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Chicago O'Hare International Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD · KORD) is 1,700 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 Chicago O'Hare 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 KORD reports it.

5,000 ftNMNxw 312°downwind 222°base 132°final 042°45° entry04L22R04R22L09C27C09L27R09R27L10C28C10L28R10R28L

RWY 04LLEFT traffic

Heading
042° mag · 039° true
Dimensions
7,500 × 150 ft
TPA
1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface
Asphalt
CTAF
122.95
More details — RWY 04L
Threshold elev
656 ft
Markings
precision
TDZ elevation
658 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
7,500 / 7,500 / 7,500 / — ft
End lights
centerline

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 120k, Double wheel 250k, Dual tandem 550k, Double dual tandem 1118k.

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

Pattern direction by runway

RunwayPatternHeadingPattern altitude
04L Left traffic 042° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
22R Left traffic 222° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
04R Left traffic 045° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
22L Left traffic 225° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09C Left traffic 093° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27C Left traffic 273° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09L Left traffic 093° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27R Left traffic 273° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09R Left traffic 093° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27L Left traffic 273° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
10C Left traffic 093° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
28C Left traffic 273° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
10L Left traffic 093° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
28R Left traffic 273° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
10R Left traffic 093° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
28L Left traffic 273° mag 1,700 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KORD; 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 KORD

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is towered, working 120.75. 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 KORD?

Chicago O'Hare 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 1,700 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 KORD have right traffic?

No. All 16 runway ends at Chicago O'Hare International Airport use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KORD?

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is towered (120.75), 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 KORD

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.