Charleston International Airport traffic pattern
Pattern altitude at Charleston International Airport (CHS · KCHS) is 1,000 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 Charleston International Airport — 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 KCHS reports it.
RWY 15LEFT traffic
- Heading
- 155° mag · 148° true
- Dimensions
- 9,001 × 150 ft
- TPA
- 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
- Surface
- Concrete
- Lights
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°) + ALSF2
- ILS
- ILS · CAT II · LOC 109.7 (CHS) · GS 3.00°
- CTAF
- 122.95
More details — RWY 15
- Threshold elev
- 43 ft
- Markings
- precision
- Threshold crossing height
- 50 ft
- TDZ elevation
- 43 ft
- LAHSO
- 5,450 ft (hold short of 03/21)
- End lights
- centerline, TDZ
- Arresting gear
- BAK-12
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 | 031° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 21 | Left traffic | 211° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 15 | Left traffic | 154° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 33 | Left traffic | 334° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
No pattern altitude is published for KCHS; 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 KCHS
Charleston International Airport is towered, working 126.0. 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 KCHS?
Charleston International 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 1,000 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 KCHS have right traffic?
No. All 4 runway ends at Charleston International Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.
Do I fly a standard pattern at KCHS?
Charleston International Airport is towered (126.0), 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 KCHS
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.