Peterson Air Force Base: Colorado Springs' Joint Military Airfield
Peterson Air Force Base (now Peterson Space Force Base, IATA: PUB) is a major joint military installation adjacent to Colorado Springs Airport (COS) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Peterson hosts the headquarters of Air Force Space Command and serves as the primary airfield for military aviation operations in the Colorado Springs corridor. The base shares runways with Colorado Springs Airport, creating a unique joint civil-military operational environment managed cooperatively between the USAF/Space Force and the City of Colorado Springs. Peterson's elevation of 6,171 feet places it squarely in high-density altitude territory requiring standard Colorado performance planning protocols.
Peterson is home to the 21st Space Wing and numerous tenant organizations tied to the concentration of space and defense commands in Colorado Springs. The base's aviation assets support airlift operations, VIP travel, and mission support for the space and cyber commands headquartered in the Colorado Springs area. Joint operations between Peterson and the adjacent Colorado Springs Airport (COS) require close coordination between military and civilian air traffic control — a model that demonstrates the FAA's and DoD's ability to efficiently share infrastructure in a constrained airspace environment near significant terrain.
Is Peterson Air Force Base open to civilian aviation?
Peterson Space Force Base is a restricted military installation. The shared runways with Colorado Springs Airport (COS) are managed such that civilian commercial traffic uses COS facilities and military traffic uses Peterson facilities, with coordinated ATC handling the combined operations. Civilian GA pilots may not land at Peterson without prior authorization.
What commands are headquartered at Peterson?
Peterson Space Force Base hosts the headquarters of United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) and several Space Force and Air Force organizations involved in space operations, missile warning, and cyber activities. The concentration of space commands in Colorado Springs is unmatched anywhere in the world.
How does Peterson's shared runway with COS work?
Peterson Space Force Base and Colorado Springs Airport share the same runway complex, with each operating their respective facilities side by side. Colorado Springs TRACON and Peterson Approach Control coordinate closely to sequence military and civilian traffic on the shared runway system, maintaining safe separation between commercial airliners, military transports, fighters, and general aviation aircraft.
What is the elevation at Peterson Space Force Base?
Peterson sits at 6,171 feet MSL, virtually identical to the adjacent Colorado Springs Airport. All standard high-altitude Colorado performance planning applies: density altitude considerations, longer takeoff and landing distances, and reduced climb performance particularly on hot summer days.
Peterson Air Force Airport Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
| Name | Peterson Air Force Airport |
| Address | Stewart Avenue, Colorado Springs CO 80916 Map |
| Phone | |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Peterson Air Force Airport
Peterson Space Force Base and Colorado Springs Aviation
Peterson Space Force Base's shared operational footprint with Colorado Springs Airport (COS) makes the Colorado Springs airfield complex one of the most unique joint civil-military aviation environments in the United States. Visitors with official military business at Peterson should plan for standard base access procedures including valid military ID and appropriate documentation. The base is not open to public tours, though the Air Force Academy visitor center nearby offers significant public access to Air Force heritage and culture.
The Colorado Springs aviation community benefits from this joint infrastructure model, which shares runway maintenance costs and operational coordination between the Space Force and the City of Colorado Springs. For civilian travelers, Colorado Springs Airport (COS) provides all commercial service needs with no military clearance required. The region's combination of military space operations, defense contractors, outdoor recreation, and the Pikes Peak attraction makes Colorado Springs Airport one of the more strategically important mid-size commercial airports in the American West.