Shaw Air Force Base traffic pattern

Pattern altitude at Shaw Air Force Base (SSC · KSSC) is 1,200 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 Shaw Air Force Base — 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 KSSC reports it.

RWY 04LLEFT traffic

Heading: 043° mag · 035° true
Dimensions: 10,014 × 150 ft
TPA: 1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) · standard
Surface: Concrete
Lights: 4-light PAPI (left) (2.8°) + ALSF1
ILS: ILS · CAT I · LOC 110.1 (SSC) · GS 2.82°

More details — RWY 04L

Threshold elev: 237 ft
Markings: precision
Threshold crossing height: 35 ft
TDZ elevation: 240 ft
Arresting gear: BAK-12

Edge lights: High. PCN 46.

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
04L	Left traffic	043° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
22R	Left traffic	223° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
04R	Left traffic	043° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
22L	Left traffic	223° mag	1,200 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)

No pattern altitude is published for KSSC; 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 KSSC

Shaw Air Force Base is towered, working 126.65. 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 KSSC?

Shaw Air Force Base 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 1,200 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 KSSC have right traffic?

No. All 4 runway ends at Shaw Air Force Base use standard left traffic, so no right pattern is charted here.

Do I fly a standard pattern at KSSC?

Shaw Air Force Base is towered (126.65), 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 KSSC

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.