Albuquerque International Sunport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ · KABQ) is 6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 03, 08, 12 are charted right traffic.

All of Albuquerque International Sunport — runways, frequencies, charts and live weather

Pattern 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 KABQ reports it.

RWY 12RIGHT trafficRP · charted

Heading: 118° mag · 129° true
Dimensions: 6,000 × 150 ft
TPA: 6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Concrete
CTAF: 122.95

More details — RWY 12

Threshold elev: 5,312 ft
Markings: basic
TDZ elevation: 5,315 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 6,000 / 6,000 / 6,000 / 6,000 ft

Condition: Good. Edge lights: Med. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 65k, Double wheel 120k, Dual tandem 155k.

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
03	Right traffic	034° mag	6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
21	Left traffic	214° mag	6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
08	Right traffic	079° mag	6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
26	Left traffic	259° mag	6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
12	Right traffic	118° mag	6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
30	Left traffic	298° mag	6,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KABQ; 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 KABQ

Albuquerque International Sunport is towered, working 120.3. Contact the tower before entering the surface area and fly the pattern you are assigned — the directions below are the charted default when no instruction is given.

Watch the right traffic ends here: 03, 08, 12. 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 KABQ?

Albuquerque International Sunport 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 6,400 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 KABQ have right traffic?

Yes, on 3 runway ends: 03, 08, 12. Every other end at Albuquerque International Sunport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KABQ?

Albuquerque International Sunport is towered (120.3), so the pattern shown here is the charted default — but the controller's instruction overrides it. Expect straight in approaches, base entries and midfield crossings as traffic dictates.

More about KABQ

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.