Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport / Wold-Chamberlain Field traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport / Wold-Chamberlain Field (MSP · KMSP) is 1,800 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 Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport / Wold-Chamberlain Field — 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 KMSP reports it.

RWY 17LEFT traffic

Heading: 170° mag · 170° true
Dimensions: 8,000 × 150 ft
TPA: 1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Concrete
Lights: 4-light PAPI (right) (3°)
ILS: LOC/DME · LOC 110.95 (TJZ)
CTAF: 122.95

More details — RWY 17

Threshold elev: 840 ft
Markings: nonprecision
Approach obstacle: Tree, 52 ft, 1,990 ft from threshold, 732 ft R of centerline — 34:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height: 60 ft
TDZ elevation: 840 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 8,000 / 8,000 / 8,000 / 8,000 ft
End lights: REIL, centerline

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 100k, Double wheel 200k, Dual tandem 400k, Double dual tandem 850k.

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
04	Left traffic	045° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
22	Left traffic	225° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
12L	Left traffic	121° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
30R	Left traffic	301° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
12R	Left traffic	121° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
30L	Left traffic	301° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
17	Left traffic	170° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35	Left traffic	350° mag	1,800 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KMSP; 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 KMSP

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport / Wold-Chamberlain Field is towered, working 123.675. 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 KMSP?

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport / Wold-Chamberlain Field 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 1,800 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 KMSP have right traffic?

No. All 8 runway ends at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport / Wold-Chamberlain Field use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KMSP?

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport / Wold-Chamberlain Field is towered (123.675), 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 KMSP

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.