1412/1518 28012KT 9999 BKN170 QNH2994INS TEMPO 1412/1414 28012G18KT BECMG 1415/1416 26009KT 9999 SCT200 QNH2989INS BECMG 1419/1420 25012KT 9999 SCT130 BKN150 QNH2982INS TEMPO 1422/1501 26012G18KT VCSH BECMG 1501/1502 04009KT 9999 NSW SCT130 QNH2986INS BECMG 1505/1506 35012KT 9999 FEW150 QNH2992INS BECMG 1515/1516 15009KT 9999 SKC QNH2993INS TX30/1419Z TN20/1412Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:26Z BASE
+0h
VFR 280° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 17,000 ft
19:00Z BECMG
+1h
VFR 250° 12 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
Ceiling: 15,000 ft
22:00Z TEMPO
+4h
VFR 260° 12 kt
01:00Z BECMG
+7h
VFR 40° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
Chart Features
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
FCS
13 ✈️
31

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 13/31
Active: 13
4,573 ft 75 ft ASP 137°
5.8 kt 6.9 kt
50° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KFCS

6,614 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
85.3%
MVFR
7.7%
IFR
3.3%
LIFR
3.7%

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 85.3% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 8.6 knots, with gusts recorded up to 60 knots. Temperature extremes range from -22°C to 31°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, February, October.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 60 kt
Calm Winds: 9.5%
Direction Distribution:
N
26.8%
NE
5.1%
E
5.5%
SE
9.3%
S
15.2%
SW
8.7%
W
9.3%
NW
10.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.4°C
Range: -22°C to 31°C
-22°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.5%
Fog Frequency: 0.3%

Best Months for VFR

September February October

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 13/31
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5.6 kt

Statistics computed from 6,614 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KFCS
IATA Code: FCS
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 5,838 ft MSL

Location

City: Fort Carson
Country: US
Latitude: 38.678398°
Longitude: -104.757004°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+7

Runway Information

Runway 13/31
Length: 4,573 ft
Width: 75 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field is a military facility. Civilian access may be restricted or require Prior Permission (PPR). Pilots should consult the US AIP for current access procedures and restrictions.

Overview

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field serves military aviation operations in Colorado Springs, situated at an elevation of 5,838 feet MSL. Located at Fort Carson military installation, the airport provides critical infrastructure for military training and operational support in the region.

Flying Conditions

Pilots can expect predominantly VFR conditions, with 88.1% of observations indicating clear flying conditions. The airport experiences a wide temperature range from -17°C to 30°C, with an average temperature of 8.5°C, presenting potential performance considerations for aircraft operations.

Notable Features

The airport features a single runway (13/31) measuring 4,573 feet with an asphalted surface. The field is characterized by northern prevailing winds averaging 7.9 knots, with occasional gusts up to 60 knots and calm conditions occurring 9.6% of the time.

Approach Considerations

Runway 13/31 demonstrates favorable wind alignment, with 100% wind compatibility and an average crosswind of 5.1 knots. September, October, and November represent the most consistent VFR months, offering optimal flying conditions for pilots approaching or departing the airfield.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.