San Carlos Airport traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at San Carlos Airport (SQL · KSQL) is 806 ft MSL · 800 AGL as published by the FAA, and 30 is charted right traffic.

All of San Carlos 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 KSQL reports it.

RWY 12LEFT traffic

Heading: 123° mag · 138° true
Dimensions: 2,621 × 75 ft
TPA: 806 ft MSL · 800 AGL · charted
Surface: Asphalt
Lights: VASI (3°)
CTAF: 119.0

More details — RWY 12

Threshold elev: 5 ft
Markings: nonprecision
Approach obstacle: Pole, 18 ft, 565 ft from threshold, 80 ft R of centerline — 20:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height: 25 ft
TDZ elevation: 6 ft
End lights: REIL

Condition: Fair. Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 12.5k.

Pattern side: FAA NASR · TPA charted (NASR) · layout: FAA runway-end coordinates

Pattern direction by runway

Runway	Pattern	Heading	Pattern altitude
12	Left traffic	123° mag	806 ft MSL · 800 AGL
30	Right traffic	303° mag	806 ft MSL · 800 AGL

Pattern altitude is published for KSQL in the FAA NASR data. Headings are the runway alignment; downwind is the reciprocal.

Flying the pattern at KSQL

San Carlos Airport is towered, working 119.0. 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: 30. 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 KSQL?

The FAA publishes a traffic pattern altitude of 800 ft AGL for San Carlos Airport, which is 806 ft MSL on the altimeter with the field at 6 ft.

Does KSQL have right traffic?

Yes, on one runway end: 30. Every other end at San Carlos Airport is standard left traffic.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KSQL?

San Carlos Airport is towered (119.0), 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 KSQL

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.