John F. Kennedy International Airport traffic pattern
Pattern altitude at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK · KJFK) is 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 13L, 13R are charted right traffic.
All of John F. Kennedy International Airport — runways, frequencies, charts and live weatherPattern 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 KJFK reports it.
RWY 04LLEFT traffic
- Heading
- 044° mag · 031° true
- Dimensions
- 12,079 × 200 ft
- TPA
- 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
- Surface
- Concrete
- Lights
- 4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
- ILS
- ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 110.9 (HIQ) · GS 3.00°
- Displaced thr
- 460 ft
- CTAF
- 122.95
More details — RWY 04L
- Threshold elev
- 12 ft
- Markings
- precision
- Threshold crossing height
- 75 ft
- TDZ elevation
- 13 ft
- Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
- 11,351 / 11,351 / 11,470 / 11,010 ft
- End lights
- centerline, TDZ
Pattern side + displaced threshold: FAA NASR · TPA standard 1,000 ft AGL (not charted) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates
Pattern direction by runway
| Runway | Pattern | Heading | Pattern altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04L | Left traffic | 044° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 22R | Left traffic | 224° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 04R | Left traffic | 044° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 22L | Left traffic | 224° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 13L | Right traffic | 134° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 31R | Left traffic | 314° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 13R | Right traffic | 134° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
| 31L | Left traffic | 314° mag | 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) |
No pattern altitude is published for KJFK; 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 KJFK
John F. Kennedy International Airport is towered, working 119.1. 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.
Watch the right traffic ends here: 13L, 13R. A right pattern at a field where the other end is left is the single most common place to end up pointing at opposing traffic. The full entry procedure is here →
Frequently asked
What is the traffic pattern altitude at KJFK?
John F. Kennedy 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 1,000 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 KJFK have right traffic?
Yes, on 2 runway ends: 13L, 13R. Every other end at John F. Kennedy International Airport is standard left traffic.
Do I fly a standard pattern at KJFK?
John F. Kennedy International Airport is towered (119.1), 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 KJFK
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.