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Dallas Fort Worth International Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW · KDFW) is 1,600 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 Dallas Fort Worth International 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 KDFW reports it.

5,000 ftNMNxw 041°downwind 311°base 221°final 131°45° entry13L31R13R31L17C35C17L35R17R35L18L36R18R36L

RWY 13LLEFT traffic

Heading
131° mag · 135° true
Dimensions
9,000 × 200 ft
TPA
1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface
Concrete
Lights
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Displaced thr
627 ft
CTAF
122.95
More details — RWY 13L
Threshold elev
553 ft
Markings
nonprecision
Threshold crossing height
82 ft
TDZ elevation
550 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
9,000 / 9,000 / 9,000 / 8,373 ft
End lights
REIL, centerline

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

Pattern side + displaced threshold: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates

Pattern direction by runway

RunwayPatternHeadingPattern altitude
13L Left traffic 131° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
31R Left traffic 311° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
13R Left traffic 135° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
31L Left traffic 315° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
17C Left traffic 176° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35C Left traffic 356° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
17L Left traffic 176° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35R Left traffic 356° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
17R Left traffic 176° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35L Left traffic 356° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
18L Left traffic 176° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
36R Left traffic 356° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
18R Left traffic 176° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
36L Left traffic 356° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KDFW; 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 KDFW

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 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 KDFW?

Dallas Fort Worth 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 1,600 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 KDFW have right traffic?

No. All 14 runway ends at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KDFW?

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 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 KDFW

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.