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Charleston International Airport
CHS · KCHS · Charleston, SC · 46 ft elevation · var 7W · Towered
Airport information
- ICAO / IATA
- KCHS / CHS
- Coordinates
- 32.8962, -80.0382
- Elevation
- 46 ft MSL
- Magnetic variation
- 7W
- Sectional chart
- CHARLOTTE
- Airport use
- Public
- Control tower
- Yes
- Airspace
- Class C
- Weather station
- ASOS · 124.75 · ☎ 843-214-2525
- ARTCC
- JACKSONVILLE (ZJX)
- Flight service (FSS)
- ANDERSON
- NOTAM facility
- CHS
- Attendance
- ALL ALL
- Beacon
- white-green (SS-SR)
- Segmented circle
- No
- Wind indicator
- yes
- FAR 139 class
- I C
- Activated
- 1937/10
- Distance from city
- 9 NW
Weather
METAR observed
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TAF forecast
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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-21
| Event | Local (EDT) | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| Morning civil twilight Loggable night ends | 05:43 AM | 09:43Z |
| Sunrise | 06:12 AM | 10:12Z |
| Sunset | 08:32 PM | 00:32Z |
| Evening civil twilight Loggable night begins | 09:00 PM | 01:00Z |
Loggable night (§1.1)
09:00 PM → 05:43 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
09:32 PM → 05:12 AM
Plan a flight from KCHS
Night operations
- Rotating beacon
- white-green · SS-SR
- Pilot-controlled lighting
- Usually keyed on CTAF 122.95 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗
Runway lighting aids — 03: 4-light PAPI (left) · 21: 4-light PAPI (left) · 15: 4-light PAPI (left) + ALSF2 · 33: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR.
FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.
Traffic pattern
LEFT traffic
- Landing
- Rwy 03 · 031°
- Pattern
- left (turns left)
- TPA
- 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
- CTAF
- 122.95
Enter the left downwind for Rwy 03 at 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).
Runway 03/21
7,000 ft × 150 ft · Concrete (Good) 03
- Heading
- 031° mag · 24° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- LAHSO
- 5,400 ft (hold short of 15/33)
- End lights
- REIL
21
- Heading
- 211° mag · 204° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- End lights
- REIL
Runway 15/33
9,001 ft × 150 ft · Concrete (Good) 15
- Heading
- 154° mag · 147° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Approach lights
- ALSF2
- Instrument landing
- ILS · CAT II · LOC 109.7 (CHS) · GS 3.00°
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- LAHSO
- 5,450 ft (hold short of 03/21)
- End lights
- centerline, TDZ
33
- Heading
- 334° mag · 327° true
- Markings
- precision
- VGSI
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- Approach lights
- MALSR
- Instrument landing
- ILS · CAT I · LOC 108.9 (CCI) · GS 3.00°
- Traffic pattern
- Left
- LAHSO
- 2,650 ft (hold short of 03/21)
- End lights
- centerline
ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports
| Runway | Length | Your margin |
|---|---|---|
| 03/21 | 7,000 ft | |
