Decatur Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Decatur Airport (DEC · KDEC) is 1,700 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 Decatur 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 KDEC reports it.

RWY 12LEFT traffic

Heading: 120° mag · 119° true
Dimensions: 6,799 × 150 ft
TPA: 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: ASPH-CONC
CTAF: 118.9

More details — RWY 12

Threshold elev: 678 ft
Markings: nonprecision
Approach obstacle: Tree, 43 ft, 1,174 ft from threshold, 288 ft R of centerline — 22:1 slope to clear
TDZ elevation: 680 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 6,799 / 6,799 / 6,799 / 6,799 ft
LAHSO: 4,450 ft (hold short of 06/24)

Condition: Good. Edge lights: Med. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 120k, Double wheel 250k, Dual tandem 550k, Double dual tandem 1120k.

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
06	Left traffic	060° mag	1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
24	Left traffic	240° mag	1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
12	Left traffic	120° mag	1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
30	Left traffic	300° mag	1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
18	Left traffic	180° mag	1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
36	Left traffic	000° mag	1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KDEC; 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 KDEC

Decatur Airport is towered, working 118.9. 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 KDEC?

Decatur 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 1,700 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 KDEC have right traffic?

No. All 6 runway ends at Decatur Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KDEC?

Decatur Airport is towered (118.9), 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 KDEC

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.