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Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW · KDTW) 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 Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County 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 KDTW reports it.

5,000 ftNMNxw 306°downwind 216°base 126°final 036°45° entry03L21R03R21L04L22R04R22L09L27R09R27L

RWY 03LLEFT traffic

Heading
036° mag · 029° true
Dimensions
8,501 × 150 ft
TPA
1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface
Concrete
Lights
4-light PAPI (right) (3°)
CTAF
122.95
More details — RWY 03L
Threshold elev
637 ft
Markings
nonprecision
Approach obstacle
Pole, 19 ft, 698 ft from threshold, 569 ft L of centerline — 26:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height
55 ft
TDZ elevation
637 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
8,501 / 8,501 / 8,501 / 8,501 ft
End lights
REIL, centerline

Condition: Excellent. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 120k, Double wheel 250k, Dual tandem 550k, Double dual tandem 1000k.

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

Pattern direction by runway

RunwayPatternHeadingPattern altitude
03L Left traffic 036° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
21R Left traffic 216° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
03R Left traffic 036° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
21L Left traffic 216° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
04L Left traffic 036° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
22R Left traffic 216° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
04R Left traffic 036° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
22L Left traffic 216° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09L Left traffic 096° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27R Left traffic 276° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09R Left traffic 096° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27L Left traffic 276° mag 1,600 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KDTW; 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 KDTW

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is towered, working 118.4. 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 KDTW?

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County 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 KDTW have right traffic?

No. All 12 runway ends at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KDTW?

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is towered (118.4), 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 KDTW

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.