Philadelphia International Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL · KPHL) is 1,000 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 Philadelphia 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 KPHL reports it.

RWY 17LEFT traffic

Heading: 171° mag · 159° true
Dimensions: 6,500 × 150 ft
TPA: 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Asphalt
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (3°) + MALSF
ILS: ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 108.75 (MYY) · GS 3.00°
CTAF: 122.95

More details — RWY 17

Threshold elev: 8 ft
Markings: precision
Approach obstacle: Tree, 50 ft, 1,279 ft from threshold, 516 ft L of centerline — 21:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height: 50 ft
TDZ elevation: 11 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 6,500 / 6,500 / 6,500 / 6,500 ft

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 120k, Double wheel 203k, Dual tandem 302k, Double dual tandem 803k.

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
08	Left traffic	087° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
26	Left traffic	268° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09L	Left traffic	087° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27R	Left traffic	267° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
09R	Left traffic	087° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
27L	Left traffic	267° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
17	Left traffic	171° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35	Left traffic	351° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KPHL; 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 KPHL

Philadelphia International Airport is towered, working 118.5. 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 KPHL?

Philadelphia 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 KPHL have right traffic?

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

Do I fly a standard pattern at KPHL?

Philadelphia International Airport is towered (118.5), 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 KPHL

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.