Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field

KFCS / FCS

Fort Carson, US

Last Updated
Jul 26, 01:55Z

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 33 min ago
01:55Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
29°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 10°C
6 kt
360°
10 SM
Visibility
16,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1022 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KFCS 260155Z AUTO 36006KT 10SM BKN160 29/10 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP130 T02890101 $

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 5,838 ft
BKN 16,000 ft AGL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
16,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
21,838 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 16,000 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the north (360°) at 6 knots. Runway 31 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 16000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 29°C (84°F) with a dewpoint of 10°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. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Thunderstorm Rain. Temporary MVFR conditions are forecast with Light Thunderstorm Rain between 21:00Z and 00:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

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

QNH
1022 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
827 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (5,838 ft)
Pressure Alt
5,576 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 8,657 ft (High - Reduced Performance)
ISA Deviation: +25.7°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KFCS 250400Z 2504/2610 35009KT 9999 FEW050 QNH3023INS BECMG 2518/2519 16010G18KT 9999 VCTS BKN080CB QNH3022INS TEMPO 2521/2524 23015G25KT 9000 -TSRA BKN060CB BECMG 2605/2606 VRB06KT 9999 NSW SCT120 QNH3020INS TX32/2521Z TN13/2513Z LAST NO AMDS AFT 2502 NEXT 2712
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
02:28Z BASE
+0h
VFR 350° 9 kt
Visibility: 10+ km
05:00Z BECMG
+3h
IFR VRB 6 kt
Visibility: 2.712 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: 31
4,573 ft 75 ft ASP 137°
3.9 kt 4.6 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

8,813 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
85.1%
MVFR
7.9%
IFR
3.5%
LIFR
3.5%

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Air Field enjoys predominantly VFR conditions, with visual flight rules prevailing 85.1% of the time. Prevailing winds are from the N averaging 8.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 60 knots. Temperature extremes range from -22°C to 38°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, July, February.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: N (0°)
Average Speed: 8.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 60 kt
Calm Winds: 8.9%
Direction Distribution:
E
6.5%
N
24.3%
S
16.3%
W
8.2%
NE
5.7%
NW
10%
SE
11.7%
SW
8.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 11.7°C
Range: -22°C to 38°C
-22°C 38°C

Visibility

Average: 9.8 SM
Below 3 SM: 0.6%
Fog Frequency: 0.2%

Best Months for VFR

September July February

Runway Wind Analysis

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

Statistics computed from 8,813 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.