Sacramento International Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Sacramento International Airport (SMF · KSMF) is 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) by the standard convention — none is published for this field, and 35R, 17R are charted right traffic.

All of Sacramento 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 KSMF reports it.

RWY 17LLEFT traffic

Heading: 168° mag · 181° true
Dimensions: 8,605 × 150 ft
TPA: 1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Concrete
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (3°) + MALSR
ILS: ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 111.75 (MDK) · GS 3.00°
CTAF: 122.95

More details — RWY 17L

Threshold elev: 27 ft
Markings: precision
Threshold crossing height: 64 ft
TDZ elevation: 27 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA: 8,605 / 8,605 / 8,605 / 8,605 ft
End lights: centerline, TDZ

Condition: Good. Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 120k, Double wheel 250k, Dual tandem 513k, Double dual tandem 1033k.

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
17L	Left traffic	168° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35R	Right traffic	348° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
17R	Right traffic	168° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
35L	Left traffic	348° mag	1,000 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KSMF; 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 KSMF

Sacramento International Airport is towered, working 125.7. 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: 35R, 17R. 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 KSMF?

Sacramento 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 KSMF have right traffic?

Yes, on 2 runway ends: 35R, 17R. Every other end at Sacramento International Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KSMF?

Sacramento International Airport is towered (125.7), 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 KSMF

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.