The Sea Ranch traffic pattern
Pattern altitude at The Sea Ranch (CA51) is 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 12, 30 are charted right traffic. · Open on the map
All of The Sea Ranch — runways, frequencies, charts and live weatherPattern diagram
Drawn to scale from the FAA NASR runway alignments and the per end right traffic flags — pick a runway to see its pattern. Live wind picks the favored runway when CA51 reports it.
RWY 12RIGHT trafficRP · charted
- Heading
- 120° mag · 133° true
- Dimensions
- 2,600 × 40 ft
- TPA
- 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
- Surface
- Asphalt
Enter the right downwind (heading 300°) on the 45° at 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL).
More details — RWY 12
- Threshold elev
- 340 ft
- Markings
- basic
- Approach obstacle
- Hill, 700 ft from threshold — 8:1 slope to clear · penetrates the 20:1 visual approach surface
Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: schematic (headings + lengths)
Pattern direction by runway
| Runway | Pattern | Heading | Pattern altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Right traffic | 120° mag | 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 30 | Right traffic | 300° mag | 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
No pattern altitude is published for CA51; the figure above is the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention for propeller aircraft, rounded to the field. Turbine aircraft normally fly 1,500 ft AGL. Headings are the runway alignment; downwind is the reciprocal.
Flying the pattern at CA51
The Sea Ranch is non towered. AC 90-66B asks for a report on entry and on each leg, and for the standard 45° entry to downwind at pattern altitude.
Watch the right traffic ends here: 12, 30. A right pattern at a field where the other end is left is the single most common place to end up pointing at opposing traffic. The full entry procedure is here →
Frequently asked
What is the traffic pattern altitude at CA51?
The Sea Ranch has no traffic pattern altitude published in the FAA NASR data. The AC 90-66B convention for propeller aircraft is 1,000 ft AGL, which works out to roughly 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) here — but confirm it against the Chart Supplement before you fly, since a field can have a non standard pattern altitude that NASR does not carry.
Does CA51 have right traffic?
Yes, on 2 runway ends: 12, 30. Every other end at The Sea Ranch is standard left traffic.
More about CA51
Pattern direction and alignment are drawn from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle); the diagram is generated, not an FAA chart. Pattern altitude is shown as published where NASR carries one, otherwise as the AC 90-66B 1,000 ft AGL convention. For planning and education only; always verify against the Chart Supplement.
Something here wrong or out of date? Report a data problem.