Scottsdale Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Scottsdale Airport (SDL · KSDL · SCF) is 2,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 21 is charted right traffic.

All of Scottsdale 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 KSDL reports it.

RWY 21RIGHT trafficRP · charted

Heading: 212° mag · 224° true
Dimensions: 8,249 × 100 ft
TPA: 2,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Asphalt
Lights: 2-light PAPI (left) (4°)
Displaced thr: 400 ft
CTAF: 119.9

More details — RWY 21

Threshold elev: 1,510 ft
Markings: nonprecision
Approach obstacle: Hill, 25 ft, 850 ft from threshold, 375 ft R of centerline — 26:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height: 40 ft
TDZ elevation: 1,507 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 8,249 / 8,249 / 8,069 / 7,669 ft
End lights: REIL

Condition: Good. Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 45k, Double wheel 75k.

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
03	Left traffic	032° mag	2,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
21	Right traffic	212° mag	2,500 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KSDL; 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 KSDL

Scottsdale Airport is towered, working 119.9. 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: 21. 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 KSDL?

Scottsdale 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 2,500 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 KSDL have right traffic?

Yes, on one runway end: 21. Every other end at Scottsdale Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KSDL?

Scottsdale Airport is towered (119.9), 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 KSDL

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.