Charleston International Airport (KCHS)
Charleston, United States · North America
By Renzo, CPL
ICAO
KCHS
IATA
CHS
City
Charleston
Country
United States
Region
North America
Elevation
46 ft
Runways
3 runways
Coordinates
32.8986, -80.0405
Overview
Joint civil-military airport in South Carolina with good weather and training opportunities.
Current Weather at KCHS
Pilots flying into or out of Charleston International Airport should always check the latest METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) before departure. A METAR is a standardized weather observation issued every hour (or more frequently as a SPECI when conditions change rapidly). It includes wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud layers, temperature, dewpoint, and altimeter setting -- everything you need for a safe go/no-go decision.
Live conditions
Current METAR
METAR KCHS 030856Z 01006KT 10SM FEW200 15/06 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP224 T01500056 52000 $Wind 010° at 6 kt — likely active runway near heading 01
Current TAF
TAF KCHS 030520Z 0306/0406 03009KT P6SM FEW150 FM031500 05013G20KT P6SM SKC FM040000 11005KT P6SM SKCDecode METAR for KCHS
Paste the KCHS METAR into our free decoder and get a plain-English breakdown instantly.
Check Weather Before Your Flight
A thorough weather briefing is essential for safe flight operations at Charleston International Airport. Here are the key weather products every pilot should review:
- METARHourly surface observation for KCHS. Includes wind, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, and altimeter.
- TAFTerminal Aerodrome Forecast covering the next 24-30 hours. Look for expected wind shifts, visibility changes, and precipitation.
- NOTAMNotices to Air Missions for KCHS. Check for runway closures, taxiway restrictions, and navaid outages.
- PIREPPilot Reports from aircraft near Charleston. Real-world turbulence, icing, and cloud top reports.
- SIG/AIRMETArea forecasts for significant weather, turbulence, and icing that may affect operations around Charleston International Airport.
Learn to read sectional charts to plan your route visually, and use our crosswind calculator to check runway compatibility with current winds.
Pilot Resources at Charleston International Airport
Radio Frequencies
Always verify current frequencies in the Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) before flight. Common frequencies for airports like KCHS include ATIS/AWOS, Ground, Tower (if towered), Approach/Departure, and Clearance Delivery. Frequencies change -- never rely on outdated sources.
Flight Schools Nearby
Browse flight schools near Charleston and compare training programs.
Private Pilot Guide
Everything you need to earn your PPL, from requirements to checkride prep.
METAR Decoder
Decode any METAR report into plain English. Free tool for student and experienced pilots.
Sectional Chart Guide
Learn to read VFR sectional charts for navigation around Charleston.
Training Availability
Flight Training Available
Charleston International Airport has flight schools and training programs operating on the field or nearby. Browse flight schools
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