Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

KFCS / FCS

Fort Carson, US

Last Updated
Apr 24, 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 35 min ago
17:55Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
18°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: -15°C
18 kt
190° G22 kt
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1010 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KFCS 241755Z AUTO 19018G22KT 10SM CLR 18/M15 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP074 T01791155 10179 20003 57019 $

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 (190°) at 18 knots with gusts to 22 knots. Runway 13/31 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 16-knot crosswind component (gusting to 19 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

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

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 18°C (64°F) with a dewpoint of -15°C, indicating very dry conditions.

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 20:00Z and 01:00Z. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 10:00Z and 13:00Z.

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
1010 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
815 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,838 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,936 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 7,697 ft
ISA Deviation: +14.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KFCS 241200Z 2412/2518 27009KT 9999 SKC QNH2980INS BECMG 2418/2419 22012G18KT 9999 SKC QNH2970INS TEMPO 2420/2501 24015G25KT 520009 BECMG 2501/2502 26009KT 9999 SCT150 QNH2971INS BECMG 2505/2506 33009KT 9999 SCT170 QNH2973INS TEMPO 2510/2513 33012G18KT 520009 BECMG 2516/2517 23009KT 9999 FEW180 QNH2978INS TX22/2416Z TN03/2412Z
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
18:29Z BASE
+0h
VFR 270° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
20:00Z TEMPO
+2h
VFR 240° 15 kt
01:00Z BECMG
+7h
VFR 260° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
05:00Z BECMG
+11h
VFR 330° 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°
9.0 kt 15.6 kt
60° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KFCS

5,876 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
86.9%
MVFR
6.6%
IFR
2.9%
LIFR
3.5%

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 86.9% 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, April, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 8.6 kt
Maximum Recorded: 60 kt
Calm Winds: 9.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
5.1%
N
27.2%
S
14.9%
W
9.5%
NE
4.7%
NW
10.9%
SE
9%
SW
9%

Temperature Range

Average: 8.1°C
Range: -22°C to 31°C
-22°C 31°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.4%
Fog Frequency: 0.4%

Best Months for VFR

September April February

Runway Wind Analysis

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

Statistics computed from 5,876 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 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.