Beale Air Force Base traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Beale Air Force Base (BAB · KBAB) is 1,100 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 Beale Air Force Base — 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 KBAB reports it.

RWY 15LEFT traffic

Heading: 145° mag · 161° true
Dimensions: 12,001 × 300 ft
TPA: 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Concrete
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (2.75°) + ALSF1
ILS: LOC/GS · CAT I · LOC 109.5 (BAB) · GS 2.75°

More details — RWY 15

Threshold elev: 113 ft
Markings: precision
Threshold crossing height: 54 ft
TDZ elevation: 113 ft

Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. PCN 90.

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
15	Left traffic	145° mag	1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
33	Left traffic	325° mag	1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KBAB; 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 KBAB

Beale Air Force Base is towered, working 119.4. 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 KBAB?

Beale Air Force Base 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 1,100 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 KBAB have right traffic?

No. All 2 runway ends at Beale Air Force Base use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KBAB?

Beale Air Force Base is towered (119.4), 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 KBAB

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.