Raleigh-Durham International Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU · KRDU) is 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 23R, 05R are charted right traffic.

All of Raleigh-Durham 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 KRDU reports it.

RWY 14LEFT traffic

Heading: 144° mag · 135° true
Dimensions: 3,570 × 100 ft
TPA: 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Asphalt
CTAF: 122.95

More details — RWY 14

Threshold elev: 432 ft
Markings: nonprecision
TDZ elevation: 432 ft

Condition: Good. Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 12k. PCN 16.

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
05L	Left traffic	054° mag	1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
23R	Right traffic	234° mag	1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
05R	Right traffic	054° mag	1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
23L	Left traffic	234° mag	1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
14	Left traffic	144° mag	1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
32	Left traffic	324° mag	1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KRDU; 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 KRDU

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is towered, working 127.45. 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: 23R, 05R. 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 KRDU?

Raleigh-Durham 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 1,400 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 KRDU have right traffic?

Yes, on 2 runway ends: 23R, 05R. Every other end at Raleigh-Durham International Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KRDU?

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is towered (127.45), 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 KRDU

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.