KRCA · RCA
Ellsworth Air Force Base
Rapid City, South DakotaElevation 3,276 ftMedium airport
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Runway detail & declared distances
13/31
RWY 13138°T
ILSILS
Approach lightsALSF1
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 31318°T
ILSILS
Approach lightsALSF1
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
Facility & services
Ellsworth Air Force Base is in Rapid City, South Dakota. Field elevation 3,276 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.
OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipAir Force owned
UsePrivate use
TypeMedium airport
ManagerBASE OPERATIONS
Manager phone605-385-1052
AttendedALL MON-THU, 1400–0730Z++
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKRCA / RCA
SectionalCHEYENNE
Center (ARTCC)DENVER
Flight service (AFSS)HURON
RegionSouth Dakota
CountryUnited States
Coordinates44.1450, -103.1040
Distance from city5 NM SW
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Control towerTowered
Field lightingSee remarks
BeaconSunset to sunrise · Split white-green (military)
Traffic pattern alt4,500 ft MSL
FREQUENCIES
Communications
119.5
APP/DEP
A/D
120.625
ATIS
ATIS
121.8
GND
GND
37.577
PMSV METRO
PMSV
32.1
COMD POST
POST
37.22
PTD
PTD
126.05
TWR
TWR
Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.
AIRPORT REMARKS
Operational remarks
›FM OBS POINT WX TECHNICIANS UNABLE TO SEE THE TDZ OF BOTH RYS.
›JASU: (AM32A-95) (A/M32A-86)
›BASE OPS V675-1052/2861.
›CLSD WKND, HOLS AND GLOBAL STRIKE COMD (GSC) DOWN DAYS.
›AIRFIELD LIGHTING ONLY AVAILABLE DURING TWR HOURS.
›TPA: RECTANGULAR 4500 FT MSL, 5000 FT MSL OVHD, AVOID OVFT OF BASE PROPER WHEN CRC TO LDG.
›OIL: O-132-133-148
›MISC: INBD VIP CODE 7 OR HI, CTC RAYMOND 33 15 MIN PRIOR TO BLOCK TIME WITH NAME, RANK AND PURPOSE OF VISIT.
›SERVICE - TRAN ALERT- SVC AVBL 1400-2300Z++ MON-FRI; CLSD SAT, SUN, HOL, AND GLOBAL STRIKE COMD DOWN DAYS. FLEET SVC AVBL 1400-2300Z++ MON-FRI; CLSD SAT, SUN, HOL, AND GLOBAL STRIKE COMD DOWN DAYS
›RSTD: ALL ACFT MAINT AT OR ABV 7700 FT & 2640 FT HORIZONTAL SEPARATION IN THE IMMED VCNTY OF MT. RUSHMORE; AVOID DEVILS TWR BY 5 NM. PPR ALL FULL STOP ACFT CTC BASE OPS NO EARLIER THAN 72 HR PRIOR TO ETA. FAX DSN 675-1053, C605-385-1053.
›RSTD: PPR MIN 24 HR NTC, CTC DSN 675-1052, C605-385-1052.
›GLOBAL STRIKE COMD RSRS APPLIED TO GLOBAL STRIKE COMD ONLY
›EXTV GENERAL AVN AND COML TFC IN VCNTY OF RAPID CITY ARPT 6.5 NM SE OF ARPT.
›CSTMS/AG/IMG: LTD TO US DOD ACFT ONLY; AVBL WITH 24 HR NOTICE. IMG SERVICE UNAVBL FOR NON-DOD PERS. CTC 28 OSS/OSAA, DSN 675-1052, C605-385-1052.
›RSTD: AIRCREW SHOULD AVOID BEAR BUTTE, DEFINED BY THE RCA 317/25 FIX, BY FLYING NO LOWER THAN 10,000 FT MSL WITHIN 2NM.
›FUEL: A++. HOT REFUEL AVBL TO B-1 AND EA-18 ACFT ONLY.
›CAUTION: MIGRATORY BIRD ACT BASH (PHASE II) MAY AND AUG-OCT OR ACTIVE VIA NOTAM. DEER HAZ, RPT ANY ACT TO TWR/PTD.
›COMSEC ISSUING AND CLASSIFIED MATERIAL STORAGE UNAVBL FROM AMOPS, CTC COMD POST FOR STORAGE.
›MISC: TRAN ACFT REQ FOR APCH AND PATTERN WORK, RQR 24 HR NTC, CTC OPS DSN 675-1052, C605-385-1052.
›OPR 1400-0730Z++ MON-THUR; 1400-0100Z++ FRI. CLSD WKENDS, HOL AND GLOBAL STRIKE COMD DOWN DAYS.
›PRIM FREQ 311.0.
›MISC: WX STN AUGMENTS FOR VIS AT OR BELOW 3 SM WHEN NEEDEDED. VIS LTD NE TO SE DUE TO BLDGS.
›"VERIFY POWDER RIVER TRAINING COMPLEX STATUS BEFORE FILING IFR FPL" VIA SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE SITE: HTTPS://SUA.FAA.GOV/SUA/"
›WHEN ATCT CLSD, FOR CD CTC DENVER ARTCC AT 303-651-4257.
›LGT: RWY 31 NSTD ALSF-1, MISSING FIRST CNTRLN BARRETTE PRIOR TO THLD.
›MISC: ARFF CRITICAL LVL OF SVC (RED) FOR NFPA CAT 9-10 AND USAF VEH SETS 5-6. REDUCED LEVEL OF SVC (YELLOW) FOR NFPA CAT 1-8 AND USAF VEH SETS 1-4. ONLY APPLICABLE WKD EXCLD FEDERAL HOL AND USAF GLOBAL STRIKE FAMILY DAYS. CTC FD C605-385-1113 FOR FURTHER INFO.
›CAUTION: HI POTENTIAL FOR MID-AIR COLLISION EXISTS WITH ACFT FR RAPID CITY ARPT LCTD APRX 6.5 NM SE OF ARPT.
OFFICIAL LINKS & SOURCES
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KRCA have a METAR?
Yes. KRCA is a METAR-reporting station; the current observation loads live on this page.
Does KRCA have a TAF?
When KRCA issues a TAF, its decoded forecast timeline loads live on this page; otherwise use the nearest TAF-issuing field as a planning reference.
What is the field elevation at KRCA?
KRCA sits at 3,276 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KRCA?
No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.
This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.