| 15/33 | 9,001 ft |
Communication frequencies
| Service | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| APP | 30.692 | |
| APP | 119.3 | |
| ATIS | 124.75 | |
| CLD | 118 | CLNC DEL |
| DEP | 120.7 | |
| GND | 121.9 | |
| PMSV | 34.46 | PMSV METRO |
| POST | 134.1 | CONSOLIDATED COMD |
| PTD | 37.22 | |
| RDO | 122.2 | ANDERSON RDO |
| TWR | 126 | |
| UNIC | 122.95 | UNICOM |
Nearby navigation aids
| NavAid | Type | Freq | Radial / Dist magnetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHS · Charleston | VORTAC | 113.50 | r356° / 0.1 NM |
Airport diagram
Open PDF ↗Preview diagram
Procedures at a glance
⚠ Hot spots published at this airport — review the hot-spot chart before you taxi ↗Approaches17
- ILS RWY 15 ↗
- ILS RWY 33 ↗
- ILS RWY 15 SA CAT I ↗
- ILS RWY 15 CAT II ↗
- RNAV (RNP) RWY 03 Z ↗
- RNAV (RNP) RWY 15 Z ↗
- RNAV (RNP) RWY 21 Z ↗
- RNAV (RNP) RWY 33 Z ↗
- RNAV (GPS) RWY 03 Y ↗
- RNAV (GPS) RWY 15 Y ↗
- RNAV (GPS) RWY 21 Y ↗
- RNAV (GPS) RWY 33 Y ↗
- VOR RWY 03 ↗
- VOR RWY 21 ↗
- VOR RWY 33 ↗
- VOR RWY 15 Z ↗
- VOR RWY 15 Y ↗
Departures
Arrivals
Minimums & Hot Spots
Chart Supplement FAA A/FD
Open PDF ↗Preview Chart Supplement
VFR sectional
Services
- Fuel available
- 100, Jet A-1 (additive)
- Bottled oxygen
- NONE
- Bulk oxygen
- HIGH
- Airframe service
- MAJOR
- Powerplant service
- MAJOR
- Parking
- tiedowns, hangars
- Other services
- Avionics, Charter, Aircraft sales
Ownership & management
Owner
USAF
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, CHARLESTON AFB, SC
(843) 963-3028
Manager
ELLIOTT SUMMEY
5500 INTL BLVD, CHARLESTON, SC
843-761-7000
Remarks FAA
- THIS AIRPORT HAS BEEN SURVEYED BY THE NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY.
- LIQUID OXYGEN SERVING AVBL TO MILITARY.
- NO STUDENT SOLO TOUCH AND GO LANDING ALLOWED.
- PPR FOR PARKING OF GENERAL AVIATION ACFT ON TERMINAL RAMP CTC 843-767-1100.
- INTENSIVE HEAVY MIL JETS & OTHER MISC ACFT EXECUTING NUMEROUS CARGO & PERSONNEL DROPS, HIGH SPEED LOW-LEVEL FORMATION FLTS & MISC AIR-TO-GROUND OPNS.
- PARKING ON TERMINAL APRON RESTRICTED TO COMMERCIAL AIR CARRIER AND ACFT FOR CUSTOMS CLEARANCE BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT ONLY.
- JASU: 8(MD-3M) 2(MA-1A) (M32A-60) (M32A-60A)
- FLUID: SOAP - ROUTINE SOAP SAMPLES NOT AVBL; SP PRESAIR LHOX LOX
- OIL: NON-DETERGENT OIL NOT AVBL FOR PISTON ACFT. O-128-133-148(MIL)
- SEE FLIP AP/1 SUPPLEMENTARY ARPT RMK.
- RSTD: ALL INBD VIP CODE 7 OR HI, PAX, CARGO ACFT MUST CTC PALMETTO OPS NO LATER THAN 30 MIN PRIOR TO LDG.
- RSTD: AMC ACFT OPR RSTD DUR BIRD WATCH COND MODERATE (TKOF OR LDG PERMS ONLY WHEN DEP/ARR RTE AVOID IDENT BIRD ACT, NO LCL IFR/VFR TFC PAT ACFT) AND SEVERE (TKOF AND LDG PROH WO OG/CC APVL), CTC PALMETTO OPS FOR CURRENT BIRD WATCH COND.
- RSTD: ALL ACFT MUST CTC PALMETTO OPS PRIOR TO ENTERING MIL RAMP FOR PRK ASGN.
- RSTD: NON-AMC AIRCREWS REQ RON SVC CTC COMD POST (PALMETTO OPS) DSN 673-8400, C843-963-8400 PRIOR ARR. TRML APN RSTD TO COML AIR CARRIER AND ACFT FOR CSTMS CLNC BY PPR.
