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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport

Compiled by

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

How ranks work →
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 of 63 in US
#19 of 2020 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+35%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 COS in numbers: 13,500 ft longest runway · #38 of 650 published · #66 of 7,558 worldwide (top 0.9%) · #5 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

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
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Elevation & National Context

High-Altitude Aerodrome (≥5,000 ft)

COS lies at 1,886 m (6,187 ft), #26 of 650 published airports by elevation and 95.4 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 5,580 ft above the United States median (607 ft, 63 airports) and the highest published airport in the country.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Closest of 1 paved-runway (≥5,000 ft) neighbour within 100 NM: Denver International Airport (DEN), 63.3 NM, 16,000 ft. DEN has the radius's longest runway, 2,500 ft more than COS.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

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

COS runways: 17L/35R 13,500 × 150 ft concrete (con); 17R/35L 11,022 × 150 ft asphalt (asp); 13/31 8,270 × 150 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #5 of 63 in United States; DEN leads by 2,500 ft (16,000 ft). +35% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
17L/35R 13,500 ft (4115 m / 4.115 km) 150 ft (46m) Concrete (CON) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
17R/35L 11,022 ft (3360 m / 3.360 km) 150 ft (46m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
13/31 8,270 ft (2521 m / 2.521 km) 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

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →