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City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

Colorado Springs, Colorado (United States)
IATA: COS ICAO: KCOS
Longest Active Runway
13,500 ft
4,115 meters
Field Elevation
6,187 ft
1,886 m MSL
Runway Inventory
3 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
38.8058°, -104.7010°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#38 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#66 of 7558
Top 0.9% percentile worldwide
National Standing (United States)
#5 in US
#19 of 2020 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+35%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 Statistical Statement: City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport's longest active runway measures 13,500 ft (4,115 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #38. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #66 worldwide (Top 0.9%) and #5 nationally in United States.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Colorado Springs Airport serves dual civilian commercial and United States Space Force defense missions. Perched at an elevation of 6,187 ft along the Rocky Mountain Front Range, atmospheric density is notably reduced. To allow transport aircraft to operate safely under high density altitude and mountain crosswinds, primary Runway 17L/35R extends 13,500 ft alongside parallel 17R/35L (11,022 ft), while crosswind Runway 13/31 (8,270 ft) provides essential operational flexibility when strong westerly mountain wave gusts sweep across the airfield.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Three-runway configuration featuring dual parallel north-south strips 17L/35R (13,500 ft / 4,115 m) and 17R/35L (11,022 ft / 3,360 m), complemented by crosswind Runway 13/31 (8,270 ft / 2,521 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Opened in 1927; co-located with Peterson Space Force Base. Expanded in 1994 with a new passenger terminal, serving as a lower-stress alternative to Denver for Front Range travelers.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Colorado's second-busiest commercial airport, situated 63 NM south of Denver International (DEN).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Elevated at 6,187 ft (1,886 m MSL) directly east of Pikes Peak; high density altitude and severe mountain wave downdrafts require careful takeoff performance planning.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav COS Master Record ↗
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.
ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy
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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

High-Altitude Aerodrome (Hot & High)

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 6,187 ft (1,886 m MSL) in Colorado Springs. Operating in high density-altitude conditions, aircraft true airspeed on takeoff and landing runs noticeably higher than indicated airspeed, requiring extended runway lengths.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Colorado's second-busiest commercial airport, situated 63 NM south of Denver International (DEN). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Denver International Airport (DEN) located 63.3 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 13,500 ft (4,115 m)

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport's active flight strips comprise 17L/35R (13,500 ft), 17R/35L (11,022 ft), 13/31 (8,270 ft). With a longest active threshold of 13,500 ft (4,115 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
17L/35R 13,500 ft (4115m) 150 ft (46m) Concrete (CON) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
17R/35L 11,022 ft (3360m) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
13/31 8,270 ft (2521m) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name IATA Distance Longest Runway Lighting
Denver International Airport (Denver) DEN 63.3 NM (117.2 km) 16,000 ft ✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database
Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01
Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected
Source Verification: Source-reported registry data
Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/cos.json ↗