Runway 13 at KRCA
Runway 13/31 at Ellsworth Air Force Base (KRCA) in Rapid City is a 13,497 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 138°/318°. The runway is 300 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 4 landings and 4 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around.
Runway 13/31 at Ellsworth Air Force Base (KRCA) in Rapid City is a 13,497 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 138°/318°. The runway is 300 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 4 landings and 4 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
4 landings observed on Runway 13 in the last 30 days, alongside 4 departures.
Limited Traffic Observed
SkyMeter has observed very few flights using Runway 13 in the last 30 days. Statistical breakdowns (go-around rate, crosswind averages) need more observations to be meaningful.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 19:00 with 3 arrivals on the recent sample.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KRCA have prevailed from the north-northwest (330°), accounting for roughly 23% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 10.5 kt with peak gusts to 53 kt. Strong winds (≥20 kt) occur on about 12% of observations — pilots flying into runway 13 should plan for occasional gusty conditions.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 13 grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Approach Types and Categories
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 13 benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.
Related Pages
Airport Overview
View complete statistics for KRCA
Other Runways at KRCA
This is the only runway at KRCA.
Search Flights on Runway 13
Find specific flights that used this runway