Departure
99%
vs 95% ▲ 4
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Cotopaxi International Airport lies in a broad Andean valley near Latacunga, Ecuador, and is one of the highest-elevation airports in the country, operated by the Ecuadorian Air Force. Its exceptionally long runway and thin high-altitude air make it a demanding but rewarding destination for simulator pilots, and it is best known today as a hub for heavy freighter cargo operations.
Cotopaxi International Airport serves Latacunga, the capital of Cotopaxi Province in Ecuador, and is operated by the Ecuadorian Air Force with both public and military functions. Sitting at high elevation within a wide Andean valley, it is notable for having one of the longest runways in the country, a feature that has made it attractive to heavy freighter operators. For a simulator pilot, the combination of extreme field elevation, a very long single runway and dramatic surrounding mountain terrain make it an engaging and technically interesting destination.
The airport sits within a broad valley of the Ecuadorian Andes, with rising terrain to the east and west and mountainous terrain visible in all quadrants, close to the town of Latacunga in Cotopaxi Province. Air traffic in the vicinity is worked by Latacunga Approach and Latacunga Ground, indicating that the field operates within a controlled environment appropriate to its role as an international and cargo airport.
The airport has a single physical runway, 01/19, aligned north-south. The northern end (Runway 01) is a hard-surfaced, lit runway measuring 11,972 feet, while the southern end (Runway 19) measures 10,505 feet, is lit, and is equipped with an ILS. The difference in published length between the two directions reflects a substantial displaced threshold at the Runway 19 end, which reduces the landing distance available from that direction while the full physical runway remains among the longest in Ecuador.
Latacunga Approach and Tower operate on 118.5 MHz, with Latacunga Ground on 121.9 MHz. An ILS is provided on Runway 19, supporting instrument approaches to that end of the runway given the surrounding high terrain.
Cotopaxi International Airport has long combined military and civil roles under Ecuadorian Air Force operation. It has developed into an important cargo gateway, historically handling Boeing 747 freighter operations, which were at one time the largest aircraft type to use the field. Cargolux has operated Boeing 747 freighters from Cotopaxi on routes linking Latacunga with Bogota and onward to Luxembourg, cargo traffic that the airport's very long runway and high elevation performance characteristics have helped support.
Cotopaxi continues to function as a mixed military and civil airport, with Cargolux operating scheduled freighter services connecting Latacunga to Bogota and Luxembourg. The airport's long runway and instrument approach capability on Runway 19 support operations by large freighter aircraft despite the challenges posed by its high elevation and mountainous surroundings.