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George Bush Intercontinental Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH · KIAH) is 1,100 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 George Bush Intercontinental 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 KIAH reports it.

5,000 ftNMNxw 177°downwind 087°base 357°final 267°45° entry2708L26R08R26L0915L33R15R33L

RWY 27LEFT traffic

Heading
267° mag · 270° true
Dimensions
10,000 × 150 ft
TPA
1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface
Concrete
Lights
4-light PAPI (left) (3°) + ALSF2
ILS
ILS/DME · CAT IIIB · LOC 110.9 (GHI) · GS 3.00°
CTAF
122.95
More details — RWY 27
Threshold elev
84 ft
Markings
precision
Threshold crossing height
70 ft
TDZ elevation
86 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000 ft
End lights
centerline, TDZ

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Double wheel 210k, Dual tandem 560k.

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

Pattern direction by runway

RunwayPatternHeadingPattern altitude
08L Left traffic 087° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
26R Left traffic 267° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
08R Left traffic 087° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
26L Left traffic 267° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09 Left traffic 087° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27 Left traffic 267° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
15L Left traffic 149° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
33R Left traffic 329° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
15R Left traffic 149° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
33L Left traffic 329° mag 1,100 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KIAH; 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 KIAH

George Bush Intercontinental Airport is towered, working 120.725. 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 KIAH?

George Bush Intercontinental 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 1,100 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 KIAH have right traffic?

No. All 10 runway ends at George Bush Intercontinental Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KIAH?

George Bush Intercontinental Airport is towered (120.725), 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 KIAH

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.