- CAUTION: MIGRATORY BIRD SEASON PHASE II 1-15 APR AND 1 AUG-30 NOV. RWY 15-33 RAISED APCH LGT IN OVRN, RY 03-21 OVRN 800FT.
- TFC PAT: RECTANGULAR 1200 FT, OVERHEAD 1700 FT, LGT ACFT 700 FT, C5A 2000 FT.
- MISC: AFLD MGMT DSN 673-3024/6, C843-963-3024/6. AFLD MGMT OUT OF OFFICE CTC NR C854-274-8453. IF CIV SIDE OF ARPT IS FINAL DESTN, ACFT COMDR WILL SO INDICATE ON DD 175. DANGEROUS CARGO ACFT CTC PTD PRIM, PALMETTO OPS SECD. ALL AMC MSN ACFT CTC PALMETTO OPS WHEN WITHIN RDO RNG.
- MISC: PMSV RDO UNAVBL. PMSV/PHONE PATCH AVBL THRU 628 CP DSN 673-8400 C843-963-8400. WX FLT CLOSED WKENDS, HOL AND DOWN DAYS. MIL WX FLD AFLD SUPPORT AVBL 24/7 FOR SVR WX, C843-754-1956. MSN WX SUPPORT HRS 1100-2300Z++ MON-THU AND 1100-2100Z++ FRI, DSN 673-3016/3644, C843-963-3016, CLSD WKEND, HOL, AND DOWN DAYS. MSN WX SUPPORT BRFGS FOR AIRCREW AVBL VIA THE 260WS/BARKSDALE AFB DSN 331-2651/C318-529-2651 DUR MIL WX FLT CLOSURE HRS.
- SERVICE-LGT: AIRFIELD BEACON NOT VISIBLE FROM NW.
- MISC: TMPRY STOR OF CLASSIFIED MATERIALS: LTD CLASSIFIED STOR AVBL. 24 HR PN RQR WITH AFLD MGMT. PRIOR COORD RQR. CTC BASE OPS 24 PRIOR TO ARR. NO CLASSIFIED STOR AT COMD POST. FOR TOP SECRET STOR CTC 437 SOS 24 HR PRIOR TO ARR DSN 673-0955, C843-963-0955.
- SERVICE: KCHS MIL PROVIDES NO SECURITY AND NO ACFT SERVICES AT FBO'S AND COMMERCIAL TERMINAL.
- RSTD: RWY 03-21 CLSD 2ND TUE EA MONTH 1330-2200Z++. RWY 15-33 CLSD LAST TUE OF EA MONTH 1330-2200Z++.
- CAUTION: RY 15-33 1000 FT OVERRUNS HAS FRANGIBLE RAISED APCH LIGHTS.
- CAUTION: MIL RAMP ACFT CONTACT CHS GND CONTROL FOR ENG START & TAXI.
- RSTD: RVR AVAIL VIA FAA ATCT.
- MISC: AFLD SFC WX OBS TAKEN IAW FAA CRITERIA, NOT AF CRITERIA.
- SERVICE FUEL: ALL ACFT RQR FUEL, PLEASE HAVE IN YOUR POSSESSION THE WHITE DD FORM 1896 FUEL CARD, US GOVT AIR CARD OR YOUR BASE BILLING INFO.
- TRANS ACFT FOR MIL RAMP FOLLOW-ME RQR. MIL ACFT FOR FBO PRK/SVC RQR PPR (843-746-7600).
- CAUTION: RY 21 - FREQ PRK TRAIN CARS (25 FT AGL), CONSTRUCTION/UTILITY STORAGE YARD (20 FT AGL) 1000 FT FR THLD AND GRAVEL PILES (50 FT AGL) 1500 FT FR THLD.
- RSTD: PPR, EXC AIREVAC, SAM AND AMC GDSSII MSN, FOR NUMBER AND LCL TRNG FLT TRAN ALERT SUPPORT CTC AFLD MGMT DSN 673-3024/6, C843-963-3024/6.
