Butts Army Airfield (FCS): Fort Carson's Army Aviation Hub
Butts Army Airfield (IATA: FCS), located on Fort Carson Army installation south of Colorado Springs, serves as the primary aviation facility for the 4th Infantry Division and other Army aviation units stationed at Fort Carson. The airfield supports a fleet of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, CH-47 Chinooks, and other Army aviation assets used for training, tactical operations, and support missions across the Pikes Peak region and the broader Rocky Mountain training areas. At an elevation of approximately 5,773 feet, Butts operates in the same high-density altitude environment that characterizes all of Colorado's military aviation installations.
Fort Carson is one of the largest Army installations in the United States and is home to the 4th Infantry Division, 10th Special Forces Group, and multiple supporting units. Butts Army Airfield's helicopter-centric operations support a wide range of Army missions including air assault training, medevac exercises, logistics support, and high-altitude mountain operations training that leverage Colorado's unique terrain. The Pikes Peak massif and the nearby training ranges provide demanding environments for pilots learning mountain helicopter operations — skills critical for deployments to Afghanistan and other high-altitude theaters. The FAA's Northwest Mountain Region coordinates with Fort Carson's airspace management team to integrate Butts operations into the broader Colorado Springs airspace.
Is Butts Army Airfield open to civilian aviation?
Butts Army Airfield is a restricted military installation on Fort Carson. Civilian aircraft are not permitted to land at Butts without prior military coordination and explicit authorization. The airfield is dedicated to Army aviation operations supporting Fort Carson's training and operational missions.
What aircraft operate from Butts Army Airfield?
Butts primarily supports Army rotary-wing aviation including UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Fixed-wing utility aircraft and liaison aircraft may also operate from the facility in support of Fort Carson's administrative and operational needs.
How does high altitude affect Army helicopter operations at Fort Carson?
At nearly 6,000 feet elevation, Army helicopters at Fort Carson operate in conditions that significantly reduce rotor efficiency. Pilots must compute high-altitude hover charts and are trained specifically for high-density altitude operations, including hot-and-high performance planning critical for deployments to mountainous operational theaters.
What is the relationship between Fort Carson and the broader Colorado Springs military community?
Fort Carson is part of the largest concentration of military installations in the continental United States, sharing the Colorado Springs region with Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Operations Center, and the Air Force Academy. This cluster supports tens of thousands of military personnel and billions of dollars of defense activity annually.
Butts Army Air Airport - FCS Contact Information
Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Fort Carson, Colorado.
| Name | Butts Army Air Airport - FCS |
| Address | 10286 Butts Road, Fort Carson CO 80913 Map |
| Phone | (786) 709-7751 |
| Website | |
| Hours |
Map of Butts Army Air Airport - FCS
Fort Carson and Army Aviation in Southern Colorado
Butts Army Airfield on Fort Carson supports one of the Army's most important training installations. The surrounding Pikes Peak region provides exceptional terrain for Army aviation training, from mountain operations to high-desert scenarios. Visitors to Fort Carson with official business should plan for standard base entry procedures; the installation is not open for public visits without military affiliation or official purpose. Colorado Springs Airport (COS) and Peterson Space Force Base serve civilian and military travel needs for the broader installation community.
Fort Carson's presence in the Colorado Springs economy is substantial — the installation contributes billions of dollars annually to the local economy and employs thousands of military personnel, civilian workers, and contractors. The 4th Infantry Division's history, with combat deployments stretching from World War II through Iraq and Afghanistan, is honored at Fort Carson's museums and memorial areas. The Army aviation community at Butts Army Airfield reflects the Army's continued investment in rotary-wing capabilities and high-altitude operational expertise developed on Colorado's demanding terrain.