USAF Academy Airfield traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at USAF Academy Airfield (AFF · KAFF) is 7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and every runway end is standard left traffic.

All of USAF Academy Airfield — 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 KAFF reports it.

RWY 27LEFT traffic

Heading: 265° mag · 276° true
Dimensions: 2,493 × 75 ft
TPA: 7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Asphalt
CTAF: 124.15

More details — RWY 27

Threshold elev: 6,576 ft
Markings: numbers only

Condition: Good. PCN 14.

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
09	Left traffic	085° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27	Left traffic	265° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
16C	Left traffic	159° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
34C	Left traffic	339° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
16L	Left traffic	159° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
34R	Left traffic	339° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
16R	Left traffic	158° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
34L	Left traffic	338° mag	7,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KAFF; 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 KAFF

USAF Academy Airfield is towered, working 124.15. 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.

All ends are left traffic, which is the FAR 91.126 default — turns to the left unless the field charts otherwise. The full entry procedure is here →

Frequently asked

What is the traffic pattern altitude at KAFF?

USAF Academy Airfield 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 7,600 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 KAFF have right traffic?

No. All 8 runway ends at USAF Academy Airfield use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KAFF?

USAF Academy Airfield is towered (124.15), 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 KAFF

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.