- CAUTION: REDUCED FIRE SUPPORT FOR C-5 AND AN-124 ACFT, DEGRADATION OF FIRE FIGHTING CAPABILITY. C-5/AN-124 WITH EMERGENCY MUST CLOSELY COORDINATE RQR WITH PALMETTO OPS.
- CAUTION: MIL SIDE WG TIP CLNC LINES: TWY D 161 FT FR TWY CNTRLN AND RAMP INTER-TXY 115 FT FR CNTRLN.
- RSTD: C5, B747, AND AN-124 ACFT TAXI WITH OUTBOARD ENG AT IDLE.
- FUEL: A++(MIL), A+(ATLANTIC AVN, C843-746-7600) (NC-100, A1+).
- CAUTION: FUEL PIT/SWITCH OBST 36 IN HIGH LCTD 75 FT LEFT OF TWY D CNTLN N OF TWY E.
- CAUTION: RY 15-33 1 FT RAISED THLD LGT.
- MISC: PAX TRML OPR 0930-0330Z++ DLY. AFTER HRS CTC DSN 673-7005/7006 OR C843-963-7005/7006. C-17 ENG RUNNING ONLOADS/OFFLOADS AVBL 24 HR PN. CTC 437 APS DSN 673-3193/4 C843-963-3193/4 FOR COORD/APVL. PASS PAX/CARGO INFO TO PALMETTO OPS 3 HRS PRIOR TO ARR.
- SERVICE-LGT: RWY 15 ALSF-2 ALSO OPR AS SSALR DUR VMC.
- ALL AIRCRAFT USE UPPER ANTENNA UNTIL AIRBORNE.
- RWY COND CODE (RWYCC) NOT RPTD.
- AFLD GRASS CUTTING OPS CONDUCTED IN CTL MOVEMENT AREA YR ROUND; CTC AFLD MGMT FOR DLY LCTN.
- MISC: COMBAT OFF-LOAD OPS ON N END OF TWY D MUST ENSURE THAT PALLETS LAND PRIOR TO LEAD-IN LINE TO RWY 15 APCH END; CTC GND IF PALLET LANDS BYD LEAD-IN LINE.
- RSTD: EXP RWY 15/33 OPS SUSPD 1230-1300Z++DLY FOR A-G INSPECTION.
- MISC: RWY 15/33 AND 3/21 GROOVED.
- TPA: RECTANGULAR 1154 FT AGL/1200 FT MSL, OVHD 1654 FT AGL/1700 FT MSL, LGT ACFT 654 FT AGL/700 FT MSL, C5A 1954 FT AGL/ 2000 FT MSL.
- ELLIOTT SUMMEY IS THE DIR OF ARPTS FOR THE CHARLESTON REGIONAL AVN AUTH. THE AIR FORCE AIRFIELD MGR CAN BE CTCD AT 843-963-3024.
- THIS IS A SHARED-USE AIRPORT. THE USAF OWNS AND OPERATES ALL RUNWAYS AND THE MAJORITY OF THE TAXIWAYS. THE CHARLESTON COUNTY AVIATION AUTHORITY OPERATES THE CIVILIAN TERMINAL AND ASSOCIATED TAXIWAYS.
- TYPE-H BAK-12A(B) (1260')
- TYPE-H BAK-12A(B) (1460')
- LGTS FOR BOTH RWYS ARE AF SPEC TYPE.
Nearby airports
Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open KCHS in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.
About KCHS
Charleston International Airport (CHS · KCHS) is an airport in Charleston, SC, at 46 ft MSL. It has 2 runways, the longest 9,001 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KCHS, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.
Does KCHS have a control tower?
Yes. Charleston International Airport has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.
What is the longest runway at KCHS?
Charleston International Airport has 2 runways; the longest is 9,001 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.
Where is KCHS?
Charleston International Airport is in Charleston, SC, at an elevation of 46 ft MSL. Coordinates: 32.8962, -80.0382.
Fly out of KCHS often?
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