Washington Dulles International Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD · KIAD) is 1,300 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 Washington Dulles 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 KIAD reports it.

RWY 12LEFT traffic

Heading: 121° mag · 111° true
Dimensions: 10,501 × 150 ft
TPA: 1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Concrete
Lights: 4-light PAPI (right) (3°) + MALSR
ILS: ILS · CAT I · LOC 109.3 (AJU) · GS 3.00°
CTAF: 122.95

More details — RWY 12

Threshold elev: 310 ft
Markings: precision
Threshold crossing height: 66 ft
TDZ elevation: 310 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 10,501 / 10,501 / 10,501 / 10,501 ft
End lights: centerline, TDZ

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 200k, Double wheel 250k, Dual tandem 450k, Double dual tandem 875k.

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
01C	Left traffic	011° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
19C	Left traffic	191° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
01L	Left traffic	011° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
19R	Left traffic	191° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
01R	Left traffic	011° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
19L	Left traffic	191° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
12	Left traffic	121° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
30	Left traffic	301° mag	1,300 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KIAD; 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 KIAD

Washington Dulles International Airport is towered, working 120.1. 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 KIAD?

Washington Dulles 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 1,300 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 KIAD have right traffic?

No. All 8 runway ends at Washington Dulles International Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KIAD?

Washington Dulles International Airport is towered (120.1), 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 KIAD

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.