Bismarck Municipal Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS · KBIS) is 2,700 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 Bismarck Municipal Airport — 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 KBIS reports it.

RWY 13LEFT traffic

Heading: 131° mag · 138° true
Dimensions: 8,794 × 150 ft
TPA: 2,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: ASPH-CONC
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (3°) + MALS
ILS: ILS · CAT I · LOC 111.5 (BZX) · GS 3.00°
CTAF: 118.3

More details — RWY 13

Threshold elev: 1,655 ft
Markings: precision
Approach obstacle: Pole, 43 ft, 1,662 ft from threshold, 688 ft L of centerline — 34:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height: 58 ft
TDZ elevation: 1,655 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 8,794 / 8,794 / 8,794 / 8,794 ft

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 120k, Double wheel 225k, Dual tandem 342k.

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	Left traffic	032° mag	2,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
21	Left traffic	212° mag	2,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
13	Left traffic	131° mag	2,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
31	Left traffic	311° mag	2,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KBIS; 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 KBIS

Bismarck Municipal Airport is towered, working 118.3. 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.

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 KBIS?

Bismarck Municipal Airport 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 2,700 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 KBIS have right traffic?

No. All 4 runway ends at Bismarck Municipal Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KBIS?

Bismarck Municipal Airport is towered (118.3), 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 KBIS

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.