Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Airfield (AFF)

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Airfield operates as the United States Air Force Academy's exclusive aviation training facility, renamed in November 2019 to honor Tuskegee Airman General Benjamin O. Davis Jr., serving as one of the world's busiest airfields supporting comprehensive cadet airmanship programs including soaring, parachuting, and powered flight operations that began in 1974. This private military installation provides no commercial airline connections, operating exclusively for Academy training missions, official government business, and authorized military operations within the secured 18,000-acre Academy grounds.

Access requires strict Prior Permission Required (PPR) coordination minimum 72 hours advance notice through Academy Airfield Management, with entry limited to military personnel, government officials, Academy faculty, authorized contractors, and sponsored visitors possessing proper security clearance and official business justification. All arrivals must coordinate through sponsoring Academy departments, as the facility maintains restricted access protocols consistent with Department of Defense security requirements and Federal Aviation Regulation Part 93 operational restrictions.

Ground transportation within the Academy grounds requires pre-arranged military or official vehicle support, as civilian taxi, rideshare, and rental car services cannot access the secured installation. Visitors typically coordinate transportation through Academy Protocol Office, Cadet Squadron sponsors, or designated military escorts depending on official business requirements. The facility's strategic position at 7,258 feet elevation creates unique operational considerations for aircraft performance, weather patterns, and physiological adaptation for personnel unaccustomed to high-altitude conditions.

The airfield serves critical roles in cadet development through the Academy's Airmanship Programs designed to expose, motivate, and challenge future Air Force officers, with training operations including T-6 Texan II powered flight instruction, TG-16A glider soaring programs, and specialized parachute operations utilizing dedicated drop zones. Operational tempo varies with academic calendar cycles, creating periods of intensive training activity during cadet flight rotations and seasonal weather windows suitable for mountain flying operations in Colorado's Front Range environment.

Civilian travelers requiring access to Colorado Springs region should utilize Colorado Springs Airport (COS) located 12 miles south, offering comprehensive commercial airline service, ground transportation, and accommodation options. Military families, contractors, and official visitors to the Academy coordinate lodging through Academy Inn on-base facilities, off-base commercial accommodations, or Peterson Air Force Base temporary lodging depending on security clearance levels and visit duration requirements.

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